He is photographer who have a UA-cam channel, not influencer who use camera. I like his works for years and his unique approach, especially on urban landscape
Completely agree with your thoughts on phones vs cameras, for me a phone though is a useful sketch book, taking visual notes places to revisit, dropping gps pins. First time I'd also seen the area with the finger board since the local farmer completely took away a really nice ruined farm and outbuildings that were adjacent to that tree
Agree with the key point on ‘experience’. A paired down all my camera gear to my Leica Q3 and Ricoh GRiii. But last week said goodbye to the Ricoh as when not wearing glasses I need a camera with a viewfinder now. The Ricoh made way for a OMD EM5 mkiii with 14mm and 45mm lenses.
I agree with all your points Craig, I find I use my phone most for photography when on holiday with family or friends…it is ideal for sharing things or recording interesting places/ features etc. I certainly send no postcards any more!
Your music jingles when transitioning between segments cracked me up. BTW couldn’t agree with you more on using our ‘real’ cameras over our phones. Cheers!
Always like your videos, you talk a lot of sense! Smart phone photography is great to capture snap shots, I find with a selfie stick, great when on holiday to capture the essence of where you are. Invariably it's not the time to lug cameras around and leave the loved one, twiddling their thumbs. There is a time and place for both!😀
I was on a two week getaway in South Korea recently and I had taken my Leica Q3 camera and my iPhone 12 pro max for communications. Though 90% of my photography was with my camera, I managed to take a few convenience snaps with my iPhone and to be very upfront, the quality of the smart phone Photos were absolutely garbage. Thank God I was not one of those people that relied on capturing my holiday photos with a smart phone as they absolutely disgusting when it comes to quality, use a real camera
Second hand compact digitals are seeing a resurgence of interest by mobile phone users because they want more than just taking photos. As you say, they want the experience and enjoyment they get from properly using a camera to take photos. Myself, I simply hate to have to dive into the touch screen menu to do anything I want to take a photo or adjust the settings.
Poor Craig: the latest (i.e. upcoming new) iPhone will have a "dedicated" shutter button, IIRC. But my cameras still can give me a more shallow depth of field and a powerful flash (those small Godox ones for example re easily pocketable) if needed.
@@e6Vlogs Even worse, most or all Sonys also have it. But okey, I agree, I actually brought my (work phone) Samsung S24 Ultra out, to see how images compete against my Sony A7II, with 50 years old Konica glass. The real camera, is still way better, to my large surprise also my 10 year old Sony RX100 mkII is actually better. Despite having 30 MP less, than the Samsung in 50MP mode.
The truly miraculous part of phone photography has to be the digital darkroom in your pocket and especially that one exceptional innovation - free perspective.
There are definitely some limitations that smartphones will never be able to work past. Mainly that their lenses and sensors will always be tiny. That forces them to rely almost entirely on the software on the phone to pull off a good image. This is the Achilles' heel of smartphone cameras. Even the very best smartphones, produce images that in my opinion don't really hold up compared to a dedicated camera. Even just a good pocket camera.
Interesting video, thanks. I find I use my phone quite a lot and have added a simple and inexpensive hand grip. I note you don't rate them but I find that mine (clamp rather than mag) with a Bluetooth shutter button makes hand holding much easier. I've added a wrist strap for extra safety. It works well as I find just using the phone alone a bit clumsy. Thanks again.
Very enjoyable video with valid points. But have you seen or reviewed the Fjorden iPhone camera grip? The claims made seem valid to control many manual operations in creating an image. Thanks for your photography which always inspires my own creativity!
Yesterday I was taking photos of a bridge being lifted into place on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway at Haworth. I had my micro four thirds camera with an 8-25 mm lens attached (equivalent to 16-50 mm full frame). I used the full range of focal lengths available, because it was a BIG crane, and there was really only one place available to stand. The 8 mm end allowed me to get the top of the crane in the picture, and the 25 mm end let me get in a bit closer. I couldn't have got the pictures with my phone.
Hi Paul, In great light Smartphones can take great images, but they just don't take good photos in low light. But they have improved significantly over the last ten years. Nice photo of the Old Blue Shed reflecting in the Water, taken at Three different angles. Looked like you used a Graduated ND Filter for the Blown out Sky, giving you a more balanced photo. That was a great tip for me to use. Love your work Craig. 😊
Since the phones are getting bigger and bigger I opted for a Sony compact, which is by the way also bigger than its predecessor. The camera, and especially the lens of this phone is such an afterthought that I just never consider using it. Small Olympus/ OM System camera in a pouch on my hip is what I use where ever I go. And that is with an EVF in contrast to the Ricoh 🙂
I ditched my Olympus system to and see if I could make my 15 pro max work as a camera. Not a chance, as you stated for landscape yes, some street stuff (street art) yes. So here I am now looking for a new camera.
