Do You Need a Big Camera?
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- Опубліковано 13 лип 2024
- www.steeletraining.com/ - Can you get by with just a Smartphone, or do you still need a big DSLR or Mirrorless camera to get professional-looking photos? See comparisons, including depth-of-field, bokeh, and resolution in this tutorial from photographer Phil Steele.
For more of my tutorials, visit:
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The shortcomings of smartphones you pointed out are why I stopped caring about smartphone cameras (which used to be one of my top three considerations), and started investing in a proper camera and lenses; and I'm not even a serious photographer. And you hit the nail at the end: camera makers are not going to sit by and let computational photography pass them by. Imagine a proper camera/lens WITH computational magic. 🤯
Nice to see another video from you!
Stole my thunder. I caught that too. 😁
I disagree that you shouldn’t care about smartphone cameras. The best camera is the one you have with you, and there are plenty of situations when you can leave behind your beloved full frame mirrorless, but you still want to take a decent photo. Therefore I opted recently for a smartphone with a high quality 1” sensor (Vivo x100 Pro).
@@MaxusMV I hear you. But if I cared enough about capturing photos while I'm out and about, I take my full frame. In other words, it IS the camera that's always with me. The phone is good for throw-away snapshots and QR codes. But that's just me.
@@myfakeguuglaccount8307 One day I would love to visit your planet-). Here on Earth we encounter many problems and can’t always use big cameras: imagine that many museums or cathedrals prohibit the use of cameras, but turn a blind eye to smartphones. Besides, there are many regions (like Africa and Latin America) where it is strictly not recommended to walk down the street with a camera (there’s a good chance you’ll be robbed). Besides, many locals frown on you holding a big camera, but pay little attention to your smartphone that enables you to take candid photos on the streets. On top of all mentioned above, we have gravity and humidity on Earth: I like jogging lightweight and still be able to take good photos on the way. I would also avoid taking my Sony a7r4 to kayaking or mountain skiing.
Hi Phil I really like your videos, I'm a 67 year old automatic transmission rebuilder retired, you are my go to UA-cam page for camera info, for information like lens hoods and tripods and everything in between.
I know it sounds glib, but I say phones are for taking photos while cameras are for creating them. It's all about the degree of detailed control over every step of the process, and how much effort you're willing to put into that. Cameras demand more. We may have reached diminishing returns territory, but as an amateur (for the love of it) it's still well worth doing the extra work IMO.
The best channel about photography, period. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
Thanks for the kind words!
The main advantages of a smartphone camera are convenience and portability plus the fact almost everyone carries their smartphone with them almost all of the time. They are great for what I call snapshots, but not for serious photography.
I love using my smart phone camera for household tasks like when I am wanting to photograph a garbage disposal under my sink or the weird water closet fitting in my bathroom. It sure comes in handy when I am shopping for plumbing parts at the hardware store and I need to show somebody what I am looking for. If I am taking a photo that matters I will stick to my big-old DSLRs until I can afford a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. Besides, I kinda like to be able to mount a Godox V1 flash on the camera for some light in difficult situations and I like being able to look through my viewfinder when shooting in bright sunlight. Thanks for the video Phil.
The best photography lessons on YT
For me, you missed a serious aspect. I enjoy taking photos with a real camera. I hate taking photos with my phone.
Good point. As much as I prefer *carrying* the iphone, it's far more satisfying to shoot with a real camera.
It's also a lot easier to hold constantly for extended periods of time, especially for things like street photography, where you want your camera at your fingertips. A grip for a smartphone... Well that defeats the purpose of the smartphone 😅
Thank you for the video Phil. Really enjoyed the detailed comparison.
One word - Viewfinder. When I take pictures with a smartphone I might as well have my eyes shut some of the time. PS My 5D IV does in camera HDR.
Great point about a viewfinder. Especially in bright sunlight. Huge advantage.
