MWojton Loc: Yardley, PA

I'm not sure if this is the correct subsection to put this. I was blown away in a bad way at the difference between these 2 shots. The first one is from my Nikon D5300 in which I took the time to adjust the settings and compose the shot. The second is a quickie with cell phone. The details and the colors are 10x better with the cell phone. I spent a lot of time in post processing trying to get the Nikon shot similar to the cell phone shot- came close but still not as good. I don't understand it- it makes me want to question whether its worh lugging my camera around anymore.

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rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Other than some slight exposure differences, I do not see a lot of differences between the two. It might be the compression applied to uploaded jpegs. I do like the crop on the cell phone image vs the wide-angle from your Nikon.

So, some questions:

Did you shoot in RAW?
What processing software did you use?
What were your adjustments in PP?
Did you use a CPL on your lens?
Did you apply any presets, and if you used Lightroom, did you try the "Auto" button in the Basic Panel?

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Do you have an unedited version of the first from the DSLR? When I load that version into Nikon NX Studio, there are no AF points reported. Clicking around the image, I can't find anything in sharp focus for the f/9 aperture. Maybe below the bridge in the sunlight (lower center-left) is in better focus than anywhere else? But, it's not really in focus either.

Looking at the composition, the bit of green on the bridge, just below the center frame / right seems like where to focus in this composition. Similar to the person in the frame next.

Tell us about your focus approach. Where? How? The image details says a camera with VR, but the VR was turned off. Why?

When the DSLR version was captured, did you check the details on the LCD display? Did you take several versions, with the same settings as well as moving AF around? I think you've got a great view in great light. Did you work slowly both in the set-up and in the capture and review to assure you came away with several potentially great results justifying your effort to get to this position, with the view, in this great light? Did you move the AF around or simply repeat the process and the same shot for a few just-in-case versions, one a better option than this frame?

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

I bet if you had put your camera in "auto" the two images would be nearly identical with the Nikon image being somewhat better.

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

Who knows They're both lovely scenics, and when it happens to me, I just don't let it bother me

srt101fan

You raise an interesting question, especially for someone seriously considering getting a high-end phone with a good camera.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

The phone image has been given a lot of processing. Did you give the Nikon image the same sort of treatment? It looks like a few minutes in PP would have the Nikon image looking at least as good or possibly better than the phone image.

Phones make extensive use of what is referred to as computational photography. If you're not giving your camera images a fairly high level of PP, your phone images will have the advantage, especially with shots taken on bright days, which is when the disadvantages of the small phone sensors are at their least relevant.

MWojton Loc: Yardley, PA

I shot jpeg. And the image I posted is not processed.

MWojton Loc: Yardley, PA

The Nikon image is straight out of camera. I spent some time in post process, and came close, but I still think the phone image is better.

MWojton Loc: Yardley, PA

[quote=CHG_CANON]Do you have an unedited version of the first from the DSLR? When I load that version into Nikon NX Studio, there are no AF points reported. Clicking around the image, I can't find anything in sharp focus for the f/9 aperture. Maybe below the bridge in the sunlight (lower center-left) is in better focus than anywhere else? But, it's not really in focus either.

Looking at the composition, the bit of green on the bridge, just below the center frame / right seems like where to focus in this composition. Similar to the person in the frame next.

Tell us about your focus approach. Where? How? The image details says a camera with VR, but the VR was turned off. Why?


To be honest, I don't remember where I was focusing. In a landscape such as this, where would YOU focus?

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

ANS: Looking at the composition, the bit of green on the bridge, just below the center frame / right seems like where to focus in this composition. Similar to the person in the frame next.

There were a number of other probing questions:

a) Do you have an original version of the image, one that would show where your focused when opened into the Nikon software?

b) Tell us about your focus approach. Where? How?

c) The image details says a camera with VR, but the VR was turned off. Why?

d) Did you take several versions, with the same settings as well as moving AF around?

e) When the DSLR version was captured, did you check the details on the LCD display?

f) Did you work slowly both in the set-up and in the capture and review to assure you came away with several potentially great results justifying your effort to get to this position, with the view, in this great light?

g) Did you move the AF around or simply repeat the process and the same shot for a few just-in-case versions, one a better option than this frame?

home brewer Loc: Fort Wayne, Indiana

cell phones do a lot of in camera post processing. also the bridge is not the focus point on the first shot.

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

"I don't understand it- it makes me want to question whether its worh lugging my camera around anymore."

In the end, as you sift through all the responses here, it will only be you that can honestly answer your question.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

I suspect that your cell phone camera was set to use HDR. There is better balance between the highlights and shadows. You could have done the same with the Nikon if you had shot in RAW and edited.

Paradise Pirate Loc: Cape Coral, FL

Downloaded both images and then enlarged with + key. Phone image of trees on far mountains have a significant halo line and not clear. Camera image is not perfect but no halo and if you use PS dehaze, would improve image. I agree with others, either focus is not on or the lens is not the best. BUT @ 4x6, phone images are good enough.