bioteacher Loc: Brooklyn, NY

Not sure how much longer some of these reasons will be valid.
https://www.nyip.edu/photo-articles/fun-stuff-for-photographers/5-reasons-your-phone-cant-compete-with-a-real-camera?code=D206

chrisg-optical Loc: New York, NY

Smartphone cams replaced P/S cameras because they are small, convenient, fit in your pocket and easy to use. However, the main limitations are:

- small sensor (especially if you are a FF photographer- even APSC is like FF compared to the sensor size of a smartphone)
- no standard lens mounts (ok clip ons are hardly a standard)
- cumbersome handling except for quick "family" shots or walk around street photography. Can add doo-dads for better gripping but then might as well get a nice, small mirrorless cam.
- Touch screen can be "touchy" for cam settings.

If the subject distance and lighting is reasonable you can get nice shots with a smartphone but they are two different tools for different applications. I often use mine as a "copier" to take quick snaps of documents and such.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Yes, but after I packed up my FF Nikon gear, all of a sudden I saw this in the tank the attached image. Pulled out my 5S phone and click. I am pleased with it. What do you think?

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chrisg-optical Loc: New York, NY

You can't beat the smartphone for expediency...even if you carry your regular gear with you it is much quicker to pull the smartphone from your pocket. With low light you can see the noise but getting a shot is better than no shot I guess. I do think, someday, technology will progress to the point where smartphone sensor chips (or something as small and light) will be as good as today's FF sensors - that may be overly optimistic but it is not out of the realm of possibility. Who would have envisioned today's tech 30+ years ago?

IzzyKap Loc: Rockville, MD

However, progress on cell phone photography capabilities is being made and probably just matter of time until it becomes competitive. Just recently, Sony announced a 48 MP sensor for cell phones
https://www.engadget.com/2018/07/23/sony-48-megapixel-smartphone-sensor/

traderjohn Loc: New York City

Not much longer.

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JD750 Loc: SoCal

The article is specifically targeting sports photography, long a catageory dominated by D-SLRs and high priced fast and long lenses. Mirrorless has recently encroached on D-SLR dominance in this category.

Phone cameras are not designed for sports photography, sports is not what phone cameras do best. But phone cameras when used for what they are designed for, and within their limits, can yield very very good results.

hassighedgehog Loc: Corona, CA

About the only thing I use a phone camera for is taking pictures of location signs in large parking lots. And then if I have the camera I'm going to use handy, not even then.