Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

That is very, very true.
The people primarily using cell phones aren't interested in doing that though.

suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ

Well said and I agree heartily. There are things a phone camera doesn't do as well as a DSLR but the gap is closing. For the things a phone camera does well it has replaced my DSLR for those types of pictures in many cases.

Paul Buckhiester Loc: Columbus, GA USA

LR mobile has a camera function that allows phones to capture dngs. It also has features to allow selecting modes including manual.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

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.

JohnD3 Loc: Raleigh, NC

That is a fantastic photograph.

jaysnave Loc: Central Ohio

I have a D850 and some of the best lenses to pair it with, however we recently completed a Viking river cruise in Europe where I made the tough decision of not packing my bulky and heavy equipment in lieu of upgrading to the iPhone XS. I am sad and happy to report that the iPhone did a wonderful job. I think the time has come where small sensor technology will be eating into DSLR market share. I am doing a wedding later this year and will be using the D850, but for general use ...

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suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ

Good images no matter what they were taken with!

So many think it has to be an either/or but in my opinion DSLRs and phone cameras each have their uses. My phone camera (iPhone XR) has taken over many of the former duties of my DSLRs but that doesn't mean I run out and take bird pictures with my phone camera! Or macro or very wide angle or...

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I think it won't affect the DSLR sales as much as many think. I believe that the majority of the people using cell phone cameras would probably have bought an "instamatic" type camera if there wasn't one in their phone.
Now those who appreciate the versatility and capabilities of a DSLR, that would be another story.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Check out Emil Pakarklis on YouTube to see how this new tech can be used, plus editing with Snapseed. They are great when one understands and works within their limitations and knows how to exploit their advantages. This is true for all cameras.

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

The price of the cellphone camera does put it financially in our arena, any of the really good ones cost like a consumer DSLR/MILC/high end Bridge/Compact, and in and of themselves make excellent P&S cameras (where did the bridge cameras go, into cell phones, minus the big honking zoom). They are excellent communication devices, with fabulous interconnectivity and they make great pics.

Their big advantage is that they are subsidized - for many folks would simply not have one (especially a high quality/high dollar phonecamera), if it weren't for the phone being "free" while you pay for a service plan, they could not/would not justify the expense of forking out a grand for the phonecamera without the social media/telephone/banking/internet/tech connections they afford. When this cellphone phenomenon started, the bright folks figured out how to build/feed a captive audience, make it attractive, keep them buying new one's every time they design a new one....and you know the outcome, IT WORKED!! You could easily take the magic of a high quality cellphone camera and make it a small standalone camera, but how many would you sell....think about it, not very many......................

The idea of a "do all" device has come to fruition, and the public married the idea, entire enterprises have sprung up with them/because of them/made for them. If it weren't for the negatives associated with Huawei, I was interested in their new offering with 4 or 5 Sony Sensor cameras built in, it sounded marvelous. Trouble is, I don't really need any of the other things the cellphones offer, nor do I want to pay for the heavy data plan, I wouldn't get my money's worth. Many will, and they will continue to buy the things, even though they break easily, and will be outdated next month/year. Heck now they have sold the 5G idea, even though there are big warning about the safety of 5G, this will fuel another huge round of "gotta have it/can't live without it". Do we need it, I don't know, but the public will no doubt fork out billions more for this techno "need".

Cell phones are here to stay, let's face it, everybody wanted one the first time they saw the crew on Star Trek pull one out (the famous "communicator") and flip it open, damn you Gene Roddenberry, damn you to hell!!!!! LOL It just took a while to get there.....

Now, where'd I lay my flipphone.....
My$.02

sumo Loc: Houston suburb

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

Very true!

Retina Loc: Near Charleston,SC

It demonstrates how important things like composition, working with a subject, light, timing, and the overall artistic vision of the person taking the picture are when compared with the ultimate capabilities of a superior camera, especially for non-cell phone type applications. Add to that the amazing technology in the new tiny cameras and their software. I also notice most of the cell phone compliments are from guys are about the snapshots taken by women and girls (my daughters also do amazingly well with their iPhones.) I have always thought that in general, women have more natural talent for certain things, snapshots being only one of many.

arthlynn

The other point that no one has mentioned (at least of the first page) is that a photo on a cell phone is extremely convenient to show to people. When ever we visit the grandkids I sometimes will take my Sony NEX5, but I tell my wif to take a picture as well on her phone. I f we want to show friends something we always have our phones i.e. when we go to a movie or visiting. I also have a old Panny M4/3 .
I am more often relying on my cell phone, Google Pixel 1

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

I think you've hit on an important point here--sharing images with others, friends. I think that may be a big reason for the camera in a cellphone, moreso than the intent of taking high quality, marketable photographs. We have a group of old guys that gets together for breakfast on Thursday mornings and we are sharing photos on our cellphones all the time. And isn't social media, but it is social. It's time to stop denigrating cellphone cameras and those who use them and accept the fact that these cameras are here to stay, and we are among the users of cellphone cameras--based on the admissions of a large number of posters on this thread.

Which brings up an observation. Much is said about cellphone photos not being of sufficient quality to make nice prints and only good for viewing on a small screen or social media, and much is said about those taking photos with DSLR's or mirrorless cameras taking many images but only a very few are printable keepers. Hmmmm! Does that mean that there are a whole lot of images taken with sophisticated, dedicated cameras are merely snapshots? A large purpose of photography is the enjoyment that comes from taking pictures and sharing with others, whether by means of a large print or on a small screen.