I was in complete agreement with you until you mentioned smartphones and simplicity. I can use my smartphone to take a quick snapshot of something, or even a short video clip at the default settings. But beyond that, I'm faced with obscure icons whose function isn't clear. If I tap one, *something* happens - maybe - but what? I'm finding similar frustrations with my first digital camera, where I have to dig through menus to find a specific setting. Then making a selection may bump me out of the menu system, and I have to traverse the menu tree again to get back to where I was. (There ought to be a simple "back" or "undo" button.) I may not have the same degree of fine control with my old Canon F-1 film camera, but at least I AM in control and it's clear what each thing does. I suppose I need to spend some quality time with the manuals, but I wish I didn't have to do so.
Phones are the one time use cameras of the 90s. Convenient, cheap, usually always keep it with you since in the 90s you could buy those plastic cameras literally in any store, even clothing stores in my country used to sell them LOL. Cause they sold, people needed a picture? They just went and bought one for 50 quid and there you go. And so easy to develop the film, just put it in the machine and out came pictures! Phones are that, its just a convenient, cheap tool but at the same time, people who get serious about photography on their phone always graduate to an actual camera, after all, you are not gonna build a house with a swiss army knife are you? Its nice to have, but to build a house you need proper tools for the job. And people get so bent up and emotional over their tools specially brand names that they forgot at the end of the day it does not matter, they all do the same thing, phones are not designed for photography its not meant to do it well, but a camera is regardless what brand it is, obviously it will be better.
Phones are totally overrated for taking photographs. Ergonomic disaster areas in the main and fake megapixel counts to boot. I much prefer my Canon Powershot SX 740 over my iPhone 14 pro for taking pictures.
Although phones 'fake' it a lot using software tricks for low light shots, background blurr, etc. You can get some lovely shots from them that cameras can't get so easily (although their fakery can sometimes not come off with ridiculous results!). However, they can't really compete with larger sensored cameras If you print from them or look at them on large screens. They also are far harder to use if you need to change settings, my Ricoh or Canon cameras can have settings adjusted in no time whilst shooting via buttons and dials, my Samsung Galaxy needs a lot more faffing around in menus to change even quite basic settings. The whole 'pleasure in taking photos' thing is also real to me. I love the wandering looking for shots and the feel (not the weight) of the cameras as I take the shot. I agree that phones are unlikely to ever overtake cameras for photography, but are great for snap shots, filtered selfies and portraits and very occassional more arty content, all of which can be shared immediatly.
I have a -xiaomi 14 ultra pro phone with 1 " Sensor , shooting in raw gives asthonishing good photos also on a large screen and has even a special grip
But at least when it comes to their UI they're more intuitive to work with than many dedicated cameras. Also cameras built-in editing or ability to share a image to another device via wirelessly, for many of them, are still back in the 2000. There needs to be a balance somewhere. I hope camera makers take away from smartphones and learn how to make a better UI experience
I am not sold on the UI, it's interesting that Apple have added a dedicated button for theri cameras; perhaps connectivity could be improved, but then you'll be introducing all sorts of security issues and suddenly you need antivirus software etc.
Great points in this video... But a few weeks ago i was tempted when i Saw Xiaomi 14 pro - 1" sensor with add on.😵💫 They are getting very close. Thanks for your thoughts. All the best from Portugal
I think getting phone images on a computer and trying to edit them says all you need to know. Perfect for everyday stuff though if you are not a photographer. If I had to sell all my cameras the GR3 would be the one I would keep.
I think you nailed it with the "disconnected/too connected" comment. But what do I know, I'm an old fart with a bunch of old Nikon film camera's.... trying to like Fujifilm camera's and a distinct aversion to computers. Bangin rocks is more fun to this Luddite 🤪.
I think smartphones are for people who don't think they are photographers in general and people who use cameras/lenses are for people who believe they are photographers. My kids take way more photos than I do with their phones and when I say they are photographers, they completely disagree :) I seldom use my smartphone for photography unless I'm documenting somewhere I'm visiting and might forget the name of the place or occasional snap shots of my granddaughter/family. I find using my smartphone for photography bores me where I get excited to use a camera/lens combo. Both have their uses and places though.
