Cell phone DSLR ? (Page 5): Priceless cell phone shot ...

Dr.Nikon Loc: Honolulu Hawaii

traderjohn wrote:

You are so right about any complications. This was taken last year. My son and I were spending the day skiing and I looked over as we were on the lift and pulled out my cell phone. I got it just right at the right time. That moment would have been lost if it were not for my cell phone.

Priceless cell phone shot ...

Robertski Loc: So California

JohnD3 wrote:

A couple months ago there was a discussion on the phone app called FV5. (Camera FV-5)

I went to the Android Play Store and the reviews are worth reading if testing the PRO version. Seems it hasn't been updated in a couple years. Play indicated I had already installed the free lite version, which must have been on an earlier phone a few years ago.

If it works for you, the features are great. There is also an app called "Open Camera" which I haven't tested, but is currently updated.

Open Camera refers to RAW in this way... "Support for Camera2 API"... so if your phone is compatible, you might get the feature.

"* Support for Camera2 API: manual focus distance (with optional focus assist); manual ISO; manual exposure time; manual white balance temperature; burst mode; RAW (DNG) files; slow motion video."

I don't know if FV-5 relies on the phone having Camera2 API, but here is a link explaining...
https://appuals.com/enable-camera2-api-shoot-raw-android/
"Only a handful of premium devices have full Camera2 API support"

pz

I agree the cameras on the new cell phones are greatly improved. I use to own an iPhone 6 and then upgraded to an iPhone 8 Plus. Maybe it was my imagination but the iPhone 8plus seemed to give a much better photo. Hope this helps some. PZ

Doc Barry Loc: Huntsville, Alabama USA

apolloshep wrote:

My wife has a Samsung Galaxy 10. She has no photo... (show quote)

If you would like to learn the technical comparison of one format to another, including cell phones, see Dr. Andy Rowlands paper entitled "Equivalence theory for cross-format photographic image quality comparisons." See https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/journals/optical-engineering/volume-57/issue-11/110801/Equivalence-theory-for-cross-format-photographic-image-quality-comparisons/10.1117/1.OE.57.11.110801.full?SSO=1

I mention that there are a number of cases where the DSLR can take images that the cell phone can't. For example, photos of buildings best taken with a shift-tilt lens. Nevertheless, many cell phones take excellent images but their jpeg images still are not as good as a 14-bit RAW image of the same scene. BUT, often "good enough" by the cell phone is adequate rather than "excellent" by the DSLR.

Doc Barry

crushr13 Loc: Sacramento, CA

Also, many of the higher end smartphones now will allow you to enable taking RAW images with the camera on the phone. It may not be as many bits of data for the RAW file as a DSLR, but that is where you get a main difference between the two. Kind of bridges the gap, so to speak to enable you to have a camera that you always have with you that you can use, especially when your DSLR is not available or practical or allowed to be used.

So, for those who say a phone will never equal a camera, it is similar to those who say a point and shoot will never be as good as a DSLR. Or those who say a crop sensor camera will never be as good as a full frame DSLR.

But photography is really more about the skill belonging to the person pressing the shutter button, and them getting the best out of what they are using (choosing to use or allowed to use). Whatever you shoot with, learn it well, learn the skill well, and enjoy using it. You might just be surprised.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

crushr13 wrote:

Also, many of the higher end smartphones now will ... (show quote)

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

My daughter in law has thousands of photos on her cell phone. She is not into photography per se but is into photos of her daughters and other family members. I have seen some of her photos of course and many are very good. Some are not so good. But she isn't interested in fantastic prize winning photographs. She wants photos of her children and family. That is all she wants. Some might be blurry, some may have a couple of excessive highlights. They are exactly what she wants.

People have varying levels of expectations when they take photos. For some, taking a blurry photo of a grizzly bear in Yellowstone National Park is a tremendous shot. A photo of a full moon is also a keeper for them as might be a photo of a bunch of newborn kittens that to the owner are priceless photos. To me they were nothing but black dots on the kitchen floor. To two little sisters in their 80's they were everything. Keep in mind that we don't all have the need for spectacular ultra sharp and processed to the max photos. A smiling child but a bit blurry from running is all that is needed to show grandparents.

Dennis

traderjohn Loc: New York City

Dr.Nikon wrote:

Priceless cell phone shot ...

Yes, it is. Thank you.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

speters wrote:

A lot of cell phones do have 40 or more mp's, but they are still just little inky-dinky sensors used, that they are just pretty much useless ( of course, good enough in a pinch)!

Not true.

RichardSM Loc: Back in Texas

Kmgw9v wrote:

My wife, who would never before even consider carrying a camera, now produces remarkable, irreplaceable images of her grandkids with her iPhone8.
The phone camera naysayers are wrong.

I agree Kmgw9v I have the iPhone 8 Plus it does indeed take some great pictures.

crushr13 Loc: Sacramento, CA

And many of the cameras shoot RAW, and manual settings, so one can get a photo they can manipulate later in post-processing, and maybe get something akin to what a DSLR might take. Again it is all about the skill of the picture taker and what they seek to achieve. Some might be able to take a smartphone image, and make it about as good as a DSLR. It is all about their skill, effort, and knowledge. Pros may know, but that may be all that know. Photography is an art, and is up to the skills and tools utilized by the person doing it.

Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

apolloshep wrote:

My wife has a Samsung Galaxy 10. She has no photo... (show quote)

Well now Pardner! Hold on to ya Britches! Regardless of the tool, the medium sets the tone of the photograph. While I don't have this Samsung Galaxy, I shoot with a DSLR. If the photographs are so amazing, I don't think many of us attribute the photograph to the cell phone. I am more inclined to believe your spouse has a hidden untapped talent. The camera is 1% responsible. It is the photographer that is 99# responsible for the photograph

Doc Barry Loc: Huntsville, Alabama USA

Scruples wrote:

Well now Pardner! Hold on to ya Britches! Regardless of the tool, the medium sets the tone of the photograph. While I don't have this Samsung Galaxy, I shoot with a DSLR. If the photographs are so amazing, I don't think many of us attribute the photograph to the cell phone. I am more inclined to believe your spouse has a hidden untapped talent. The camera is 1% responsible. It is the photographer that is 99# responsible for the photograph

You’re a man who understands women!

AndyGarcia

Totally correct.

I have produced some pretty decent shots with my iPhone 8 and so has my wife - I also love my Fujis.

Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

Doc Barry wrote:

You’re a man who understands women!

Not really. In August, will be our 30th Anniversary. Oh my! It's been that long. I better go out and get myself a present. Perhaps that new $10 thousand Mirrorless that everyone's raving about.
It's not that I understand women. Women tolerate me. So I'm lucky.