wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

Comparable by only the fact they are cameras. They are used to take pictures for different situations. A tool is a tool is a tool, a camera is a camera is a camera; it is just that not all tools and cameras are made the same and made for the exact same purpose.

rogernoel Loc: Arizona, Oregon, Austria

I seldom post here, but I find that there are some excellent posts that one can learn from by reading them. I think the title for the subject is a misnomer, but all of us make choices when we have the two ways to decide the device they are going to employ to take a picture. I have been with camera in hand for 72 years, starting with a French box camera on the streets of Vienna Austria , Jan 1946. One of the greatest loves of my life,"photography". I have only had Android cell phones the past four years, and currently use a Samsung Note 8. Cell phone camera, I have it in the car wherever I go, as it is my media to call 911 or a tow truck etc. It is not in the car to take photos, but I have used it many times as a camera. Going to a party, take your cell phone.

However, going on a cruise, get out the Canons and at least three or four lenses, trips, the same equipment and for any other special reason, I plan to take photos, I have the DSLR capability. Of course, the cell phone is also there but purposely to send or receive calls. I don't ever remember taking a DSLR in the car unless I was purposely going to take photos.

This is a great vehicle for photo discussion.

lee1956

It’s not really a comparison. When I start seeing the pros using them on the sidelines at the Super Bowl then I’ll take notice.

MikeMc

Asking an experienced group of serious photographers this question reminds me of when I gave a talk about electric vehicles and alternative energy to a group of "petro heads"! Especially when there are so many variations in use, environment, capability, and expectations it's difficult to be totally objective. In my case, I started my new hobby in photography but searching for a new camera that produced better image quality than my i phone 7+. I first bought a Sony RX100 V, did a series of comparisons to the i phone shooting duplicate photos of the same scene, ranging from sunsets to portraits. I returned the Sony because it never excelled over the i Phone and often was beaten by it. (Given this was in auto mode because at the time I just wanted simplicity)Later, I bought a Sony a7iii, 24-105G lens, not only a huge difference in IQ but now I've learned more about managing the camera, using LR/PS, etc. So the i phone, which is in my pocket 100% of the time, is used for quick impromptu shots and the a7iii is when I want a serious photo. But I think in the total market, meaning every photo taken in the world, the phone cameras are gaining share due to the multi function capability, really substantial improvements in technology, and image quality. Expect this accelerate in the coming years as semiconductor technology goes to 5 nanometer line-widths opening up a whole new world of apps and technology with lower cost.

cambriaman Loc: Central CA Coast

Except that they both produce an image, there is nothing comparable between them. Apples and watermelons!

suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ

I'm not so sure it is the phone camera (although it may be on the cheaper models) but the person snapping the pictures. Those same people would probably still have crappy images even with a good quality DSLR. I would bet that you would get way better images than others in your group even with a cell phone camera.

tommystrat Loc: Bigfork, Montana

The cameras on smartphones today are ridiculously technologically superior in almost every way to the SLR cameras I grew up with in the 60's. Higher resolutions, digital editability, size, convenience, and picture quality that is really quite amazing. So is the point of this discussion to say that images taken on older SLR cameras are somehow always superior to the ones captured on smartphones today because they were taken with "real" cameras??

When the camera is considered as a tool for the imagination, and not an end in itself to stroke someone's ego, this discussion will be more about the image and less about the tool.

suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ

Well said.

jackpinoh Loc: Kettering, OH 45419

Sometimes I bang things with a pair of pliers when my hammer would be more appropriate but is out in the garage.

ToBoldlyGo Loc: London U.K.

Bad analogy in terms of photography. You can hammer those things any time. They won't disappear. As I've said a smartphone can even be desirable.

jackpinoh Loc: Kettering, OH 45419

Cameras are tools. The job at hand defines the best tool to use.

ToBoldlyGo Loc: London U.K.

Sorry, I misunderstood. I get you now. It is a good analogy when I understand where you're coming from 😊

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

How many DSLR pics can you store on your SmartPhone? I take it you don't use a Nikon D850 for your RAW files.

tenny52 Loc: San Francisco

You seems to like to generalize and degrade others who were on your way; obviously Euros and Asians are not yours liking of people. So there are only three other kinds of people that you likes besides American like yourself, S. Americans, Africans and Eskimos.
There are two types of tourists, one go by tour buses and another go at their own pace.
When I use my Dslr on a tripod, I will find a spot where others would not be on my way. Because I realize that I don't own the view and space in front of my camera, how can I blame other people who just like to do selfies in a few seconds. To those young people who use smartphones only, we old farts are obstructing the earth's revolution.

In my 2 cents, smart phones are good for quickies, selfies, good light conditions, but not for low light and artistic portraits and post processing.
SP are very good for taking videos on a stabilizing bar; I regret I spent almost a thousand for the Song S53 Camcorder which I hardly use.
I like to view my pictures on my 40" monitor which would show betters images shot by my Dslr. The pictures taken by smartphone usually look good on the phone screen and perhaps on Facebook.
However, Dslr shooter pays a higher toll as the equipment are bulky, heavy and set up time is much longer.

Love Wildlife

I use mine to take my macro shots until I can get a micro lense. It is a Note 8 and has a 1.7 aperture and is very good in low light. I can shoot an aphid and blow it up into a 13x19 picture and be very detailed. I use my dslr for everything else.