3-Megapixel Camera Module from
Panasonic: Can you believe how small
this thing is? [ Photo: Panasonic ]

Panasonic announced the development of a 3-megapixel digital camera module for use in mobile phones. The module is only 8.63mm thick so it can easily fit in mobile phones that are still on the drawing board. The most interesting feature of this module is that it also includes image stabilization, which would be great for a camera phone because they are particularly susceptible to camera shake.

I had to publish a photo of this thing because I've never looked at mobile phone components like this before, and I can't believe how small this camera module is. That's a golf scorecard pencil next to the camera module. (Maybe next time, Panasonic could include a photo taken with the camera module as well?)

According to the press release a 1.3-megapixel version of this module will start rolling off the assembly line in January. The 2 and 3-megapixel modules will be available in March. [ via First Adopter ]