iPhone 4 needs to restored, but I am concerned about losing photos
There are two apps that will mount your iPhone as a USB drive. One is Called "Phone Disk" the other is called iExplorer. If you google for them you can download one. Simply plug your phone into your computer. When iTunes comes up, hit cancel, and then browse your iPhone just like you would in the finder. Drag the "Photos" folder onto your computer.

All backed up!

Another app, called WiFi Photos (free), goes on your phone, when you launch it any mac on the same wifi can go to a special URL, and browse your iPhone photos and right click to save!