Great video that shows smartphone shortcomings. I've downsized, no more DSLRs for me as they are just too heavy. I only use mirrorless cameras now and my iPhone is just another tool that often gives amazing results.
Hi Phil I wanted to make this a separate post, my dad was a mechanical engineer and growing up in the 60s he just always had a camera around his neck when we went somewhere, so he captured all the pictures of everything from summer to the holidays. I just don't consciously seem to continue that and even when I was in my late teens that I didn't have two nickels to rub together I had one of those little 110 pocket cameras, as time moved on into the 80s and everything went to digital I ended up with a small little pocket digital camera that I had on me all the time and then into the late 90s I started looking a little more seriously for a better camera so Fast forward to now and I have a Cannon T5i with a 18/147 lens I think, and a Canon SX70 which I call my cheater zoom camera but that's what you have to get when you're just a mechanic and you don't have an unlimited money stream. I have to say that these things are usually on automatic and try as I might I can't figure out a lot of the other settings, even though I've watched the videos that thousand times but when I get out to somewhere to use it I can't remember anything. all of our pictures end up in screensavers on the PC which my wife and I really like. We get to see all our pictures passing by the PC all the time cycling thru.
Hi i am Ahmad from Afghanistan and Thanks for this video Phil
The cameras in smartphones are perfect for the intended output : to another phone. Viewed on the small screen, the lack of resolution is not an issue. I prefer my proper camera for its ergonomics as well as the vastly superior output. It helps that I am retired and have plenty of time for post processing. For younger, working folks, a smartphone is the perfect tool.
Saving this to my Photography and Videography playlist for why I insist on using both. It's a much better explanation than the ones I've tried to give. Now try one for why Photographers like me still use film. I use all three.
I am excited to see the digitals with the kind of internal processing that smartphones use. The combination of the physics and simulation photographies is going to make editing a lot easier.
Hi Phil, thanks for this video I have a DSLR but I also use my Smartphone. And I use a Tripod with my Smartphone to make up on It's shortcomings. Cheers.
I personally think that smartphone camera tech should find it's way into real cameras.
combining the best of both worlds to create amazing photos straight out the cam.
of course with varying degrees of manualism, so the automatic Features won't screw you over in difficult situations or important events.
i mean... huawei had truly stunning low light capabilites...
Like the honest comparison, but i always tell phone techies that one is a phone and one is a camera, thankyou !
thanks very helpful..
Great video thanks for sharing
Great article Phil. Yes, mobile phones are now capable of taking really good photos. Thanks for the video.
Each system complements the other. Smartphones do have some really good advantages, like some that you mentioned, while also being able to have a short minimum focusing distance. This allows the photographer to place the smartphone is places where the bulk of the DSLR plus its lens would be impossible. And if you are impressed at what you get with an iPhone, you would be even more so with a Pixel.
There are a few caveats for smartphones: instead of having only one sensor, nowadays cameras have several, one for each lens on the back. Some phones try to match all of the sensors, but usually we get one "main" sensor with the best quality (and the better lens pairing), while the other are OK-ish in good lighting conditions. A Samsung S23 Ultra is be able to use 4 sensors (which is quite good for convenience and not to use too much digital zoom), but the output does not match. And while we can have technically a 200 MP sensor, it will still make a 12 MP Jpeg.
A DSLR is for control, not convenience. There are primes and zoom lenses, all of which can change the Aperture through a range. Smartphones are limited to a fixed Aperture on each lens, which can make for some choppy video when the scene is very bright.
Besides that, the photographer can better use the shutter speed for creative reasons and blur or freeze movement. A phone has a very, very hard time when shooting moving subjects, even when the light is strong - because of the many photos it takes for the HDR effect, ghosting at the edges of flowers is a light breeze is a common occurrence; when the light levels are low, it is almost impossible to get photos without movement blur (its tiny flash is unhelpful for the most part).
