tdekany Loc: Oregon

Never ever say “NEVER”. Or do you have the gift of seeing the future?

tdekany Loc: Oregon

Like I said: the person behind the camera is key. A talented photographer WILL tale a better picture than a snapshot shooter with a “real” camera. A photo that is a snapshot is still a snapshot, no matter how large the sensor.

PatrickG

I have been on the digest for awhile perusing the different topics. But when reading this one I decided it was time to register and reply. I am an avid amateur photographer and started with a Kodak Brownie and advanced to a Canon A1 carrying 6 primes circa. 1970's. I resisted going to digital for all the reasons I could find, but the first I purchased was a Canon G1, good camera but still had a significant shutter delay. Now I shoot a Canon 6D and carry many wonderful zooms.

Now to the topic, smart phone cameras! Yes, they take nice pictures, the technology in the background allows for artistic expression, but they are still pictures. Whereas DSLRs, mirror less cameras, and the likes capture photographs and photographer is the creator of such. Remember the root of the word photography - creating images with light. In order to created with light you need to be able to capture and mold light and that is the distinct advantage the camera possesses. A smartphone is only a pinhole camera on technology steroids, until a smart phone increase its aperture to match a camera body and fast lens it remains a pinhole camera. IMHO. Patrick

ToBoldlyGo Loc: London U.K.

I disagree. A smartphone is FAR more capable than a pinhole camera.

bittermelon

Maybe not replaced, but certainly phone cameras have greatly expanded what is considered photography. Lots more people who never would've taken photos before now do it, because they don't have to carry an extra camera. Selfies, which was not a thing before, is now a thing because of phone cameras.

FiddleMaker Loc: Merrimac, MA

Both Sinar and Deardorff cameras are classified as "view" cameras and use film - either black & white or color based negative film. The term 4 x 5 means that the actual negative film measures 4 inches by 5 inches. The same for an 8 by 10 camera where the actual film measures 8 inches by 10 inches. These are Huge film negatives and can only be processed in a photographic darkroom. Most full-frame digital cameras today have a sensor measuring roughly 0.8 inches by 1.4 inches or 24mm by 36mm.

Burtzy Loc: Bronx N.Y. & Simi Valley, CA

Camera phones are fine for certain things, but in bright sunlight, there is no substitute for an eye-level finder, aside from a focusing hood on an 8X10 view camera.

aellman Loc: Boston MA

I would have agreed with you except for the word "serious." It suggests a commitment to photography that requires creative controls that phones don't have.

Dr.Nikon Loc: Honolulu Hawaii

Wow ..., 3080 + and counting ...this article hit a raw nerve .., for sure ...a moment captured be it a brownie . cell phone ., bridge .., mirrorless DX .. FX .., 8X10 billows .on and on is still a picture .. a snap shot in time ... the market and the trends of the world present and future .., drive the economic engine here which is king ..

Some of my IPHONE Shots .. are better than 50% of all the HOGG shots I have seen ...and some of my Note 8 shots blow away same ...both cell phones of the five I now use were over $1,000 a piece .., do they replace my D810 and my newly acquired D850 ..., not in a million years ...I carry both those $1,000 cell phones wherever I go ...however I use only the Note 8 now for its photo superiority over the Ipone ...,

If I get a great shot of a landscape or Architecture with my cell phone as I just happen to be there at a unplanned location .. I will return with my DSLR to recapture the shot in detail ..

Yes my Note 8 shoots in RAW and has focus points and manual focus and ISO and what balance and 6 other adjustments on the fly and has to be learned to use it properly .., but it will never replace my D810 or D850 .....

Let everyone use what ever they want ... to shoot what ever they want .. who gives a rip ...a real photographer knows that the most important shot is the one captured at a particular moment in time that tells a story or catches an event happening .. Jack Ruby shooting Lee Harvey O ... the Hindenburg exploding ...or the bride maid of honor catching the bouquet ...whatever ...., it doesnt matter what camera or cell phone was used to capture the ‘MOMENT” ..

Real photographers know what real photos are and how to take them and what equipment to use .., my cell phone takes better pictures than yours .. or >.I can outshoot you and Your DSLR/SLR ..pls give me a break ....

Have fun shooting pictures with whatever you have at the time or can afford ...its like discussing politics or religion ... there is no real answer ., just arguments and disagreements ....

I just attached a few cell phone shots to make a point 2) is a IPHONE 6plus ..1) Note 8

Note 8

(Download)

IPHONE

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mas24 Loc: Southern CA

Before cell phones, most Americans did not own any DSLRs or film SLRs. And no intentions of owning one today. Maybe they owned a pocket digital camera or a Kodak film Instamatic. When the smartphone or iPhones came about, not only did you have a phone, but a camera that was decent, and many apps with games to play. I don't know anyone today who does not have a smartphone. Teenagers to Seniors. Now, they have telephoto attachments to hook up to these Smartphones. Not, my cup of tea. I'll stick with my DSLR, Bridge and pocket cameras for what they are worth to me. Now.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

Selfies aren't new - here's one I did back in the '70s, with a hand held flash:

bittermelon

Of course it's not new. But it was not a "thing" in the last century. I'll bet it was not a word in the dictionary until phone cameras became popular.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

It's slang for "self portrait", which has always been a "thing".

chrisg-optical Loc: New York, NY

Smart phones are great for quick snaps and family pics (convenience) and have basically wiped out the P&S cameras, but not the DSLR....mirrorless FF is the new successor for serious photography going forward, but the DSLR will continue for some time.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

Thanks for your response. Good to know.