braindamage Loc: Appley Bridge, Lancs, U.K.

There has been a massive development in mobile phone cameras, the latest boasting 3 or even 4 cameras with mega pixel outputs. My question is has it contributed to a significant improvement in photographic output? Is there any evidence that it has or is it just the latest marketing gimmick? Another issue that I find irritating is the vertical letterbox video output when everything else we view is widescreen?

jmizera Loc: Austin Texas

Pillarboxed vertical video makes me nuts too. Even worse when a blurred and enlarged copy of the video is use to fill the pillarboxes. There are some video apps like Facetime where it's normal to hold the phone vertical. If you intend to share your video online, turn your phone sideways before starting the recording.

A Youtube video on the subject:
https://youtu.be/Bt9zSfinwFA

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

"Improvement" is subjective and dependent on each person's goals and interests. You could ask the same about photo sharing sites where quick snaps outnumber thoughtful compositions and technical excellence - regardless of the camera used.

Most of us won't be around to know if/when gimmick becomes norm.

You're irritated by orientation; Joe is irritated by garish pp; Sam is irritated by all the birds posted to Gallery. On and on it goes on grumpyoldmen.com

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I could care less what they do with cell phone cameras. They have their place. I'd prefer to carry a camera with me and use it for photography.
--Bob

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

It is by no means a marketing gimmick. Cameras on I-phones are real, quality devices cabable of great, professional images.
I will keep my DSLRs, but I am not in denial about the effectiveness and use for camera phones.

wds0410 Loc: Nunya

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

What's important in a photograph and what isn't



🙈🙊🙉

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

Another thought, thousands who would have never considered buying and carrying a camera, now carry and use phone cameras to capture all parts of their daily lives. These potentially great images are shared with family and friends as routine.
"And you know, that can't be bad."

cdayton

I would never post a picture if it weren’t from one of my Hasselblads (kidding, for the literalists).

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

SO much agree!!!!!!!!!

Tomcat5133 Loc: Gladwyne PA

Their is nothing wrong with phone cameras. They are the go to for business and social contact. I used it to record my docs and things I need to carry.
The camera's are getting better. Have a friend who does good photography and lawyer. She loves the Samsung phone and does interesting photos with it.
I was with my grandaughter in Key West at sunset and looked down and she was doing time lapse with her iPhone.

That said unfortunately my digital marketing partner made me aware that vertical cell phone it here to stay. It is because of ease of use and shots
most experienced photographers wouldn't do. Our marketing for clients is based on mobile!! And FB. The biggest lunacy for me is people holding
smart phones by the edges and shooting over rails of ships and just risking the phone. I have trouble shooting with a cell phone. The good is
you can instantly post process the shot with efx.

The cell phone is of great use and a nightmare for our society. I recently went to Art Basel show in Miami and found people walking into everyone
holding their cell phones.The kids like my grandaughter 11 live on the phones. Share stuff all day. OK. But to much nonsense.
The phone attachments like zooms and brackets is strange. On a selfie stick. Ok.

Their is nothing wrong with instruments to make images. Boxes with holes in them. Polaroids.
So what makes a camera better the operators skill and artistic eye.

PS I told this before here. This summer my smart grandaughter and the family rented a lake house of a week in the Poconos.
My grandaughter said "grandpa what is that in the kitchen? She had no idea. It was a Princess phone.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Yup. I use my phone in a pinch; for location marking; and for quick panos.

banjonut Loc: Southern Michigan

Concerning video in portrait mode, I’ve admonished friends and relatives many times about this, asking if the turn their tv vertically. I don’t get very far.

BlueMorel Loc: Southwest Michigan

When I go out to do photography, I take my camera. But my cellphone is always with me wherever I go, so sometimes my cellphone catches the photos I would have missed. And when an online challenge comes up, I frequently use my phone for small creative closeups indoors. I haven't upgraded my phone in four years - a Galaxy 6 - so I don't have the latest and greatest, but it's fine for what I want. I rarely print, so I don't really know what the output quality is except for online. Just like my cars, I will use it until it breaks.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Different strokes for different folks.
I prefer a camera with a larger sensor (APS-C or full frame), but it doesn't bother me that people use cell phones. As long as they are happy why should I be concerned?