As someone commented, the ergonomics is a point in favor of the big cameras. The Sony Xperia 1 is the most camera-like phone, with a dedicated shutter button and the camera app in line with the A-series of mirrorless cameras; should the mark V get an 1-inch sensor, it will be very close to what a micro-4/3 camera can do (in its fixed sensor/lens pairings). The DSLR just has easier controls, to change on a photographer's whim, instead of going through menus to change a setting.
Finally, there is one huge advantage of DSLR: a huge selection of lenses, that can easily be changed for best results. There are some add-ons to smartphones, but it is putting more glass between the subject and the tiny sensor, which degrades the quality of the photo.
There are still lots of things one can say, but I rambled a lot already.
Thanks for the thorough analysis!
And you can't show up for photography session with a smartphone as your tool of trade. Smartphone phones are for everyone. Cameras are for those who know what photography is all about. Kudos
My iPhone 14 Pro Max using the standard lens in RAW mode at 48 MP is amazingly sharp. Not quite up to my Nikon D850 & pro leses, but pretty darn close in good light.
OK. Agree with much. But let's talk about psychology and public perception. If, as a (would-be) professional photographer, you turned up for your shoot toting a smartphone, you would not be taken seriously. And whatever its abilities, and your ability to use the phone effectively (as in these impressive examples), your client will say, "I could have used a phone too. But I wanted a professional!" A big camera simply looks the business - a real tool for a professional job. Today's smaller cameras, like the mirrorless, full-frames, lack "weight" in every sense, and I still struggle to take seriously videographers shooting away on DSLRs, and small cameras - while acknowledging of course, yes, they do shoot great video!
But sure, I'm of a certain age, and my background is broadcast TV - and note how big TV companies today still use hefty shoulder cams to shoot most of their news, documentaries, and drama. And to passing onlookers, this indicates a professional cameraman/woman: step aside so he/she can get their important pictures! If you look like every other street tourist, then that's how you will be perceived - unless, of course, that suits you as a street photographer - to maintain an unobtrusive, low-key profile!
But even in 2023, a big bristling camera looks the professional business! Stand aside, guys! A phone, so far, does not!
It's a fairly good comparisons, but a couple of things
1. You couldn't get the telephoto lens to work because your iPhone doesn't have a telephoto lens. Only pro models do. Standard and mini do not.
2. The 14 pro has the ability to shoot 48mp raw photos and they look a lot better than the standard over processed ones. More detail and less post processing.
The same comparison with let's say a 14 pro would come even closer
the biggest one with any of the smart phones, is the lenses or lack of as well a xenon flash
DSLR all time. Regards!
Though implied I think it should be clearly stated - the decision point phone / 'big camera' is more likely to be the time and money already invested in photography which is almost in a direct relationship, the age of the photographer and the proportional reluctance to accept change.
Those who have grown up with phones generally see little benefit of carting around a bulky camera when they have a phone which will deliver the quality of image they require.
Most *real / serious* photographers refuse to accept that there are very successful professionals who only shoot with phones, but it is NOT one way or the other.
However, *real / serious* photographers need to recognise they are in a declining market presence that can only result in their equipment getting more expensive. And although premium phones are enjoying a high value market point at the moment, the current imaging technology will cascade down to cheaper phones which will continue to affect the *big camera* marketplace.
My reasons for carrying a mirrorless camera are the better controls and interchangeable lenses.
Nice
I use my phone for gps, text, email, getting junk calls and to watch this UA-cam video. Other than that, it sits around on the table.
I think it's fair to say DSLR's are obsolete. The debate should really only be between mirrorless cameras etc
Phil - Thanks for another GREAT video! Would the quality and/or size of a print also be a factor, given the much larger sensor / resolution of DSLR's? - Thx, Tom, - Colorado
Tom, yes, exactly, if your intended use is a print, then a large sensor is certainly going to be an advantage in being able to print at a large size with sufficient resolution.
Smartphones have opened up the world of photography to everyone! I use my DSLR when I want pro level results.
