srt101fan

Good points!

Riverrune

I still use a DSLR and mirrorless cameras. The post processing is the main reason, and I just like them and the variety of lenses a LOT better than a simple cell phone. My guess is most people use their cell phones because thats all they have and they really aren't that serious about photography. While I know serious photographers who use their cell phones occasionally, I don't know any who go out on a serious shoot without a DSLR.

genocolo Loc: Vail and Gasparilla Island

Great follow-up for us old guys. Thanks for reminding me of the line.

Bruce K

I believe phone cameras are for pictures and a DSLR or Mirrorless camera is for photographs. An iPhone 12 Pro Max with 512 MB costs around $1,400 from Apple. A Nikon D7500 with 20.1 Mp capture goes for around $1,000 new. A decent lens like a Nikon
AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-105mm F3.5-5.6G ED VR can be had for about $400.00. It comes down to preference and what images you want to capture. For ease of use I choose my iPhone 12. But for trips to important places and events I will choose my Nikon D500 or Nikon Z7. I have Z lenses from 14mm to 200mm, all at F/2.8 and an F lens at 200-500mm. We live in amazing times with so many choices. So choose wisely and enjoy the ride!

srt101fan

Isn't it a bit silly criticising a Swiss army knife for not skinning a bear as well as a hunting knife? 🤔

Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

A great many of photographers have moved forward for convenience. After all, it’s easy to take a photo with most cell phones. I won’t go into why they are prolific because that is a thread all its own.
Now I’m not a camera snob and more of a crusty old coot who loves his “babies” as my wife calls them.
There is nothing wrong with a phone, a film camera, a DSLR, or a mirror less. Some days, Ill take my Canon 5D and some days I’ll take my AE-1. There are some days I feel obligated to play with my 1v-HS. It all depends on my mood that morning. There is noting wrong with your object as long as the image is what you aimed for.
Spend less time counting DSLRs and more times taking photos.

genocolo Loc: Vail and Gasparilla Island

[quote=Alphabravo2020]I fell in and then out of love with the cell phone since my first Droid Incredible. My online activities are mostly on the workstation at home and the cell stays in the car. Narrow minded is not the right term for been there done that.

As you get older you may open your mind to a different way of being. Yes GPS is important but there is technology to provide the bare minimum functionality that is smaller and with better battery life. A cell phone on an expedition is not as useful as you think in fact it is a bit of a resource hog. I can fire up my dslr any time on a two week trip and know it will be ready to work.

With respect to art, the cell phone is too limiting. I see nothing beautiful or motivating in my cell phone snaps. That is probably my limits as an artist but I prefer the dslr "medium".[/quote

Why do you say that the cellphone is too limiting as to art? I’m just interested, not arguing. I agree that it is limited in the physical sense, I.e., not appropriate for most bif or long range wildlife or long range landscape. But “art”?

genocolo Loc: Vail and Gasparilla Island

Hmmm….the “picture” v “photograph” conundrum arises!

pego101

Duh maybe to get optical zoom?

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

What’s the point of our photography? Everything seems absurd until someone admires our equipment.

Joseph2534 Loc: Charlotte

Canon, Nikon, Sony? Which is the best? The best camera is the one you have with you, which, for me, is usually my iPhone, although my Canon G16 is also hard to beat. When I need a little exercise I carry the 5D with 35 - 135 lens.

Maybe someone could post identical shots taken with the iPhone and 5D.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

The article does not mention a mirror but the one image (at about 2 minutes) may allude to the existence of one.
Not sure what is above the sliding assembly... They don't go into any detail. Doesn't seem like a heck of a lot of zoom...
https://www.dpreview.com/news/6702124861/ifixit-tears-down-a-galaxy-s20-ultra-to-show-off-the-ridiculous-camera-array

Like you said, maybe...
But I won't make an assumption.

Danielmb

I love that wooden bridge. Vermont or New Hampshire??

Alphabravo2020

That is mostly a personal and holistic opinion. On the objective side here are a few reasons:

1. Control of focal length: On a cell phone this can only be done with your feet or approximated with digital zoom which has obvious limitations due to resolution and noise (or now you can buy lens attachments for your phone). You have no control over the relative size of the background and foreground compared to your subject without control of focal length.

2. Control of aperture. You cannot exclude or de-emphasize or artistically enhance the background of your subject without aperture control. Aperture control gives you a front and rear gate. Cell phones don't have this.

3. Filters. Without the ability to add an ND or CP filter you cannot control aperture in bright light. These two filters cannot be replaced by any software.

4. Lens personality/character. The artistic effect of a particular lens cannot be duplicated. That is why the lens exists and it represents the skill of master lens crafters. This is also tied to aperture control since the lens effects fall off quickly with smaller apertures. Cell phone lenses are designed for the least amount of personality/character possible and are more documentary.

Here is an example from a location study for a model shoot where I was wondering about this very question. At smaller apertures I am increasingly unhappy with the lack of lens effects and increased background detail. Again, a personal opinion, but with a cell phone I would be stuck at f/2.4 or thereabouts.

genocolo Loc: Vail and Gasparilla Island

Squam Lake, NH