traderjohn Loc: New York City

My cell phone is always in my pocket. A couple of years ago my son called and wants to know if want to spend a couple of days skiing. We are taking the lift to the top and I look over and see this. Mirrorless or DSLR would never be able to take that picture in that moment

EJMcD

For some people but not me. In fact, I'm still content using my D5 DSLR for ALL my photos. To sum things up, some like taking pictures with their smart phones and some like taking pictures with a CAMERA. Invoking a warn out expression..."To each his own".

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

I mostly agree. Flagship smartphones can handle most photography genres when viewed on a typical computer monitor, phone or small print. Additionally they out prefrom top of the line dedicated cameras in some situations, unencumbered by photography skills.

Where the phones are lacking is output size, and sports, action, bird, genres. Every brand of flagship phone cameras are truly amazing and when you factor in convenience and cost, including the non-camera functions, there is no comparison. Phones have taken over the amatuer camera markets by a large margin and are nipping at the professional. It won't be long now. Beam me up Scotty!

gouldopfl

Most people don't understand that a phone doesn't have the same size sensor and that a 200 mp sensor ( Samsung s23 ultra) isn't the same thing if we had a 200 mp full frame camera. Most don't care, they want something easy to take selfies and pictures for their Facebook page.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Yup, my phone and cameras are what they are for pixel size.
They're each different, and they each work. They take pictures.
Now my one camera (preferred) has more pixels than the others, but I still very much use the others, depending on what I'm doing/my intent as they each have different usage characteristics/benefits also.

Silkway2017

Amazing indeed !

traderjohn Loc: New York City

You do not have to like the chair lift picture or not. Given the same scenario would you, if had your real camera with you would you be able to capture a great moment? We were off the lift in about 10 seconds.

gwilliams6

Those small sized sensors and small lenses on smartphones are aided by all the AI tech to get those nice shots. And yes they are convenient and photo idiot-proof . If all you will ever need is to look at photos on your phone or computer screen, they will suffice. Certainly smartphones have taken over the point-and-shoot segments of the camera world, with just a few pro-quality compact mirrorless standouts still selling well.

But as a worldwide award winning pro of over 48 years in the business, IMHO you are incorrect. No, smartphones will not take over the professional market any time soon, if ever.

As Sony and others that make those smartphone sensors and their AI tech are now starting to add that AI tech to fullsize sensor cameras, the gap between the quality of images possible from smartphones and fullsize sensors cameras will widen. Fullsize sensor cameras, even without all the AI can produce images with greater resolution, detail, depth of field, dynamic range, less noise and do so much more in video and with flash than the best smartphones, especially when you take those images into your post production software.

The level of acceptance of the quality of smartphone images is a given in todays world of countless selfies, and quick image gratification on social media. But my professional clients still expect me to deliver better quality images for their needs.

And top news service agencies around the world still want the quality, performance and versatility to handle the most extreme situations that their staff photographers and videographers can best accomplish with fullsize sensor cameras. That isn't likely to change as more AI tech moves from smartphones to fullsize cameras.

On a recent trip to the Caribbean, my stepson took his iphone and his images were very good. I took my 50mp fulframe Sony A1, and my 61mp fullframe Sony A7RIV and when we blew up our images on my 4K screen laptop, you could easily see his best iphone images break up while my fullframe high megapixel images retained their resolution and detail.

If you love using your smartphone and that is all you need, then use it and be happy. This pro and other pros may carry our smartphones as a backup in a tight spot, but they wont be replacing our main gear, just the reality.

Cheers and best to you.

Retina Loc: Near Charleston,SC

Not all I need but at rehearsal, the phone is shut off and turns into a camera. It keeps me from lugging a scanner to practice. Grabbing my DSLR would not be very convenient. There are numerous other solutions out there like scan->pdf apps. This was just a quick jpg edit with Windows Photos. I agree. One key feature of even a cheap smart phone camera is convenience.

EJMcD

?? My post was not directed to anyone in particular and I don't recall saying I didn't like the chair lift photo. I understand that it was a great moment for you but maybe not so much for anyone else. I think my post was pretty clear with "TO EACH HIS OWN". You apparently overthought my post and read something that wasn't there. Please keep enjoying your cell phone and I'll keep enjoying my DSLR.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

I do enjoy my cell phone and also my Nikon Z6.

EJMcD

Attaguy!

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

bdk Loc: Sanibel Fl.

I see a lot of kids buying better cameras. They took good pixwith their phones. so now they are buying $500.00 cameras and are now calling themselves professional photographers

EJMcD

Really??? Where is that? Most kids/teens I know have little interest in cameras and have their selfie machine (aka cell phone) on 24/7. Many cell phones cost more than $500 and we all know a professional grade camera costs way more than that!