“Real” camera? (Page 3): "real" might be the problem word here...Just because the cell phone camera is inside a device that does a lot more, doesn't diminish its camera-ness; it just...

ELNikkor

"real" might be the problem word here...Just because the cell phone camera is inside a device that does a lot more, doesn't diminish its camera-ness; it just doesn't have the look and feel of what we photographers are familiar with as being, to our minds, a camera. Many of the great images from the '60's are technically soft and rather dull when compared to what I see coming out of many cell phone cameras today. Just because they have small lenses and sensors, they are no less a "real" camera than my D750.

berchman Loc: South Central PA

cameraf4 wrote:

For cryin' out loud, David. The simple answer is "Control." Today's cell phones can (I think in most cases) allow one to zoom-in or zoom-out. But they don't allow for changing f/stop for creative effect, or changing the White Balance, again, for creative effect. Or changing focus or shutter speed. "Smart phones" are in effect what shooters years ago would refer to as a "PHD" camera --- Push Here, Dummy. They are simply a recording device.

Clearly, you have zero knowledge of the ProCamera app which gives one those capabilities on an iPhone.

Rick from NY Loc: Sarasota FL

bbrowner wrote:

... let's not forget the "snob" element.

Bingo! Sorry to be so harsh, but this entire thread defines snob element. 2 pages discussing semantics? Picture v. Photograph? Cell phone camera v. “Real” camera? At the end of the day, what matters is whether the image or capture or picture or photograph pleases the photographer, whether he/she is an amateur, pro, hobbyist, enthusiast or whatever adjective you use to describe yourself is happy with the resulting image or capture or picture or photograph.

“Real” photographers don’t care about labels; they care about results. I have sold cell phone photos (or were they images or captures or pictures or photographs?) printed as large as 24x30 and that’s what mattered most to me.

What I had in my hands at the time doesn’t make a bit of difference to me as long as the buyer’s check clears. If you get shot in the heart with a zip gun or an assault rifle, you are still dead.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

Are all of the people with cameras photographers? Definition of photographers is?
We each have an idea of a photographer and or a picture taker. Some by equipment the use, some by pro or non pro or just experience.
I have not looked it up and don't plan to, but I look at them as a combination of things. So my idea of a photographer is probably different than your and that's fine.

ChuckMN

Some people drive a 15 yr old Honda to work, some drive an Aston Martin or Bentley and say "This is a real car!". Both get you to work. The best came is the one you have when the shot presents its self. Some incredible photos have been taking with a Brownie camera & an iPhone. To me its like looking at a Tulip and saying , well it's not a Rose.

anotherview Loc: California

At bottom, a device that records a photograph.

DavidA wrote:

I often see a poster apologizing for showing an image from their cellphone because their real camera wasn’t available. What constitutes a “real” camera?

bbrowner Loc: Chapel Hill, NC

On my trip to Pecos, NM, I traveled with my Nikon D7100 with a Tamron zoom (16-300) and my iPhone XR.

I consider this pic fairly decent. Which did I use... Nikon or iPhone?

Yes it was iPhone + Lightroom. I thought we were just going for lunch... so left the Nikon at the ranch.

I've done better and worse with each.

(Download)

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

If you can't find a way to be successful in photography, find an excuse.

Thorburn Loc: Virginia

I agree totally.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

inclinerr wrote:

In My Humble Opinion:

A cell phone takes a picture

A Camera takes a Photograph

A "photograph" is a type of "picture", but so are paintings, drawings, lithographs, etc. Today's cell phone cameras are miles ahead of the basic point and shoot cameras from the film era, so do they take pictures rather than photographs also?

alberio Loc: Casa Grande AZ

Didn't James Bond use a "real" camera?

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

ChuckMN wrote:

Some people drive a 15 yr old Honda to work, some drive an Aston Martin or Bentley and say "This is a real car!". Both get you to work. The best came is the one you have when the shot presents its self. Some incredible photos have been taking with a Brownie camera & an iPhone. To me its like looking at a Tulip and saying , well it's not a Rose.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

bbrowner wrote:

On my trip to Pecos, NM, I traveled with my Nikon D7100 with a Tamron zoom (16-300) and my iPhone XR.

I consider this pic fairly decent. Which did I use... Nikon or iPhone?

Yes it was iPhone + Lightroom. I thought we were just going for lunch... so left the Nikon at the ranch.

I've done better and worse with each.

bbrowner Loc: Chapel Hill, NC

inclinerr wrote:

In My Humble Opinion:

A cell phone takes a picture

A Camera takes a Photograph

Perhaps. Perhaps not.

Be careful... your snob is showing.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

CHG_CANON wrote:

If you can't find a way to be successful in photography, find an excuse.

Most common excuse: "I need a better camera...".