There's also the fact that smartphones are phones, not cameras, and they have lights, music, compass, step counting, GPS tracking and a whole host of other things, with tons of apps to add, free or not and useful or not (calculator, notebook, internet, etc.).
For the moment, I prefer camera photos, with the smartphone, it's more when I'm out and about and want to keep a souvenir of something. I find that smartphone quality is improving faster than that of digital cameras. And even at the 100MP sensor level!!!??? How does it look? What about updates? I have a Samsung, there are updates from time to time, but they never say what is updated. For DPP brands, new firmware are not numerous, Panasonic, for example, hardly makes any anymore, and some DPP owners feel forgotten! Thanks for the comparisons, I do some on APNs too, do we have to use the features to get (supposedly) a better picture? I've noticed that, not always! In low ISO, it's not even recommended on mine.
@9:00 the DSLR photo is still more appealing for a twilight scene. The iPhone photo looks so unnatural, like it's trying to mimic a daylight photo.
I can go out and shoot a real estate photo job with my DSLR and never be questioned, but if I try to go photograph something by walking around and taking pics with my phone for some reason security and police tend to get curious and are likely to tell me to leave.
Smartphones are great. However, if image quality is a priority, smartphones still can't beat a several times bigger sensor with high quality glass elements in front of it.
With an app called even longer I can do daytime long exposures without nd filters. It saves the results in raw and it can bracket the shots too!
I have a $20 tripod to hold the phone. Results are as good as they are with a DSLR and nd filters!
Good tip, thanks!
It's difficult to explain, but for much photography, especially street photography, the problem with the phone is that people don't like having a phone pointed at them.
But if you have a 'proper camera', nowadays people just think you're a photography geek and ignore you. 😂
Good point!
I still have my Canon 70D... she's a bit of a clunker but I love her well! About a year ago, I thought I'd go buy a pocket sized camera...a $1300.00 Pentax that I wish I had left on the store shelf.
Camera makers need to up their game on simplifying and reducing the price point else they will lose the game by a big margin. Except for real and old school photographers most of the daily photography has been taken over by "Smartphones" which I personally don't like but that's the change we need to live with.
Yes, I do.
'Cause every time you review your 'smartphone photos' in your Computer or your TV...
All the technical limitations of smartphone 'cameras' become obvious, and almost insurmountable.
Ever tried doing wildlife photography with a smartphone? They would fail each time😅
So what phone should I get? 😏
What ever suits your needs.
A smartphone camera is not for me.
Good job. Sub +1.
The one and only straight forward answer to the question in thumbnail is "YES YOU DEFINITELY NEED AN ACTUAL CAMERA...NO MATTER HOW MUCH ARGUMENTS SOMEONE GIVES..A CAMERA IS A CAMERA..AND NO PHONE CAMERA CAN COMPETE WITH AN ACTUAL CAMERA... PERIOD..."
Phones are great but nothing like having a camera.
I don't know why smartphone brands are in a competition with real camera brands.Bigger sensors,fast interchangeable lens,high fps raw shooting capabilities,full manual control,proper grip...a smartphone will never bring all these experiences.At least for photography.I always prefer real photos over fake A.I generated images😂.
I don’t think cell phone photos are good at all. They are fantastic for documenting. “I want to take a photo of this piece of paper 📝 and all the things written on it to take with me to the store.” Or “I want to take a photo of exactly what I saw in someone else’s house that I want to buy myself.” You know, the kind of photos that you don’t need to keep but are fantastic for in the moment. But indoor photography of friends and family? Cell phone photos are awful. Everyone on Facebook looks hideous. I mean I love my family but if they used a camera, it would be super helpful.
Once they figure out how to stick a 1 inch sensor into a smartphone, most of slrs will be dead.
They already did. The results aren't all that impressive.
Edit: And I mean as compared to other smartphones.
@@myfakeguuglaccount8307 WhT phone has a 1 inch sensor
@@treedeblue Sharp Aquos R6/R7, Xiaomi 12S Ultra and 13 Pro, Vivo X-90/Pro+.