I know that the answer many will give is "none" but in this modern era we do need to have a good backup camera or even a good initial camera in our phones to record things day to day. But there's a lot to choose from as the market gets more competitive. Camera phones are always changing and improving (or getting worse!). If you're main camera is going to be your phone, it's best to put some time and research into making sure you get what you need for the level of photography that you carry out. So here are the top contenders this year, in terms of camera phones.

Nokia Lumia 920

This is one of the newest camera phones - the latest windows 8 handset. It has something called 'Pureview Technology' which means that if an object or person comes into view in the picture at the last minute, you can erase it completely using PureView.

It also has an 8.7 megapixel camera. Generally with d-slr's the megapixels don't differ all that much between makes and models. But with a camera phone you are more likely to notice the difference.

The lens for the Lumia is Carl Zeiss and it has an F2.0 Aperture and advanced image stabilisation. This definitely helps for overcoming blurs and shakes, something that's more common with a flimsier handheld phone camera than with a heavy dSLR. An added bonus is that this is the first Lumia which will accept miscroSD cards meaning you can store so much more on the camera.

Apple iPhone 5

I have the 4S iphone and find the zoom function disappointing but everything else works really well. The iphone 5 according to reviews, is a major hit. It has 8 megapixels and a crisp panoramic mode letting you shoot fantastic landscapes and scenes. The video footage function has added video stabilisation meaning that image shake is reduced during recording and - the best bit I think - is that the camera lets you take photos whilst you are recording a video.

The FaceTime camera is now high definition compared to the 4S. Reports suggest not much difference in comparison, but a nice function for clearer video calls.

HTC Windows Phone 8X

This camera is fantastic with an 'ultra' wide angle lens. Fantastic for capturing scenery, landscapes and group shots. There's also an in-built flash adjuster which adjusts the brightness of the flash depending on light available. In terms of spec, it's high with regards to the front facing camera. It offers an aperture of F2.0 and 1080p Video capture.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2

8 megapixel camera on this tablet type phone and 1080 HD video recording capabilities. There's autofocus and fantastic photo editing features. There's the 'Best Photo Feature' - the camera takes eight shots of one scene and selects the best one based on focus and even smiles. There's also 'Best Group Pose' where the note will take a selection of fast shots. It will use face detection tools to select the best smile for each person and...wait for it...generate an image with all the best smiles in! This one sounds like the best for those family and group shots.

Sony Xperia T

This phone is becoming increasingly popular because it was 'The' smartphone used in Skyfall. It has fantastic HD and a THIRTEEN megapixel camera - highest resolution between all the top competing camera phones of the year. It has a Sony mobile image sensor built in which aids with capturing shots in low light and a 16x digital zoom and image stabilisation so you can get close but remain without blur. Definitely the phone for you if you're looking for something you can use fast, clearly and without complications.

These are just a few of the more popular releases, any thoughts and feedback on the camera you use (your phone) is greatly appreciated! The best critic is someone who tries it out everyday!

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