In the January 2024 PSA Magazine there are two articles dedicated to smart phones. One of the articles is entitled, "The Freedom, Versatility, and Capability of Today's iPhone Photography." The other is a documentary about a photographer's journey towards using an iPhone as a primary camera. Both articles display exceptional photographs. One author points out differences between his dlsr and iPhone 13 ProMax. There is not a lot of difference, but he does point out some situations where the little iPhone simply would not work.

While some may not care or want to ignore the advancements of the mobile phone as a camera, the fact is that it is here and quite capable. While people on UHH can argue, ad nauseam, about FF vs. this or that, IQ of each system, 31 pages and counting on the latest drivel on RAW vs. JPG, the fact is that that the phone is a very capable system. The photographs in the articles far surpass all but a few photos in the Gallery of the UHH. One author notes that the use of modern processing capabilities, including AI and algorithms to reduce or eliminate noise also benefit the iPhone camera. He also notes that the versatility of the phone is amazing...during a course he was teaching people did panoramas, macro photography, underwater photography and light painting...all with the little ol' camera. Of course, the phones cannot do birds in flight well or sports (except video is quite good), but as a general shooter or for travel, it may be all that is needed by the rational open minded person.

In my case, I do not care to use the iPhone as a camera replacement. The ergonomics and the rapidity at which I can deploy the phone camera are a problem. But, that could well be my problem rather than the device. What I do know, and will be teaching to my camera club, is that the iPhone can be a very capable mini-computer when I use a regular camera, edit the pics in LR Mobile on my phone, sync with the cloud and later polish up editing on my home computer. Now I come home from a vacation with nearly fully edited pics, all avail on the cloud with my raw and side car files for incorporation into my beloved LR Classic. Its downright voodoo.

What is clear is that the money behind phones is far greater than the money behind cameras. The computational capabilities, meshing with the cloud and so many other capabilities far eclipse our traditional cameras.

What is a universal truth is that using a camera as an artistic implement is the key to success. To paraphrase the adage that, "amateurs talk tactics while soldiers talk logistics," I believe amateurs talk gear while photographers talk art.

Yes. Just like a FF and APS-C are both 3:2 in ratio but full frame is 36x24 mm and standard APS-C is about 23.5x 15.6 mm.

I wondered about M4/3 too. I figured that a 1 & 1/3 inch diagonal made no sense. Those old video tube Vidicon standards are confusion to many of us former film photographers who never worked with video (tube or solid state).

Yes of course you are right, I could and never will understand the need to spend thousands of pounds or dollars on a phone with a camera that had a few fixed lenses on it where you were tied to an expensive contract to use it.

I recently got myself a second hand OM-D E-M1 II at a great price but nowhere in the manual does it mention making phone calls or contacting your provider to keep it going, ah well, it must be so old it didn't have calling technology, never mind, I have a phone anyway that is hardly used.