Cell phone cameras vs. DSLRs
Jun 13, 2016 11:55:38 #
Jersey guy
Loc: New Joisey
All responses are right on. Depends on the moment the cirumstances and the photographer. I think I need to explore the auto ISO...never have done that. Also the A+ setting. I have stuck with the "P" settings and have seen the limitations. The workaround for the bad exposures due to spot metering is to find a good exposure for the enviornment and set the camera to manual conditions that won't vary according to the meter.
Jun 13, 2016 11:58:24 #
gvarner wrote:
I've found Auto ISO to be very helpful in low light with my DSLR.
Or just set to a low ISO value, such as 100. Easy enough.
Jun 13, 2016 12:18:14 #
Jersey guy wrote:
Does anyone know the effective f values of typical cell phone cameras? It is very frustrating for me, a DSLR owner, to struggle to get a decent image in dim lighting situations, fumbling with high ISOs that create too much noise, and even with IS I too often have a blurred photo from movement, (mine or the subject's) while the non-photographers with their cells grab a bright, sharp image with no hesitation. My15-85mm Canon...not a cheap lens...is at best, f 3.5.
f/2.2 on my iPhone 6s Plus... It's fixed. Exposure is controlled with ISO and shutter speed.
Jun 13, 2016 12:35:07 #
davidcaley
Loc: Utah
Scott Kelby says the reason cell phones take good photos results from Auto ISO is fixed setting in cell phone cameras. He recommends we try it in our DSLR cameras. Does not work for me. I do like the images sent from iPhone 6 to friends and family. I even export them from Apple "Photos" to Lightroom and find I can adjust them to my satisfaction but still just use them for 'screen' use but limit size 5x7 if printing on paper.
Jun 13, 2016 12:59:33 #
amfoto1
Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA
Jersey guy wrote:
Does anyone know the effective f values of typical cell phone cameras? It is very frustrating for me, a DSLR owner, to struggle to get a decent image in dim lighting situations, fumbling with high ISOs that create too much noise, and even with IS I too often have a blurred photo from movement, (mine or the subject's) while the non-photographers with their cells grab a bright, sharp image with no hesitation. My15-85mm Canon...not a cheap lens...is at best, f 3.5.
The cell phone pic might look wunnerful as a 300x500 pixel image on Facebook or as an email attachment... but compare a 13x19" 300 ppi print from a current model DSLR and taken by someone who knows how to use their gear, with a comparably sized print made from a cell phone snapshot. The difference will be VERY obvious!
Not to be nasty, but if your images from your Canon DSLR and lens aren't "blowing away" cell phone snapshots, I'd look at the user instead of the gear.
All other things being equal, there is just no way a 3.6 x 4.8mm 1/3" sensor in an iPhone 5S or iPhone 6, for example, can produce better image quality than the approx 15 x 22mm APS-C sensor in your Canon DSLR.
Jun 13, 2016 12:59:35 #
JG, I agree with Kmgw9v. For me, printing is the final destination of photographs I take. 12x18 minimum. Cellphones just don't cut it.
--Bob
--Bob
Jersey guy wrote:
Does anyone know the effective f values of typical cell phone cameras? It is very frustrating for me, a DSLR owner, to struggle to get a decent image in dim lighting situations, fumbling with high ISOs that create too much noise, and even with IS I too often have a blurred photo from movement, (mine or the subject's) while the non-photographers with their cells grab a bright, sharp image with no hesitation. My15-85mm Canon...not a cheap lens...is at best, f 3.5.
Jun 13, 2016 13:02:35 #
The situation could have been remedied at the start. When you wrote "..got out of the car and looked at the lake." The correct phrase should have been, got out of the car with camera in hand and looked at the lake.
--Bob
--Bob
paulrph1 wrote:
Went of a fishing trip and got out of the car and ... (show quote)
Jun 13, 2016 13:09:05 #
amfoto1
Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA
Jersey guy wrote:
All responses are right on. Depends on the moment the cirumstances and the photographer. I think I need to explore the auto ISO...never have done that. Also the A+ setting. I have stuck with the "P" settings and have seen the limitations. The workaround for the bad exposures due to spot metering is to find a good exposure for the enviornment and set the camera to manual conditions that won't vary according to the meter.
Those are probably the WORST things to do.
