Tom G Loc: Atlanta, GA

First, I recognize that "amateur" photography is changing rapidly in many directions; and, for the professional, I am very confident that upper end cameras and photographic equipment will continue to improve and become more sophisticated.

I suspect that the typical P&S camera as we know it will fade into disuse because of Smart Phone.

However, I am very curious about "Near Term" advancements in Smart Phone development.

Will the Smart Phone ever be able to access Aperture Priority, Shutter Speed Priority, Manual Priority, or will these functions be available or possibly combined with telephoto usage?

And, what about telephoto capabilities? What can we expect here?

Will a View Finder be a possibility?

Or, will the Smart Phone morph into a very, very good P & S type with the Telephone/Textphone as only adjunct characteristics?

I'm interested in all UHH opinions and thoughts about these, and other things might be incorporated into Smart Phone technology?

waegwan Loc: Mae Won Li

The 124 was/is a great camera. I had one back in the late 70s and traded it for a Yashica 135 that got stolen and now have the LM model.

krl48 Loc: NY, PA now SC

Rather than a point by point response to your excellent observations and questions, Tom, I simply say look at the rapid advancement of the digital camera and smart phones in less than 50 years. I don't think we can even imagine what the world of digital cameras and personal communication devices will look like in 2067.

SATS Loc: Belgium

Hi guys, This subject came up just before I absented myself on holiday and time ran away from me then so I thought I had better say something now before the subject goes completely cold. I wanted to reply to the general tenor of the thread but particularly to Tom who said :
“Will the Smart Phone ever be able to access Aperture Priority, Shutter Speed Priority, Manual Priority, or will these functions be available or possibly combined with telephoto usage?

And, what about telephoto capabilities? What can we expect here?”

I wanted to mention the Olympus Air which has been around since 2015. I don't know anyone that has one and there seem to be even less people that have heard about it. Its is not quite a smart phone and not quite a camera but a bit off both. In fact it is a camera with the sensor and electronics crammed into a short cylindrical tube which has a MFT lens mount on one end. Any MFT lens can be attached, even zooms, it has P A S M functions and most of the electronic trickery you would expect from a modern camera and all functions are controlled from any smart phone by Wifi. This arrangement seems to be ideal for street photography since the camera end can be set in any location and be controlled by the photographer at a distance. It can even be carried in one hand and be controlled from the smart phone with the other without drawing attention to itself. The problem, as I see it is that it seems to fall between a number of stools. It is too sophisticated for the average smart phone user but a bit too simple for the serious photographer. It is too serious to be a gimmick but not something to be taken too seriously by the enthusiast.

Here is Oly's marketing blurb on the subject:

http://www.getolympus.com/us/en/air-a01.html

This is something that claims to be a review but doesn't actually review it, however it gives a few more details:

https://www.dpreview.com/products/olympus/slrs/oly_air_a01/overview

This also popped up wen I was looking at the above and seems to be more of a MFT GoPro arrangement.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WNFK0P0/ref=dra_a_rv_lb_ho_xx_P100_100?psc=1&tag=dradisplay-20&ascsubtag=a403624bad39de9ad48ca7c97beb176e_S

Not quite a smart phone but I thought it was interesting anyway.

Just for completeness, for those who are into Lens Baby, there are a number of attachments for mobile phones. Here is one of them.

https://www.amazon.com/Lensbaby-LM-10-Sweet-Mobile-Phones/dp/B00MPZ2GQY

Tom G Loc: Atlanta, GA

You are absolutely right kri48.

If our grandfathers were alive today, they would so astounded at all the technology that has been developed during the past 40 years. Not to mention the incredible advances just in the past 10 years has been astounding.

Like the song says, "Everything's up to date in Kansas City, they've gone about as far as they can go...". We have no idea how far we (Engineers, Scientists, et.al.) can go. Just wait till the sun comes up tomorrow.

Tom G Loc: Atlanta, GA

You are clear enough to show that English was not your best subject.

Substitute the word "only" for the word "just", an then you'll get it. (artzdarkroom's comment is a very understandable statement)

Yes, smartphones are great, not only for street photography ( but. also for photography of any genre-kind.)

alamomike47 Loc: San Antonio, Texas

Tom G Loc: Atlanta, GA

EVER THINK OF MORE THAN 1 PARAGRAPH?