traderjohn Loc: New York City

I think those that use cell phones to take pictures have no desire or need to learn or understand the Exposer Triangle or how or why a DSLR does what it does.
They see something that interests them and they take the picture. Their is no anguish over shutter speed or ISO. The task has been completed. A picture. Also, their audience will not nitpick them to death over the lack of this or that in their picture. They are not that petty.
About two years ago my son he was 40 at the time calls me and wants to know if I want to take a couple of days and go skiing. He was finished with a project and was taking a break. I did. As as we are going up on the lift I look over and take this picture with my cell phone. It was a spontaneous action that resulted in a great picture and time spent. with my son.

hassighedgehog Loc: Corona, CA

No viewfinder with a phone camera is the killer for me. Cannot hold one steady enough. Only use mine (flip phone) to document my place in parking lots. Have a Lumix DMC Zs60 for portability.

SteveFranz Loc: Durham, NC

A cell phone camera can be a very handy tool. I just got back from a vacation in Nova Scotia. I tried to remember to take a cell phone picture at every spot where I took a picture with my Canon DSLR. My cell phone picture had GPS information, gave me full location details. Very handy when I look at a shot a couple weeks or months later & say "where was that lighthouse?"

vandy

I think phone cameras have their place in the scheme of things, most of the people using them are just posting that photo to Facebook or some other website and not making huge prints to hang on their wall. Have you ever seen someone hire a professional photographer that just showed up with a phone camera? If so, why would you do that instead of just having your friends take the photos for you. I think as long as there are professional photographers there will be a need for a camera to suit their needs whether it is a phone camera in the future that will do the same things a DSLR will do today or the latest professional camera of the times. Just my opinion, who knows what the future holds.

DanielB Loc: San Diego, Ca

Phones will never be a serious tool for serious photographers. For people who just want to snap around and not create photographic art have at it. Fact is that those people that bought cameras thinking they would learn how to use them and didn't have discovered the cell phone instead for their mostly meaningless snaps (Don't get your panties in a twist - I said mostly). This is called natural selection in the animal world (Those who know photography and those who don't)and explains the drop in numbers.

DanielB Loc: San Diego, Ca

Yes that is a great shot with lots of noise and banding. Just saying...

traderjohn Loc: New York City

Yes, a great shot is right. Do you ever find noise and banding(whatever that is) in pictures taken with DSLR's?? Just saying.

BigDaddy Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

Thanks for that. Thinking about it, there is no reason I can think of that a photographer would be upset about cell phones getting better and better, unless of course he is selling camera's. Everyone else knows that cells are not the same as a DSLR and really, I have never seen anyone make the comment that the photo quality of cells are better than DSLR's.

Professional photographers should absolutely LOVE cell cameras since so far, if you make money from photos, well, you ain't likely using a cell phone, and your competition is shrinking by leaps and bounds.

If you sell camera's you probably hate cell phones, as they have already just about completely replaced Point and shoots, and while not quite as good as bridge camera's, it is rare to see those camera's out and about any more, so I'm certain sales are about nil. In the future, expensive DSLR's may take a hit, but that not likely for years from now. Also, I expect the price for good DSLR's to go up as the cheaper camera's fail to sell. Pro's won't care too much as they make money from them, but the average photo buff, like me, will be happy with the cell camera's.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Good for you. I haven't bothered to memorize my cameras. But since I usually use a semi auto mode, the final setting is done at the time of exposure. No big deal. I didn't pay thousands of dollars to buy modern sophisticated cameras with very accurate advanced software, to use the camera on manual.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Your flip phone is a rather poor comparison for the high end camera phones that are available now. There are simple techniques to use to hold them steady.

aellman Loc: Boston MA

The thing to remember is that phone cameras do not have the creative controls you mention. They have digital imitations of those controls. Nonetheless I have some great shots taken with my iPhones.
They're terrific when you don't need the creative controls. ("The best camera is the one you have with you.")

Sunset. August, 2019. iPhone 6s.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

I’ve seen it called computative imagery. It replaces mechanical counterparts. And I’m sure you’ve seen the apps like Pro Camera that give you a lot of creative control over the shot.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

You know what's really great. The number of cell phone sales vs the decreasing sale of DSLR camera, those people never compare their pictures or the those taken by DSLR cameras.
They don't feel threatened or the need to be arrogant, dismissive or engage in pompous a$$ self-serving boasting. They seem to be a happy little group of photographers. Just think of all the various software programs that exist to make sure those who use DSLR's can enhance manipulate or otherwise embellish their "real photograph"

tankdonovan Loc: Tennessee

Cell phones have not only hurt camera sells but also computers. Laptops for certain. These cell phones wonders are a lot of peoples phones/cameras/computers/TVs and more all rolled in one.

DionYSeus919 Loc: Fort Bragg, NC

For me my phone is great for quick picks I don't plan to sell. Not saying I haven't captured some great shots that could sell, but as an event photographer not many clients would appreciate my showing up with the same device they have I their pockets. Which brings me to my greatest complaint--TOO MANY DIY cellphonetographers out there. It has made people reluctant to pay for professional, certified, services. They all think they can do it themselves. I have seen my bottom line drop due to this. Annoying though, is when I get a group posed just right and bystanders want to crowd for the shot like a press pool. And MOST annoying is hen people want to pass me their phones for the shot. I have learned to refuse.