cyclespeed Loc: Calgary, Alberta Canada

My daughters were both offered a new mirrorless camera. They both said, independently of each other I might add, "Thanks for the offer but could I upgrade my phone instead?"
The future is now me thinks.

Mustanger Loc: Grants Pass, Oregon USA

A phone camera cannot get BIF as easily as a DSLR. I do so much better with a viewfinder and all the control buttons right under my fingers . Composing and zooming are much easier and (for me) faster by far.

Bubbee Loc: Aventura, Florida

Well, I had a rude awakening Sunday last at my Grandson's 31st birthday dinner in a medium lit restaurant. He objects to my using my SB800 speedlight on my D7100......he just doesn't like the flash, even though I bounce, so I struggled with iso 6400, between f5.6 and 7.1 and 1/20th shutter. He's my Grandson...his wish is my command!
Then his fiancee. (who I adore) took out her iPhone and shot a few
Sorry to tell you...Hers are great! She sent them to me to incorporate in the group. The resolution is fine.
I'm still struggling with mine in post!
Boohoo!!!

Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

When I started High School, my teacher explained that the camera does 1% of the work. The remaining 99% is done by the nut in the viewfinder. In my opinion, a SLR will produce a better image than that of a cell phone. In a couple of years, perhaps the camera feature of a cell phone may produce similar or compatible images to a hand held camera.

Back then, the idea of a mobile phone was one with a long telephone cord. We never imagined what we have now.

When I try to explain to my children that snapshots of people and their food is not a photograph, they roll their eyes at me.
I still view their snapshots with merit and critique the final image to lighting, clarity and position of the photographer.

We as photographers should gently critique each other so as to improve upon our skill set. I think that we should acknowledge that the tiny camera on board a phone is a feature such as a calculator or compass it has as well. Perhaps phone manufacturers will improve the tiny little marvels and create manipulative features such a shutter speed, aperature and ISO settings. This is on the way. Being able to provide better resolution and clarity should be soon on the horizon.

Well now each photographer will say their rig is better and provide reasons why yours is not. This is a forum for knowledge, sharing and growth should be fostered.

I think we should put our snobbishness on hold for now and see what develops. (No Pun Intended!). There will be many changes on the horizon. We should embrace them!!

Let's not try to be sarcastic or arrogant about which camera type or camera model is better.

Happy Shooting?

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

I always point people to Emil Pakarklis on YouTube to see what you can do with these little marvels and knowledgeable folks on this forum have gotten good prints up to 16x24. They’re just a different style of camera but they are real cameras.

BigDaddy Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

I've almost quit using my D5200 to take pictures. My daughter (1500 miles away) sends cell pics of my GD to Google, where I DL them, edit the crap out of them (that's my hobby, more than taking pics) I've only been taking pics for 45 years, and I have always had as much or more fun in post than actual taking of pics.

I like to edit the good ones, use them for desktop bg slide show, and upload to Facebook albums where My Portal provides a 24/7 slideshow of all my favorite pics on the kitchen counter, where everyone can see them, and I watch them whilst I eat my oatmeal. I like the fact that all her pictures need a little to a lot of post work, that's where most of the enjoyment comes for me. Here are a couple I did yesterday that she took in Hawaii.

These may not be world class to you guys, but to me, more than "good enough" and why cell popularity has soared, while "real cameras" are waning.

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jzehaz Loc: Pleasantville, NY

I recently purchased a Pixel 3a to replace my aging iPhone 6. I am amazed at the quality of the photos this camera produces. I prefer to use my D7100, but I like the ability to always have a terrific camera on hand. The Night Sight feature - being able to take low light photos without the flash is a must-have feature. You can take photos in both jpeg and raw formats. And the photos upload immediately to my Google photos. This camera is the replacement I always wanted when my Canon G-9 died. I can't comment on the video as I don't really use it, but the photos are quite good. As has been mentioned zooming can be awkward but manageable.

weedhook

I have a Galaxy S5, and the camera in my cell phone often gets me better photos that either of my PS cameras (Canon and Sony). I have gotten some very nice 8x10 prints from the cell phone camera. Nevertheless, I don't consider it a replacement for my Canon DSLR. Probably never will be either. Someday if I ever decide to upgrade the cell phone, it will be interesting to see what the newer cameras do in those.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Like all cameras, one has to know their limits, the cons as well as the pros.

BigDaddy Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

Yes. When I feel like fooling around I use my Nikon. Otherwise, the cell is super easy.

For example, if I want to do some light painting, I use my dslr. If I want to set up a still life with fruit and stuff, a tripod, and all that, the DSLR is it. Otherwise, 99% of the time the cell does just fine. In fact, the more I fool with the cell the worse the pictures get. Of course if I were getting paid for fine photos, I guess I'd use the DSLR.

The good news is no matter what I use, every single picture needs post work. You get to spend lots of quality time with pics in post. Otherwise, I'd find something else to do.

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LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

There are more photos being taken now then ever before in history. Primarily by people with cellphones, and most of those people have never used a "real" camera and wouldn't be taking pictures now if they didn't have a cellphone. The vast majority of those photos will never be printed. They are shared, viewed and re-viewed on personal devices. That's the way it is in today's world. To deny it would be as foolish as Kodak's denial of digital photography's potential. We all know how that worked out for Kodak.
Here's my prediction: As soon as Canon, Nikon, Olympus, etc can get the pro's to go mirrorless, which they will, it is already happening, the bottom will fall out of DSLR development and production. I'll wager that in 5 years new DSLR models will be few and far between. That too has already started. It's no secret that Canon has shelved plans for a 7DIII. Full frame and APSC cameras will still be there but mirrorless will rule the roost. On the other end of the spectrum bridge cameras, point-and-shoots, and other pocket cameras will continue to lose sales to cellphones. Canon, Nikon, and other camera manufacturers will continue to push those lower end cameras simply because they don't have anything else to compete with against cells. It's going to be a losing battle though. I am surprised we haven't seen Canon and Nikon cellphones, but, I bet we will and I bet it won't be that far down the road either because the handwriting is on the wall.
Debate it all you want, but, the world of photography is changing rapidly. That's the way it is with new technology. Once the public embraces it, as they have cellphones, the advances start coming at a staggering rate and it becomes unstoppable.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

The only photographic function my iPhone serves is that for determining exposure and processing. One of the best apps I've run across.

Additionally, I carry a camera with me 99.9% of the time I leave the house. I don't need to rely on some miniature camera in my phone.
--Bob

BebuLamar

Yup! It's my wife's Samsung Galaxy S8. The damn camera app keeps closing on me. I don't know how to change the exposure when it's backlighted.
With my camera I can set the aperture and shutter speed with my eyes closed.

TucsonJeff

Thank you!!! I totally agree!! My cell phone actually does take quite decent pictures, but it's a very awkward situation locating the screen buttons, hoping I don't drop it, hoping the app doesn't close if I accidentally touch the wrong "button" on the overly-sensitive glass screen, making sure my fingers aren't covering the lens, etc. If I want to take "real" pictures, I'll use my Nikon, which has much more advanced features, and I can shoot in RAW format.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

There's part of the problem. Phone photography. The phone is not taking the photos, the camera is. Smart phones are multifunctional devices. Even the older flip phones that were nothing more than phone and camera are more than just a phone. Todays smart phones are not only telephones, they are still cameras, video cameras, miniature computers and storage devices. They have far more computing power than the Apollo spacecraft that took mankind to the moon and back.
The camera may be contained in the same device as a cell phone but the camera is not the phone, it's the camera and it's not phone photography, it's camera photography.