Cell Phone for Candid Street Photography: I am thinking of getting my first smart phone (Samsung Note 4 or iPhone 6 plus) for possible use in stealthy street photography. Has anyone...

berchman Loc: South Central PA

I am thinking of getting my first smart phone (Samsung Note 4 or iPhone 6 plus) for possible use in stealthy street photography. Has anyone had any experience in using a cell phone stealthily to get candid street shots? If so, what techniques do you use to conceal from the subject that you are taking his/her photo?

SonyA580 Loc: FL in the winter & MN in the summer

If you haven't already, check out the resolution on those 2 models. The demo I saw the other day had the Samsung miles ahead of the iPhone in resolution.

berchman Loc: South Central PA

SonyA580 wrote:

If you haven't already, check out the resolution on those 2 models. The demo I saw the other day had the Samsung miles ahead of the iPhone in resolution.

It does seem as though the Samsung might be superior to the iPhone, although the COVR (http://covrphoto.com/) is made only for the iPhone.

creativ simon Loc: Coulsdon, South London

berchman wrote:

I am thinking of getting my first smart phone (Samsung Note 4 or iPhone 6 plus) for possible use in stealthy street photography. Has anyone had any experience in using a cell phone stealthily to get candid street shots? If so, what techniques do you use to conceal from the subject that you are taking his/her photo?

I use a samsung galaxy note 2 and it is great for candid street photography, have 2 works in my current exhibition taken with my phone and guarantee you cannot tell which ones

Nobody takes any notice of a phone but a dslr haha

If you want to know and see more PM me

bkellyusa Loc: Nashville, TN

The Samsung S5 is the winner in this group. First time I took a picture with mine it kind of shocked at how good it was for a cell phone.

creativ simon Loc: Coulsdon, South London

bkellyusa wrote:

The Samsung S5 is the winner in this group. First time I took a picture with mine it kind of shocked at how good it was for a cell phone.

:thumbup: :thumbup:

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

SonyA580 wrote:

If you haven't already, check out the resolution on those 2 models. The demo I saw the other day had the Samsung miles ahead of the iPhone in resolution.

Gotta agree with SonyA580:
see: http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-253034-1.html#4258143

I agree that my Samsung Galaxy Note III (13 Mp) and Note IV (16 Mp) easily win the resolution wars. Wide angle hi rez with lotsa crop options and always at hyperfocal! Only the need for shallow DOF will send you back to the equipment stable.

Dave in SD

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

berchman wrote:

I am thinking of getting my first smart phone (Samsung Note 4 or iPhone 6 plus) for possible use in stealthy street photography. Has anyone had any experience in using a cell phone stealthily to get candid street shots? If so, what techniques do you use to conceal from the subject that you are taking his/her photo?

The other option would be a camera with a tilting LCD.

A person taking a picture with a phone is routine, but he is recognized as taking a picture.

A person looking down at an LCD may just be making adjustments and not quite ready yet to actually take a picture.

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

rehess wrote:

The other option would be a camera with a tilting LCD.

A person taking a picture with a phone is routine, but he is recognized as taking a picture.

A person looking down at an LCD may just be making adjustments and not quite ready yet to actually take a picture.

True, and an excellent point: some of the smaller "bridge superzooms" like the Canon SX50 or SX60 have very functional and versatile articulated LEDs.

Dave in SD

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

Uuglypher wrote:

True, and an excellent point: some of the smaller "bridge superzooms" like the Canon SX50 or SX60 have very functional and versatile articulated LEDs.

Dave in SD

:thumbup: :thumbup: I have used my SX50 and previously SX40, to take photos of people all around that had no idea I was taking their picture since i was looking down at my camera!!

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

bkellyusa wrote:

The Samsung S5 is the winner in this group. First time I took a picture with mine it kind of shocked at how good it was for a cell phone.

:thumbup: Shocked me too! Here are 4 from my s5. I've posted these before, but I think it speaks to this cameras quality for the Op's purpose. They still look good at full resolution. All are straight out of the camera with no PP.

Memorial Day, Kenilworth NJ - Very bright midday sun

(Download)

Boyden Valley Winery, Cambridge, VT - Late afternoon

(Download)

Bed & Breakfast, Byram, NJ - Around 30-45 minutes before sunset

(Download)

Bed & Breakfast, Byram, NJ - Sunset

(Download)

berchman Loc: South Central PA

mwsilvers wrote:

:thumbup: Shocked me too! Here are 3 from my s5. I've posted these before, but I think it speaks to this cameras quality for the Op's purpose. They still look good at full resolution.

Unfortunately, to get it unlocked with no contract so that it would work with any American carrier I will have to wait until Feb 2015 when the new law concerning unlocking goes into effect. My purpose, aside from choosing between the Samsung and the Apple, was to see the feasibility of using a smart phone for candid street shots. The one person who said it was not a problem to just hold the phone in front of you (creativ simon) did not post any frontal people shots to support his contention.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

berchman wrote:

Unfortunately, to get it unlocked with no contract so that it would work with any American carrier I will have to wait until Feb 2015 when the new law concerning unlocking goes into effect. My purpose, aside from choosing between the Samsung and the Apple, was to see the feasibility of using a smart phone for candid street shots. The one person who said it was not a problem to just hold the phone in front of you (creativ simon) did not post any frontal people shots to support his contention.

Well, these are only moderately candid as these people are known to me and the composition leaves much to be desired as I was just testing out my then new phone in bright midday sun for the first time. Hope they help a bit. Take a look at the flag in the background of the second photo at the highest resolution. Even though that was not my point of focus, the stars and the stripes are still pretty crisp and sharp.

(Download)

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

As far as the shots being really candid, I don't see that as being too much of an issue. Most of the time when you're composing a shot it will just look like you're using your smartphone for some other task, like browsing the internet. And if you are taking these candid shots on a busy street no one will know exactly what you're focused on anyway.

Racmanaz Loc: Sunny Tucson!

berchman wrote:

It does seem as though the Samsung might be superior to the iPhone, although the COVR (http://covrphoto.com/) is made only for the iPhone.

Don't forget the Nokia 1020 :)