Head over to Amazon... buy Bryan Peterson's "Understanding Exposure" and pick out a guide book specifically for your particular camera model. Read them. Read them again. Learn them!
Once you've done that, you'll know when, why and how to use Av, Tv, P, M, and M with Auto ISO... as well as Exposure Compensation, etc.... and you'll know why it's usually best to avoid those options like A+.
The "limitation" is your knowledge of how to use the camera.... control that DSLRs are designed to give you.
OTOH, if all you really want to do is take snapshots and rely on all the automation to handle everything for you.... Might be happier dumping your DSLR gear and getting a good cell phone or point 'n' shoot digital camera.
Right now you are flailing around and just randomly "trying things" with your DSLR.... That can be a very long and very frustrating path. If you instead take the time to learn how to get the best out of your gear - read some books (above), take a class or two, go out and shoot with other DSLR users instead of cell phone snapshooters, etc. - in the end you'll be a much happier camper, for sure.
Jun 13, 2016 13:12:41 #
peterg
Loc: Santa Rosa, CA
Reinaldokool wrote:
Agree that cropping in any camera is merely cutting off pixels and can be avoided. On my iPhone, I use "ProCamera", which gives me good choices:Tiny sensor. When they zoom, it is by cutting off pixels. Image quality suffers. But most of those folk will be sharing their snapshots in tiny jpeg that will be viewed, at best, on a portion of a laptop screen. They will be happy. A photographer will not.
1. I can save photos as large TIFF files, which I can then post-process in Lightroom on my computer.
2. I can edit, including cropping, straightening, sharpening, etc., then save within the ProCamera app and keep the orginal unedited file.
3. I can e-mail, SMS, etc. small jpeg "snapshots" with or without the GPS location to my friends while keeping the orginal TIFF file.
4. I can upload to the web (e.g. Instagram, SmugMug, etc.) directly from the app.
Jun 13, 2016 13:14:13 #
paulrph1
Loc: Washington, Utah
rmalarz wrote:
The situation could have been remedied at the start. When you wrote "..got out of the car and looked at the lake." The correct phrase should have been, got out of the car with camera in hand and looked at the lake.
--Bob
--Bob
Life is full of surprises and one cannot always be ready. Missed many shots that way, besides the gear was safely tucked away in a case so as to not get damaged. But your advice is sound. But then again life is always a trade off.
Jun 13, 2016 13:28:26 #
Mike D. wrote:
I second this one. A cell phone will take a faster picture with far less work but rarely, if ever, will it be better.
Some people are annoyingly good at cell phone pics, c'est la vie.
Some people are annoyingly good at cell phone pics, c'est la vie.
Exactly. Which proves the point that it's the person behind the camera more than the camera itself who produces memorable images. Although I agree with those who point out the technical superiority of modern DSLRs over cell phone cameras, I have seen many images from the latter that far surpass those from the former in terms of artistic merit, in my opinion.
Jun 13, 2016 14:28:38 #
Jersey guy wrote:
Does anyone know the effective f values of typical cell phone cameras? It is very frustrating for me, a DSLR owner, to struggle to get a decent image in dim lighting situations, fumbling with high ISOs that create too much noise, and even with IS I too often have a blurred photo from movement, (mine or the subject's) while the non-photographers with their cells grab a bright, sharp image with no hesitation. My15-85mm Canon...not a cheap lens...is at best, f 3.5.
Actually, at least in my opinion, there is no comparison mainly because of data handling, sensor size and available lenses. Remember low light is always a challenge. All the cells do is boost the ISO to a point that the picture looks pretty good but if you enlarge that picture the pixels will show and the shot will look terrible - this is not only about sensor mp but sensor size.
Jun 13, 2016 16:52:55 #
I will disagree on potential print size possible from a cell phone. I print jpg pictures from a cell phone as large as 13" x 19" just using Photoshop. It all depends on your enlarging capabilility of the software.
Jun 13, 2016 16:58:32 #
MrBob wrote:
Gee, an answer to the question without opinion...
LOL, love it. Cheers.
Jun 13, 2016 17:52:03 #
dfrodin wrote:
I will disagree on potential print size possible from a cell phone. I print jpg pictures from a cell phone as large as 13" x 19" just using Photoshop. It all depends on your enlarging capabilility of the software.
iPhone 6s and 6s Plus will do a fine 16x20 if you use good light and process carefully.
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