tankdonovan Loc: Tennessee

Never heard of it.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

We still have:

AM and FM radio
Broadcast TV
Vinyl records
Swiss mechanical watches
Buggy whips

The camera market will shrink. But it will not go away.

The vast majority of folks who bought sophisticated SLRs and dSLRs only did so because there was nothing more convenient or capable enough that met their needs.

A smartphone can do any combination of your pick of two million tasks, and it fits in your pocket. It is a photographic compromise that most people can accept, in order to have all the other capabilities.

sodapop Loc: Bel Air, MD

They are all awkward....

jkphotos

Well said and presented.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

From your initial list I only do two of those things. Read email and surf the web. I don't have the time to indulge in social media, except for a few photography forums like this one. I don't play games on my cell phone or on my home computer, and do not listen to music on my cell phone. However, I do use it for almost countless other tasks. Following are some of them:

- a phone

- a camera

- for texting

- for online purchases

- research tool to help my wife's consulting job.

- to read and edit, MS Excel, Word, and PowerPoint documents, mostly for my wife.

- check and monitor in real time my wife's business flights

- check on the status of my house and car.

- use it as a car finder in a large parking lot.

- read most of my news on various apps.

- get my weather information.

- pay for many things at point it purchase by tapping my phone.

- use the camera when I am in stores to take photographs of items that I'm interested in purchasing to send to my wife for her opinion.

- take pictures of used up items at home that I need to repurchase in a store so I get exactly the right item.

- use the currency exchange app when I plan to travel internationally, or purchase online internationally

- Use the universal measurement conversion app several times a week for a variety of reasons.

- use a To Do list daily

- use the calendar app extensively to keep track of appointments and events.

- use my scientific calculator every day

- Track my packages from UPS, USPS and FedEx

- Make notes

- Use the flashlight.

-. Use the level

-. Use a variety of photographic apps like Hyperfocal Pro

- use it as a GPS

The list can continue on and on and on but I think I've made my point. I am also a computer power user and was an IT professional for 37 years. My smartphone does not replace my home computer. It is an adjunct to it and a very powerful one that allows me to do a huge number of tasks untethered from my home computer. For those who live a sedentary life or are cautious or fearful, or even paranoid, and are unaware of the power and availability of the many features and uses of a smartphone there may not be a need for such a powerful device.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

I'm not sure what you mean by awkward. They have limitations of course, but I've used them for years and they're very simple and easy to use. Can you explain in what way they are awkward?

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Google is your friend.

ggab Loc: ?

Not to hijack the thread or argue, this is more of curiosity.
What can you do on your phone faster and better than you can do on your PC?

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Respond to your post while I'm sitting on the toilet in less than 5 seconds.

Edit: I was just being a smart-ass with my earlier remark, but you did ask and I never lie. The fact is that I can do many things faster on my smartphone because I can control most things by voice. There are also some capabilities of a smartphone that are not available on a desktop computer. Try paying for your breakfast at McDonald's with your desktop computer. And further, I can do all these tasks virtually anywhere.

ggab Loc: ?

Really, you take your phone to the bathroom!!!!

TMI

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

My smartphone is with me 24/7. But I was being a smart-ass to make a point. Please read the edits to my original post to you.

Low Budget Dave

Generally speaking, in any situation where you have good light, a slow-moving subject, and no need to blur the background, a cell phone will take better pictures than a large-sensor camera.

In dim light, or with a fast-moving subject, or when you really need to blur the background, the bigger sensors will work better.

The newer cameras have narrowed each gap by making several sensors work together, but they don't have the light-gathering capability to match a single large sensor. If you are taking pictures of your kids playing basketball under (terrible) high-school gym lighting, you will need a big camera with a big sensor.

For now.

ggab Loc: ?

Ooops,
I responded too quickly with my computer.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Something to think about

https://www.diyphotography.net/ricoh-thinks-photographers-will-start-switching-from-mirrorless-back-to-dslrs-within-1-2-years/

Ricoh thinks people will move away from mirrorless once the novelty wears off, and back to DSLRs.

Blair Shaw Jr Loc: Dunnellon,Florida

Fantasy from Phone Drones.....not likely in my lifetime if I have any say in the matter. I will be buried with my gear........YEP !