The iPad 2 is highly unpopular... as a camera

OneMoreThing... · May 13, 2011

The iPad 2 is highly unpopular... as a camera

Photo sharing site Flickr tracks and publishes the device origin of all the photos that are posted to its site. With over 4.5 million users uploading photos daily, this data set is enormous.

Stats from a month ago show the iPhone 4 is at the top of the heap of not just smartphones, but of digital cameras as well. Currently, over 4,000 daily users upload photos taken with their iPhone 4. Over 7 million photos have been uploaded since the iPhone 4 launched last June.

Moving to the iPad 2, the stats are pretty abysmal. A month ago, only nine users were uploading iPad 2 photos. Today, that number has climbed to a meager 22. If the camera was a key feature of the tablet, you would expect to see a lot more than 22 people uploading per day, especially with the millions of iPads that are circulating in the wild.

I hate to say it, but my own usage reflects this trend. I use my iPhone 4 all the time for taking photos and sharing them with friends. The camera on the iPad 2, though, has not been used once since I bought the tablet a month ago. If you have one or more of these devices, do you use them in the same way?

[Via Electricpig]

The iPad 2 is highly unpopular... as a camera originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 13 May 2011 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stretch · May 13, 2011

The iPad 2 has a camera?

osxx · May 13, 2011

Never thought the rear camera would be used that much if any however the front camera for Facetime thats another story.

a.j.c. · May 13, 2011

I have yet to take a picture with my iPad.

Kash · May 13, 2011

I imagine the front camera is far more heavily used than the rear. I think the rear one was just thrown in for good measure rather than as a result of users actually clamoring for it.

CrimsonRequiem · May 13, 2011

a.j.c. said:
I have yet to take a picture with my iPad.

I've seen someone take a picture with their iPad at a museum. >_>" I can't imagine lugging around something that large to take pictures with but...whatever floats their boat.

RavingMac · May 13, 2011

I must be easily amused.

I have taken lots of pictures using photo booth. I use the funhouse distortion effects to try to produce hideous looking images of myself. When I get a particularly good (bad) one I email it to my wife and kids.

As I said before, I am easily amused.

Kash · May 13, 2011

Razormac said:
I must be easily amused.

I have taken lots of pictures using photo booth. I use the funhouse distortion effects to try to produce hideous looking images of myself. When I get a particularly good (bad) one I email it to my wife and kids.

As I said before, I am easily amused.

Did you take those with the front or the rear camera?

Brunhild · May 14, 2011

I think a back camera for a tablet is pointless. My opinion but its something that would never see any use ever on my ipad. I have a phone with camera and if I want better pictures thats what the DSLR is for.

pedropete · May 14, 2011

Has the first iPad got a camera then ?

I have one but a camera is never my priority

RavingMac · May 14, 2011

Kash said:
Did you take those with the front or the rear camera?

Front camera. That way I could see the image and adjust the angle to get the results I wanted.

Kash · May 14, 2011

Razormac said:
Front camera. That way I could see the image and adjust the angle to get the results I wanted.

The front camera makes perfect sense, nobody is arguing that. It's the rear camera that is seemingly pointless. The front camera was the number one feature requested by consumers.

cwa107 · May 14, 2011

Kash said:
I imagine the front camera is far more heavily used than the rear. I think the rear one was just thrown in for good measure rather than as a result of users actually clamoring for it.

I agree. I think Apple heard so much whining and moaning when the iPad 1 was released, they pretty much said "there, now you have nothing to complain about" and did the full compliment of cameras on the iPad 2.

But seriously, how much of a dork do you look like trying to frame up a shot with an iPad?

vansmith · May 14, 2011

cwa107 said:
But seriously, how much of a dork do you look like trying to frame up a shot with an iPad?

I'd say quite a bit. There's something about taking a picture with something larger than a book that just doesn't look right. Next thing you know, people will be holding up their MB(P)s and using the iSight as a camera.

a.j.c. · May 14, 2011

vansmith said:
I'd say quite a bit. There's something about taking a picture with something larger than a book that just doesn't look right. Next thing you know, people will be holding up their MB(P)s and using the iSight as a camera.

Lol..almost looks like a security risk.

MYmacROX · May 14, 2011

I saw some governor of one of the states that was hard hit by tornadoes last month flying over the damaged cities in a helicopter taking pics with her iPad 2. The other day I saw a crowd of people for a movie release or some similar event and a guy was taking a pic with his iPad 2. I've seen a couple of other shots of people taking pics with their second gen iPads also but can't remember the instances. All of this has been stuff I've seen on TV. Maybe I just watch more TV than those who posted here.

codda · May 14, 2011

I'll say one thing...the thing actually takes decent video...if you don't move it all around...the quality is pretty respectable. Having said that...I've only done it as a test and have no intention of using either camera...As mentioned...pretty dorky holding up an iPad...

Chris H. · May 14, 2011

I can't hold an iPad 2 and take a pic at the same time. But then again, I have the original iPad.

I'm surprised the iPod touch isn't ranking much higher. It takes really good pictures (maybe not as good as the iPhone 4…maybe this will change later this year).

Stretch · May 14, 2011

The iPod Touch has pretty much the same camera as the iPad, ie not very good.

Chris H. · May 14, 2011

Stretch said:
The iPod Touch has pretty much the same camera as the iPad, ie not very good.

I want to disagree…just a little bit. They're not horrible, and definitely better than any feature phone I've ever owned.

The iPad 2 is highly unpopular... as a camera

OneMoreThing...

Stretch

osxx

a.j.c.

Kash

CrimsonRequiem

RavingMac

Well-known member

Kash

Brunhild

pedropete

RavingMac

Well-known member

Kash

cwa107

vansmith

Senior Member

a.j.c.

MYmacROX

codda

Chris H.

Stretch

Chris H.

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