MY main squeeze is now my cell phone. iPhone 14 pro

[Tartness9094]

This is a discussion that just goes back and forth time and time again. Personally I don't like using a mobile phone for photography apart from the occasional selfie or if out somewhere with family for a meal, when I might take a family snap. Phone cameras will never compete with the quality of a APS-C or FF camera sensor until the sensor on the phone is just as large but even then, you will always be limit by the pure physical size of the lenses on a mobile, compared to dedicated camera lenses.

 

[NerdyTimelapser]

I'm using a 2017 OnePlus 5T (using custom LineageOS for security updates) and that phone is already pretty sufficient to take daily pics of nice sunsets or whatever I want to share with friends and family. I use it a lot since I always have it with me, and again, it's sufficient quality to send to other peoples phones. But if I want to enjoy taking pictures and have full manual control, I use my Lumix gx7 or S5, often with adopted vintage glass. I love picking up very cheap lenses second hand and trying them out, they often have quite different characteristics. For me that's fun. Modern phones can take great quality pictures nowadays, but it is not much fun using them, and don't offer you much artistic freedom besides framing. Great to have them with you though!

 

[21limited]

This is a discussion that just goes back and forth time and time again. Personally I don't like using a mobile phone for photography apart from the occasional selfie or if out somewhere with family for a meal, when I might take a family snap. Phone cameras will never compete with the quality of a APS-C or FF camera sensor until the sensor on the phone is just as large but even then, you will always be limit by the pure physical size of the lenses on a mobile, compared to dedicated camera lenses.

Conversely, FF and APS-c sensors will never compete with Phones for wide depth of field images with everything in focus This has always been true. In 1966 my RIT trained photography instructor was aksed what his rfavourite camer was. It was his throw away plastic small film size lens camera, becsue it was always one in the glove box of his car. DSLRs and Half frames have never competed in that end of the market. These days, my 48 MP iphone is comparable to my 36 MP FF. Not quite the same efficicny in converting MP to lw/ph, but still, more than twice the resolution I need. As anyone brought up on 4x5 and 8x10 film can tell you. Large sensors creates their own problems.

So phones aren’t even trying to replace FF an APSW-c ccamera, they fill a different niche. SUre you can say “I just don’t want to shoot one.” Well I can say, I just don’t want to shoot 4x5, of MF. That’s a statement of personal bias, nothing to do with the camera.

The advantage of phones is “everything in focus in low light.” You can twist in the wind with reasons why you wouldn’t use it. None of them are universally accepted And good technical photographers have been saying this for years.
Sometimes, if you shoot at the same time, the phone images is the best….

2024-02-02-Whitney-Beach by Norm Head, on Flickr

The only issue being, is the photography flexible enoough to take advantage, when it is. I wouldn’t want a phone as my only camera. Like every other cameras I own, I use it only when appropriate. But that’s true of all cameras.

2023-01-23-Peterborough-Courthouse-and_Jail-10 by Norm Head, on Flickr

2024-10-07-Lk-St-Peter-PP by Norm Head, on Flickr

2023-01-23-Emmanuel-United-Church-Door by Norm Head, on Flickr

The only reason the subject goes back and forth, is, a lot of people don’t own a decent phone. In my case I bought the phone for the camera. Same as anyone would buy a good small format camera, and then figured out the situations where it’s better than my larger format gear. It does take some effort. One would need a top quality phone, (be claear, I’m not talking aobut your iPhone 6, Im talking iPhonr 14 are higher, Gigapixel 7 or higher.) ) a solid understanding of DoF and the advantages of shooting wide DoF at ƒ1.8, understanding there are lot of images, where if there is a lot of setup time, you’ll miss the image. As are the disadvantages are written in stone, but so are the advantages. The only question in this type of discussion is, is the understanding of the photography technically, going to allow him/her to know when a phone is the best option. And the answer to that determine the level of understanding of photgraphy. Nothing to do with the cameras, or the phones. Only a discsussion of how biased the negative opinions are. Anyway, that’s the way I see it. What camera can’t do doesn’t define it. Only what it can do. That’s what’s important. The opinion that it can’t do anything worhwhile is refuted by thousands of images on flickr and other places.

 

[Tartness9094]

Conversely, FF and APS-c sensors will never compete with Phones for wide depth of field images with everything in focus This has always been true. In 1966 my RIT trained photography instructor was aksed what his rfavourite camer was. It was his throw away plastic small film size lens camera, becsue it was always one in the glove box of his car. DSLRs and Half frames have never competed in that end of the market. These days, my 48 MP iphone is comparable to my 36 MP FF. Not quite the same efficicny in converting MP to lw/ph, but still, more than twice the resolution I need. As anyone brought up on 4x5 and 8x10 film can tell you. Large sensors creates their own problems.

So phones aren’t even trying to replace FF an APSW-c ccamera, they fill a different niche. SUre you can say “I just don’t want to shoot one.” Well I can say, I just don’t want to shoot 4x5, of MF. That’s a statement of personal bias, nothing to do with the camera.

The advantage of phones is “everything in focus in low light.” You can twist in the wind with reasons why you wouldn’t use it. None of them are universally accepted And good technical photographers have been saying this for years.
Sometimes, if you shoot at the same time, the phone images is the best….

2024-02-02-Whitney-Beach by Norm Head, on Flickr

The only issue being, is the photography flexible enoough to take advantage, when it is. I wouldn’t want a phone as my only camera. Like every other cameras I own, I use it only when appropriate. But that’s true of all cameras.

