b top gun

I use my Samsung S22+ to complement both my Nikon D850 and my Nikon Z8; sometimes the S22+ is all I have. Better to get the shot than pass it up. Images from the S22+ print a nice 16" x 9".

Artcameraman Loc: Springfield NH

Each to his own, but give me Nikon!

ft Loc: New York, USA

The Smartphone technology is spectacular and is getting better every day. Add to that new phone apps for camera control and post processing, you can produce results that rival (and some would say beat) DSLRs and Mirrorless.

Professional photographer Rick Sammon, a well known Canon "Explorer of Light" and later Sony Ambassador, started a Facebook group "Explorers of Life" -- dedicated exclusively to Smartphone photography.
[ https://www.facebook.com/groups/1011002886955928 ].

To prove a point, Rick recently completed a photo safari to Tanzania and posted daily photos solely using smartphones -- an Apple iPhone 15 Pro and a Samsung Galaxy S23. The results were super-impressive to the point where he did not miss his "big camera with big lenses" at all. See attached photo.

I'm not about about to give up on my Canon ecosystem but I see advantages to learning how to maximize the potential of smart phones in creating awesome images.

Left: Big Camera/Lens taken in Botswana 2016; Right: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Photo taken recently in Tanzania, 2023

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

I said exactly what I meant. I wasn’t sure what would result {nor exactly which piece would control that response}. Now, as a result of my experiments, I believe the result would not have been useful - converting the photo to JPG was indeed useful.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Safari also resulted in my downloading the HEIC file instead of displaying it.

kb6kgx Loc: Simi Valley, CA

Just upgraded from an iPhone 12 Pro to the 15 Pro. Didn't need the "Max" because other than the 3x vs 5x tele lens, and a screen that is 1/2-inch longer, the Pro and Max are essentially identical. My thought is, if I need more than a 3x tele, I'll get the DSLR with the 70-300. Having said that:

The cameras in these things are awesome. Video is darn near broadcast quality without having to spend thousands on a commercial-quality Sony. I've taken still photos with the iPhone 12 (and now 15) that it would be difficult to tell whether the photo was taken with the iPhone or DSLR.

chrisg-optical Loc: New York, NY

Cell phone makers have optimized the internal post processing of captured images to make them appear sharp and clear with good contrast, color fidelity, not to mention AI in newer models to make the process idiot proof, almost. I like the cell phone camera for quick documentary, street shots and videos, but there are limitations for certain genres of photography, such as sports, action, wildlife. The cell phone camera is best if you are in close range to the subject, or maybe for travel or landscape shots. One of my coworkers recently went on a European vacation to Paris and London, and he took amazing shots with his iPhone. Some of the images could easily be sold as postcards.

I recently acquired this monocular accessory which has a universal mount for cell phones >> https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CC92PH7J It's a kludge to say the least, as it requires a tripod to keep it stable. It is also manual focus only, with no optical zoom. I wish camera makers would develop a robust mount standard so that lenses can be more securely attached, but it is clumsy regardless.

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

I have an IPhone 13 Pro Max and have printed up to 16x24 with good results.

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

My wife and I were recently on a trip in Europe. We left our heavy camera's and lenses at home and traveled only with our IPhone 13 Pro Max's and a small Lumix camera. I also packed an SD wallet full of SD cards that were formatted on the small Lumix camera. I created and named Folders on the SD cards with the names of the cities that we would be visiting. Our process went like this: Each day we would go out and explore the city we were in at the time. When we were back at our hotel in the afternoon, the Iphone images were first backed up to Amazon Prime Photos via the wifi at the hotel. Next, using an Apple IPhone SD card adapter I inserted the first SD card that had the name of the folder for the city and then I backed up all the images shot that day to the SD card. This process continued in each city. When we got home, I took the SD cards and copied them to my desktop PC. It was a very easy process. My wife also likes to edit some of her IPhone images on her IPAD while we are traveling. We used the same process for backup up images. She just name a folder on the SD card, Edited IPhone images. I have attached a photo of what the Apple card reader's look like.

(Download)

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

When my phone can do the following, then you can pry my Sony a1 from my cold dead hands.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Have you given it a chance?

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Smart phones are made for taking pictures of what is there, not for making images of situations we wish existed.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

That's what editors are for.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

but, as you already implied, one camera should not be judged by what is created by another camera + editor.