Silverrails

I will agree that All Smartphones have quite Small Sensors. So they DO have limitations, like getting a correct sized 8x10 print, not good. 4x6 and 5x7 Ok.
The newer Phone's have more advanced features, they have been making many technological advancements in the Smartphones.

thephotoman Loc: Rochester, NY

I have a Samsung Note 10. It can shoot raw without any app. I bought a few clip-on lenses that work pretty good for the money. I suspect this will be the way of the amaetur. I think at least for the foreseeable future higher quality dslr and mirrorless cameras will still be used. The smartphone camera still has many limitations. There slow shutter release is not good for fast moving subjects. Long exposure photography still requires a regular camera. For how long only the manufacturers know what they are working on for the future.

markjay

I actually disagree to a large extent with much of the doom and gloom about young photographers.
I am 67 and have a 41 year old wife. Having gone through a divorce 6 years ago - I now find myself socially engaged almost exclusively with new friends who are in their 40's - and not those who I previously knew who are all in their 60's and 70's.

First - a large number (majority) of these friends have excellent cameras. None of them have the time to sit in front of a computer daily and look at photography blogs for an hour ! They are all obsessed with photographing and documenting life with their children. They are not posting every hour to their friends on their phones.

Yes - teenagers and perhaps those in their 20's are all into phone photography almost exclusively. Wait until they get married and have their first kid --- one of the first things they do is get a good camera. This group is another "silent majority" as they are not in these kinds of photo based websites.

I'm from NYC. I know everyone here knows B&H well. How many people here have ever been in the store ? It's quite an experience actually. I used to go there several times each year. The main floor (second) is photography. Its always crazy crowded, and I would guess the average age of the shopper there is in their 30's-40's. In fact - you do not see many at all in their 60's and 70's. FYI - despite the crowds - they have a massive number of sales staff so the experience and service quality is always excellent.

I am not at all worried about the future of quality photography. Phones will keep getting better - but the laws of physics will ensure they will never be the same ... There are huge numbers of amateur photographers coming up behind our generation.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Serious photography will continue to exist as long as there are people who see photography as an art or a craft. People with that perception will want to develop and refine their ability to conceive and achieve the desired outcome.

Brucej67 Loc: Cary, NC

Wow you lucky dog. I am 75 my wife passed away last year after 48 years of a joyful marriage and I would like to find someone even my age to spend my remaining years with.

ekim08 Loc: Indiana

yes we have a lot more time when not raising a family and think we need all that extra overtime. Need to really get back to a simple life enjoy each day. Get your spouse wanting go with you and take pictures. I give my wife the P1000 she loves it reaches out and captures a lot of wildlife

traderjohn Loc: New York City

Check out this group.

Douglas Tharp Loc: Texas

My local camera club is people over 60. Some are retired and so close to it. The degree of talent is overwhelming, the pictures are outstanding. The group buys new gear, all the time. Spending retirement savings. This is the bread and butter for camera stores. Some members say buy local, some mail order from the big online stores. The local stores are just hanging on, as with the virus and being over 60, people are considered. They buy online, no contact, with store staff.

Buy local!!

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Not a when I was your age thing, an opinion based on general observation of all the camera phones being used!

Cut me a pair of slacks, will ya?

traderjohn Loc: New York City

Not the end of the world.

Guzser02

You make a valid proposition.
The issue seems to surround itself around two dynamics: convenience and speed.
In terms of optics, I agree that there will always be some imagine-makers (IM) that will see optical correction as part of their art.
But those same IMs will becomes guardians of the process, I think.

Brucej67 Loc: Cary, NC

Still I don't see the day that you will be able to hold your phone up to catch birds in flight or deer running through the fields or capture the hair on the leg of a bee. I know there are attachment lenses for cell phones, but then you are talking about other gear added which the owner must carry around and use like a DSLR or mirror-less. Perhaps some time way in the future when technology greatly improves the phone camera might have these capabilities, but look how much technology has been added to the DSLR and Mirror-less cameras in the way of WI-Fi and Bluetooth that transfers photos to your phone to send.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

My wife passed away after 50 years minus 3 weeks. I got remarried at age 78. Don't give up.

User ID

In case you’ve missed it, no need to start such a thread on you town. There’s a new one just recently launched and already swamped. Check it out ... and keep your sense of humor !