2023-01-23-Peterborough-Courthouse-and_Jail-10 by Norm Head, on Flickr

2024-10-07-Lk-St-Peter-PP by Norm Head, on Flickr

2023-01-23-Emmanuel-United-Church-Door by Norm Head, on Flickr

The only reason the subject goes back and forth, is, a lot of people don’t own a decent phone. In my case I bought the phone for the camera. Same as anyone would buy a good small format camera, and then figured out the situations where it’s better than my larger format gear. It does take some effort. One would need a top quality phone, (be claear, I’m not talking aobut your iPhone 6, Im talking iPhonr 14 are higher, Gigapixel 7 or higher.) ) a solid understanding of DoF and the advantages of shooting wide DoF at ƒ1.8, understanding there are lot of images, where if there is a lot of setup time, you’ll miss the image. As are the disadvantages are written in stone, but so are the advantages. The only question in this type of discussion is, is the understanding of the photography technically, going to allow him/her to know when a phone is the best option. And the answer to that determine the level of understanding of photgraphy. Nothing to do with the cameras, or the phones. Only a discsussion of how biased the negative opinions are. Anyway, that’s the way I see it. What camera can’t do doesn’t define it. Only what it can do. That’s what’s important. The opinion that it can’t do anything worhwhile is refuted by thousands of images on flickr and other places.

I can understand what you are saying and I totally agree that mobile phone cameras are very good in particular at macro photography. I want to like using a mobile for spur of the moment photos when I don't have my main camera but I have always been dissappointed with the results. I had a Oppo phone once which had a great camera on it but then I bought a Pixel 7a and although it takes RAW photos, the quality again is hit and miss though generally quite good but I always have that nagging doubt, could I have taken a better photo with my main camera. Perhaps when my next phone upgrade is due, I should see if I can get a Pixel Pro version although they are quite expensive and that is another point about the mobile phones compared to my main camera. All mobile phones need constant system and security updates and have a finite life where you need to replace them even though the phone works just as it used too but you can no longer receive any updates. My old Pentax K5ii on the other hand needs no updating and will far outlast any mobile phone device.

 

[NerdyTimelapser]

I can understand what you are saying and I totally agree that mobile phone cameras are very good in particular at macro photography. I want to like using a mobile for spur of the moment photos when I don't have my main camera but I have always been dissappointed with the results. I had a Oppo phone once which had a great camera on it but then I bought a Pixel 7a and although it takes RAW photos, the quality again is hit and miss though generally quite good but I always have that nagging doubt, could I have taken a better photo with my main camera. Perhaps when my next phone upgrade is due, I should see if I can get a Pixel Pro version although they are quite expensive and that is another point about the mobile phones compared to my main camera. All mobile phones need constant system and security updates and have a finite life where you need to replace them even though the phone works just as it used too but you can no longer receive any updates. My old Pentax K5ii on the other hand needs no updating and will far outlast any mobile phone device.

You can have a look at for example LineageOS – LineageOS Android Distribution to give Android phones which don't get security updates anymore an alternative version of Android. I use it on my 7,5 year old phone and it works great for me, but not all phones are compatible (most with Qualcomm processor are). It is just nonsense you are almost forced to get a new phone because they don't get official updates anymore, planned obsolescence. So much waste in the world already...

 

[21limited]

My iPhone 6 still works, and takes (terrible) pictures. As was said in the early days of computers, if you buy a computer now, it will always do what you bought it for. I’m using an iPhoone 14, which was purchased for the camera specs. The 15 ad 16 are not appearing;ing becasue it’s basicly the same camera set up. Memory becomes cheaper and smaller, phones can be made better. Every industry tries constatnly to upgrade thier product. I don’t have keyless ignition or any automated start up in my car. Companies work constantly to upgrade thier prodct. Toyota isn’t going to upgrade my 11 year old RAV for me or make available parts so I can upgrade it., and phone companies aren’t going to stop making technical advances just because of phones being to be tossed.. Camera makers going mirrorless is probably one of the most obvious money grabs of all time. You can’t penalize phones for what everyone does. But personally, I have an 11 year old vehicle and went from iPhone 6 to 14 without an upgrade. Just becasue everyone wants you to buy new product every 3 or 4 years does’t mean you have to. Only the industries ability to convcine you what you have isn’t good enough and sell you on new features causes waste.

 

[tinytmp]

It alreeady replaces a good camera and lens in many instances….just not for everything. In my house it has repalced my ZS100, my Optio WR90 and other small sensor cameras. I gave my useage stats. For me, it has taken the #1 spot from my APS-c and FF DSLRs. LIke flickr, with thousads of customers, the same result is evident. Apple phones are #1 in useage, Canon is second, everyone else is way back. So, it’s not just me. I would argue phones have eaten the traditional manufacturers small sensor lunch. There are photos you can’t take with cellphone, there are also pictures you can’t take with a DSLR. Cell phone can’t do decent macro or telephoto. Large sensor cameras can’t do wide aperture wide Depth of Field.

My keepers for the year: 1,000 cell phone images, 600 DSLR images. I’d be surprised if anyone with a good phone (mine’s best camera is 48 MP) is much different. Flickr stats counts agree with me. I don’t expect my APS-C camera to do what my FF camera does and I don’t expect my FF camera to do what my APS-C camera does, and I know, neither of them will do what my phone does. If you’re managing your mobile data, you might find the Freedom Mobile login feature handy to keep track of everything while you’re on the go.

I’ve compared my cell phone images to DSLR images. It’s not a matter of sufficing, it’s matter of being better at some things.

It's impressive how much smartphones, like the iPhone, have improved, especially with their low-light capability and high-resolution images. While your DSLR still shines for wildlife photography, it’s clear that smartphones are quickly closing the gap for most photography needs. It’s also great that your wife is experiencing similar results with her Google Pixel 7!