miteehigh Loc: Arizona

A lot of us want to create the best photographs possible. For that reason we can become overly consumed with our camera, lenses and all of the accompanying stuff. I know, I have done that. Been there, done that.

On our recent trip to SE Asia, i took none of my multitude of cameras and lenses. I simply used my smart phone. To be honest, I enjoyed our trip a heck of lot more by not having to schlep stuff around. Some of you have seen my photographs made on that trip. There is absolutely nothing wrong with those images...to a point.

It all comes down what we want to photograph and the eventual presentation of our images. I wouldn't want to print my smart phone pictures to 16X20 and I wouldn't think that taking photos of wildlife would be likely.

It isn't that I don't have gear...probably some of the finest glass and bodies made at the time I bought them. But is it about seeing and recording or is it about parading gear instead of photographs?

Quixdraw Loc: x

The tools suit the craftsman, I enjoy using good ones. I haven't owned a cell phone since shortly after I retired. Photography is an important part of every trip, and I carry a full kit, cameras, lenses and bits & pieces. Personal choice. Phones are a part of the present world, IMO as much a detraction as addition.

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

I'm not sure about the printing part. John Paul Caponigro presented an entire portfolio of composites from images captured along the coast of Spain and Portugal with an iPhone. These were printed at 14" x 14". To view Go To and scroll down to the section titles "Land In land – When Studies Turn Into Finished Works.

Paul J. Svetlik Loc: Colorado

If you eat bread only about twice a year Miteehigh, you wouldn't own a bread machine, right?
If you can get by with a telephone, it is all right, too.
You can go even further and get by - buying postcards when you travel.
Or even better, you can carry a sketch pad.
Whatever makes you happy.
Cheers!

suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ

As the cameras on the iPhone have gotten better I find myself using it more and more often. For me it replaces a "regular" camera for many tasks of everyday living. Because it's all automated it allows me to concentrate on composition, lighting and in the moment opportunities. And the video and slo mo is so simple and effective. And panoramics are fun and easy to do. And, most importantly it's the camera I always have with me.

Of course it has limitations and for those times I use my very capable cameras. You can't bird with a cell phone- yet. However for those that feel the need to take an all or nothing stand for or against cell phone cameras -why not use and enjoy the benefits of both.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

Photography is different for each of us. Some must do and have the best others of us my have good stuff and so on/ I believe that photography is in the eye and mind of the person and/or the end use of the final picture. By that to keep on the phone or computer or maybe sell or keep as larger picture.
No rules on how and what to take pictures with or do with them.
I know a well nationally known pro that over 20 years or so has a lot less than 1,000 pictures saved. Most of us don't save only the great one but all, like me.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

The only photographer you need to compare yourself against is the one with a better camera.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

I only carry my phone if my wife is not with me; which is not often. I have never taken a picture with it. Don't even know how. I am proud of that fact.

BebuLamar

The gear is important the photographer is important. Both are important. I think we should not debate about what's important any more. The gear alone won't take pictures neither the photographer alone can take a picture.
You have a lot of gear that's good for you. You don't have good gear that's OK too. Some of us are rich and some of us are not so we can't have all the gear we want (or need most likely not needed unless we do photography for a living). It's OK too if you just enjoy having nice gear instead of getting good pictures with them. It's OK too if you spend all your leisure time studying the technical aspects of your gear. It's fine also if you don't want to know anything remotely technical just want to take some pictures.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

It depends, I think. When I saw the TV show that generated my interest in night sky photography back in 2017, my only cameras were the D200 that I started digital photograpgy with back in 2006 or 2007, and the D300 & D300s that I had traded for a year or so earlier. There is no way I could have accomplished what was expected of me at the Milky Way photography workshop with those cameras and the lenses that I had...they simply were not capable of delivering what was needed, for multiple reasons. But the D810 and 14-24mm f/2.8 zoom that I was able to buy served perfectly. And it was their design, specifications, and performance that were important, not that the lens has a gold ring around it.

Since then, it been my good fortune to add other csmeras, a D850 and a couple of D500s. I've come to really like and enjoy the D500s as my "mainline" cameras and the D810 and D850 when more resolution is appropriate and useful. And yes, I still have the D300 brothers for when 12 MP is "just right."

So yes...in my experience, equipment does matter, in very tangible ways. But it doesn't "cover me," or "bail me out" if I don't know I'm doing.

Finally...I shamelessly 'preprocess' my images as much as possible. So I have come to much prefer cameras which afford me comprehensive but straightforward picture controls. The better cameras do this much better than lower tier models, just as they provide for direct adjustment of critical parameters without having to enter the menu system.

So for me, it is not snobbery or just "showing off." My choices of equipment are intended to make my process better and more transparent and more predictable and more repeatable.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

I have seen prints from the best cell phone cameras that looked very good at 16x20. A good, creative photographer can make great photos from any camera, as long as he knows the capabilities and limitations of his equipment, and works within those.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

"JohnSwanda" I agree, knowing the capability of the equipment. To me photography iOS in the eye of the photographer and a cell phone or a camera in the same hands takes the same picture (good or bad) the final use is limitation as to the use. Is it to be picture on the computer or phone or 4X6 or 30X40.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

I think of it more as specific capabilities for specialized forms of photography. Cell phones don't have sufficient capabilities to shoot things like fast action in low light, sports, birds in flight, etc.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

I agree. The point I was trying to make, it ain't the camera/phone it the person that MAKES the picture.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

This is so true. I've just spent a year with high school kids. The last semester with about 100 seniors. They spent the energy that we spend talking about the lack of capabilities of cell phone cameras creating remarkable work using cell phone cameras. Apparently being unaware of the limitations of their medium has freed them to create some quite amazing art using that medium.

Equipment can be important. It can be significantly important. But so can the ingenuity to figure out ways to work around those perceived limitations.