aellman Loc: Boston MA

Harry13

"I don't know if the OP is a snob, but you sure are."

Yeah, so....

While serving in combat in Korea as a 2d LT., another officer told me that it only costs a little more to go first class. I've always tried to heed that. So when I took up photography in the mid '60s (after graduating from Yale Law School, remember "It only costs a little more....") I went with a 35 mm Nikon not a Kodak. I started doing dance photography (one of my early shots graced the cover of Dance Magazine, so I guess that I'm at least an average amateur photographer.)

When I switched to digital a few years ago, I went with Canon. If what you want to do is take pictures of your children, a cell phone is probably all you need or ever will need (think of the grandkids). But don't kid yourself, the term "photographer" doesn't stretch that far! Not in my world anyway! Just like the word "philosopher" doesn't include the guy scratching his privates and opining that the world is going to hell in a hand basket. If that makes me a snob, so be it. Trust me, I've been called a lot worse! And by a lot better than some no name on the internet. lol (take that you scum) Harry

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

Well, Harry, I don't think anyone here on UHH has any doubts as to your talents and abilities regarding photography. What seems to be the issue is your approach to the initial question. You do come across snobbish and elitist, and that's really uncalled for. It amounts to denigrating others who use less sophisticated and expensive as others, hinting that they are some sort of lower class type of person. You have to understand that not all people are interested in photography as an art or at a professional or even amateur level. For many, a cellphone camera suits their needs just fine, and that doesn't mean they are inferior. It only means that their interest isn't the same as yours. So yes, you do come across as a snob by the way you word your comments. You have also let us know that you attended a top notch, very expensive university, and obtained a high level degree. You don't need to lord it over others while tooting your own horn. Better to be a part of this group at our level and just enjoy it.

anotherview Loc: California

Ditto:

aellman Loc: Boston MA

Trying to separate "photographer" from family snapshooter is a frequently recurring topic here, but is no more than individuals making up these definitions for themselves. From Wikipedia: "A photographer is a person who takes photographs using a camera." That's as straightforward as you can get. Any attempt to subdivide the term based on equipment or subject matter is specious. Ever hear of a pinhole camera? I made one out of a shoebox which yielded paper negatives of ultra wide-angle images. Was I not a photographer? >Alan

Spiney Loc: Reading, PA

I seriously started in photography at age 13 when I received a Minolta SRT-101 SLR so I could capture my 2 favorite things at the time Astrophotography thru a home-built 6” reflector telescope and race cars at the local dirt track.

Along the way I ended up building a Portrait Studio with my wife using cameras from 35mm to 4x5” and eventually a Fuji Pro S2 DSLR.

Fast forward to today where my DSLR is a dated Nikon D7000 and my iPhone 8+. I still photograph cars, Astrophotography, and my other often photographed subjects our cat & grandson.

I belong to 2 Facebook users groups that have really extended the capabilities of my smartphone. The Tiny Shutter group dedicated to smartphone, mainly iPhone photography and Smartphone Astronomy.

Both groups have lead me to many Apps & techniques that really extend the capabilities of my iPhone. Camera +2 has a great Macro Mode that does not require any accessory lenses, allows total manual control, and the ability to save & export Raw files. NightCap is for low light & Astrophotography. SLO Shutter & Specter allow for long exposures to create effects with moving water. Specter allows shooting a long exposure of an area and effectively removes moving people.

There are also high quality accessory lenses by Moment. They manufacture a wide angle, Macro, telephoto, and an Amphormatic (sp?) like a wide angle movie screen. These lenses cost about $100 each and require a special case to hold the phone and attach the lenses like a bayonet Mount.

Thru the use of smartphone to telescope adapters and capture apps I’ve seen incredible Astrophotography that in the past would have required much larger telescopes using cold cameras with 4x5” film. One technique is shooting video of brighter objects like the moon and planets then running that video thru 2 specialty programs that pick the top 50-80% of the images and then Register & Stacks them to create an incredibly detailed & sharp image that would be impossible to capture any other way.

My Iphone allows me to capture great stills & video of our grandson because he doesn’t see it as a camera. When I would pick up my 35mm he would clam up, shut down, or run away. Using the iPhone is the only way because he sees everyone who loves him holding one at times from Mom & Dad all the way to Great Grandma. He also knows he can see Thomas & Friends videos on it.

Finally when captured correctly I can print 13x19” images on either my Canon Pro-100 dye based ink printer or Pro-10 pigment based ink printer.

I consider my iPhone to be a serious camera because of how I use it. I very rarely take snap shots, but use the screen & various apps to visualize and create images that are keepers. And if they are not worthy of keeping I quickly delete them.

That said I hope someday to be able to upgrade my DSLR to possibly a mirrorless. Something with more megapixels than my current 16 with greater sensitivity & better video capability. I’d also love to have a proper drone to play with, but that’s a luxury.

Spiney Loc: Reading, PA

The problem with that is almost all Photo magazines are gone. I know, I once subscribed to them all. Shutterbug, Popular Photography, American Photo, Outdoor Photographer, Digital Photo Pro. Outdoor Photography may be the only one left.

Spiney Loc: Reading, PA

With a proper App and a cell Phone with dual cameras all of the above are possible. Apple’s Portrait Mode on their dual lens / camera phones the 6,7,& 8 Plus, the X etc use computational photography to create a Portrait image with blurred background. With the Iphone Portrait Mode you can also edit the lighting effect after the capture.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

Thank you for your insightful comments regarding the use of a cellphone camera. I, too, reach for my iPhone 8 Plus and have gotten some pretty nice photos. I don't print but on occasion, but the couple I've printed from my iPhone camera have turned out very nice.

Harry13

" For many, a cellphone camera suits their needs needs just fine, and that doesn't mean they are inferior."

As I said, I'm sure it suits their needs, in fact, I said that it apparently does. . But it also means to me that they aren't photographers. Does that mean that they are inferior? That's your interpretation, not mine. I admitted that I'm a snob but apparently that's not enough for you. Anyway, you've "told me" so now you can forget me as I've said all I care to on this topic. Just remember, please as my comrade said, that it only costs a little more to go first class! <g>

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

No they probably can't and don't want to.

Nearly all of the people I know that use phone cameras haven't the inclination to learn photography or to learn an adjustable camera. And why should they...its images that invoke memories, not esoteric photographs. That is the way its always been.

The change is...now they can do it them selves so the photographer is irrelevant.

You may not be a snob but you certainly don't understand.

JasonC Loc: Houston, Texas

You and your comrade have obviously never priced any First Class international airline tickets!

Jason

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

Since most people have smart phones, going first class means buying a separate camera, and I don't think first class cameras are cheap. But of course, buying a first class camera isn't the end of it. It takes a major investment of time learning how to use it to get first class results. All that isn't just "a little more". And I'd like to see a definition of photographer which says you need to have a certain level of equipment or expertise to be considered one. Who decides where to draw that line?

JD750 Loc: SoCal

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

I qualified the difficulty, I wrote "certain" shots like holding the phone high overhead or shooting in confined space from an awkward position. I have no issues with dexterity. I have been known to operate a 4x5 press camera in one hand and a flash unit in the other.

Anyway, that was not the main point of my post.