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DSLR vs Cell Phone article
Mar 26, 2023 08:29:06   #
GeneinChi Loc: Chicago, IL
 
Reopening a well discussed can off worms. Saw this article this morning on Quora and thought I’d share. Please note I did not write this and am not taking sides. I thought this was a good test. Link below skews you to the article.

Happy Sunday everyone!

Gene

https://www.quora.com/Are-smartphone-cameras-getting-better-than-DSLRs/answer/Bill-Otto-5?ch=17&oid=385774971&share=ca197d11&srid=uGOz5F&target_type=answer

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Mar 26, 2023 08:44:39   #
jlg1000 Loc: Uruguay / South America
 
This is completely correct.

Because of the small sensors, the pixel pitch of cellphones is comparable with the wavelength of light.

For example my 108 mp Xiaomi has a pixel pitch of 0.8 um... visible red light has a wavelength of 0.69 um. That means that the pixels cannot record details because the airy disk is bigger than they.

That means that the image at pixel level is completely fuzzy and the mp count is bogus.

Later, the phone algorithms do some magic to the bad data recorded by the sensor and create an useable image... which means shareable on social media and wiewed on 6" phone screens.

Never will a phone camera match the performance of a dedicated big sensor camera (APS-C or FF), not because of technology but because of the laws of physics.

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Mar 26, 2023 09:07:52   #
fourlocks Loc: Londonderry, NH
 
Thanks a million for finding and posting this. I would imagine there are similar comparisons out there but this one shows the clear and irrefutable differences between the two cameras. As we've always said, when it comes to lenses, size does make a difference.

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Mar 26, 2023 09:17:37   #
jlg1000 Loc: Uruguay / South America
 
... continued...

It easy to show that a phone camera is always at or beyond the diffraction limit.

It is true that phone cameras have improved over time, but they cannot overcome physics.

Manufacturers are now resorting to AI models to further improve the *perceived* quality of phone photos... like inventing hair because the model has detected a head, or inventing leaves where a tree is recognized.

The image can get pretty, but not accurate.

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Mar 26, 2023 09:45:58   #
ThreeCee Loc: Washington, DC
 
I can’t believe a cell pic will be as good as a good dslr. I also know the price difference would make dslrs would be on the shelves and not sell. A lot of in camera processing in the cellphone. If you like cellphone quality you should use it. I shoot mostly Wildlife and Sports. I will stick with Mirrorless and changeable lenses.

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Mar 27, 2023 12:01:09   #
insman1132 Loc: Southwest Florida
 
Interesting Debate (again) on an issue that is probably long way from being resolved - especially between us real camera enthusiasts. Being a dedicated Nikon and Canon user over the years, and continuing to be one at this time, I nevertheless am amazed at the progress the Smart Phone cameras have made. I travel around more now, knowing the camera I have in my phone which is always with me, will be a pretty good replacement for the camera I left at home if necessary. Here is an interesting article written by a Professional Photographer on the subject of iPhone Camera Progress.

https://www.idropnews.com/news/a-professional-camera-in-the-palm-of-my-hand-pro-photographer-shot-the-super-bowl-on-an-iphone-14-pro-max/191873/

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Mar 27, 2023 13:15:04   #
BebuLamar
 
Is it relevant any more? The DSLR is on its way out.

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Mar 27, 2023 15:20:47   #
jlg1000 Loc: Uruguay / South America
 
BebuLamar wrote:
Is it relevant any more? The DSLR is on its way out.


It's not about DSLRs... it's about cameras vs CAMERAS.

Because of the technology advances, the photo cameras are already hitting the walls of physics, not thecnology.

Therefore, there is no "general camera", all are niche products.

Cell phones are great because they represent the ultimate portability, but because of the sensor and lens size, they are limited to "social" photography (group / travel / beach, etc)

DSLRs or MILCs are the ultimate development inflexibility for quality photos, but are not that portable nor affordable.

Industrial cameras are the ultimate development for rash environment and flexibility to interface them to computer vision systems, but are unusable by humans.

Etc

Etc

None of them are better than the other, they are just... different, and suited for a different task

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Mar 27, 2023 15:44:41   #
CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City
 
A photographer brings their camera.

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Mar 27, 2023 17:56:00   #
insman1132 Loc: Southwest Florida
 
Ha Ha! You are right, CHG. But I would love to have just 25 cents for every time one of our posters on this site has said, "Damn! I wish I had my Camera!!"

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Mar 27, 2023 20:42:13   #
jlg1000 Loc: Uruguay / South America
 
insman1132 wrote:
Ha Ha! You are right, CHG. But I would love to have just 25 cents for every time one of our posters on this site has said, "Damn! I wish I had my Camera!!"


I did... While eslking on the beach, mybdaughtervand Insawvan UFO braking from - maybe - mach 30 to 0... and had no camera


Damn

Damn

Damn

Damn

Damn

...

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