gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

The best photos are generally taken by photographers who know their gear, all the pluses and all the minuses. This holds true for camera phones and the beautiful pictures shown on this feed attest to that. Cameras within cell phones are truly "real" cameras. You just have to know the types of subjects and types of compositions that allow their capabilities to shine. You never hear of a zoom lens being called a "real lens" when compared to a prime lens. End of rant.

BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

Not a rant really, every piece of photo equipment has its learning curve, weaknesses and sweetspots. If our erstwhile photographer learns to work inside this envelope his/her chances for beautiful pics goes up, and becomes limited only by their vision.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

And once they know their gear, they won't need to ask what ... should I use for ... .
They'll know.

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

Just curious where the subject matter for the "Rant" came from.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

From someone's mind.

What prompted it is another story.

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

Where's Paul Harvey when you need him?

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Where have I heard that name before? Sounds familiar.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

My rant is for the benefit of those who don’t see a camera in a phone as a "real camera". As with all cameras, it has its pluses and its minuses. Work within those parameters and it can take beautiful photos.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Just a different type of camera!

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

I couldn't agree with you more.

MrMophoto Loc: Rhode Island "The biggest little"

Smartphone photography has certainly become a mainstream genre of the broader process of photography.
If you doubt this look at the winners of the IPPAwards, a prestigious international photography contest for smartphone photos ONLY. If a photo is brought into any desktop (or laptop) computer during any part of the processing, it will be immediately disqualified.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

As smartphone camera technology evolves, it is apparent that those cameras are, indeed, real cameras, just like the early point and shoot cameras were real cameras. They were designed for convenience of use, while producing decent images, and so it is with smartphone cameras. Only they’re better. But while smartphone cameras are convenient, they are at the same time rather sophisticated instruments, and along with some of the apps available for use with smartphone cameras, they are very capable. We have seen some of those excellent results here on UHH.

There is a tendency to demean smartphone cameras as not being real cameras and those who use them not being real photographers. I think that’s pretty arrogant. The fact that these cameras are great fun for those who just want to snap a shot or a selfie, doesn’t mean that photos taken with a smartphone camera are merely snapshots. From what I’ve seen here, a lot of thought goes into some of these images posted on this forum. Obviously, those folks know their equipment and how to use it. So don’t let anyone convince you, or anyone else, that smartphone camera users are somehow of lesser status or ability. Know your gear and how to use it, yessir.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

14kphotog Loc: Marietta, Ohio

Several members of our photography club have won contests with cell phone photos, including me. Won against 178 camera entries. Our club now has a category for cell phone entries, because "new to photography" members have only cell phone CAMERAS, but want to learn. Pass the photography info on to the next generation.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Interesting that they are differentiating cells from "dedicated" cameras.
I look at a picture as a picture, on its own merit. I don't care what created it.
They could have used an oatmeal box for all I care.