Very interesting thoughts - for once I agree in general but disagree in detail. All right, but getting „the job done“ with a phones camera imitations to me is an „experience“. Yes, photography with my Olympus (yes, that one) ist still the better experience. But the phone is „ok“ when the camera is too bulky or not at hand. Dedicated phone sessions are not that bad…
Completely agree. But what kind of crazy madman holds their camera over a huge drop into the deep dark lake!! lol. It has a wrist strap for a reason, bro - spare my shredded nerves please! :-) And keep making these great videos.
Hi Craig, I think this is upside down, the phone companies don’t want you or I to drop our ricoh’s or film cameras, they don’t want the ‘yute’ to pick them up - that’s how they will dominate the market in 20years with a generation of no comparison to the camera experience and no desire for it. Take care, Toby
If family or friends ask me take a photo on a God forsaken phone I do the worst photo I can so they never ask again. It's either on a real camera with me or not at all. I'll leave photography first after 21 years before I use a phone for photography. Photography for me for getting away from my phone.
Agree 100%. By the way, you’re a bloody amazing photographer
He is photographer who have a UA-cam channel, not influencer who use camera.
I like his works for years and his unique approach, especially on urban landscape
Completely agree with your thoughts on phones vs cameras, for me a phone though is a useful sketch book, taking visual notes places to revisit, dropping gps pins. First time I'd also seen the area with the finger board since the local farmer completely took away a really nice ruined farm and outbuildings that were adjacent to that tree
0:24 When I have my camera in a vulnerable position, I always put the strap round my wrist, just in case.
Yeah, that made me really nervous!
Agree with the key point on ‘experience’. A paired down all my camera gear to my Leica Q3 and Ricoh GRiii. But last week said goodbye to the Ricoh as when not wearing glasses I need a camera with a viewfinder now. The Ricoh made way for a OMD EM5 mkiii with 14mm and 45mm lenses.
I agree with all your points Craig, I find I use my phone most for photography when on holiday with family or friends…it is ideal for sharing things or recording interesting places/ features etc. I certainly send no postcards any more!
Yep.....got to agree with everything you said including the golf comment!
Your music jingles when transitioning between segments cracked me up. BTW couldn’t agree with you more on using our ‘real’ cameras over our phones. Cheers!
Always like your videos, you talk a lot of sense! Smart phone photography is great to capture snap shots, I find with a selfie stick, great when on holiday to capture the essence of where you are. Invariably it's not the time to lug cameras around and leave the loved one, twiddling their thumbs. There is a time and place for both!😀
I was on a two week getaway in South Korea recently and I had taken my Leica Q3 camera and my iPhone 12 pro max for communications. Though 90% of my photography was with my camera, I managed to take a few convenience snaps with my iPhone and to be very upfront, the quality of the smart phone Photos were absolutely garbage. Thank God I was not one of those people that relied on capturing my holiday photos with a smart phone as they absolutely disgusting when it comes to quality, use a real camera
It's the intentionality, however esoteric that sounds. Phones are for throwaway photos.
That opening song intro sounds like a sample from the Clash "Straight to Hell" all day. Anyway great video!
Second hand compact digitals are seeing a resurgence of interest by mobile phone users because they want more than just taking photos. As you say, they want the experience and enjoyment they get from properly using a camera to take photos. Myself, I simply hate to have to dive into the touch screen menu to do anything I want to take a photo or adjust the settings.
Poor Craig: the latest (i.e. upcoming new) iPhone will have a "dedicated" shutter button, IIRC. But my cameras still can give me a more shallow depth of field and a powerful flash (those small Godox ones for example re easily pocketable) if needed.
Yes, I saw the launch and news of that ‘dedicated’ button…I rest my case!
@@e6Vlogs Even worse, most or all Sonys also have it.
But okey, I agree, I actually brought my (work phone) Samsung S24 Ultra out, to see how images compete against my Sony A7II, with 50 years old Konica glass.
The real camera, is still way better, to my large surprise also my 10 year old Sony RX100 mkII is actually better.
Despite having 30 MP less, than the Samsung in 50MP mode.
The truly miraculous part of phone photography has to be the digital darkroom in your pocket and especially that one exceptional innovation - free perspective.
There are definitely some limitations that smartphones will never be able to work past. Mainly that their lenses and sensors will always be tiny. That forces them to rely almost entirely on the software on the phone to pull off a good image. This is the Achilles' heel of smartphone cameras. Even the very best smartphones, produce images that in my opinion don't really hold up compared to a dedicated camera. Even just a good pocket camera.
Interesting video, thanks. I find I use my phone quite a lot and have added a simple and inexpensive hand grip. I note you don't rate them but I find that mine (clamp rather than mag) with a Bluetooth shutter button makes hand holding much easier. I've added a wrist strap for extra safety. It works well as I find just using the phone alone a bit clumsy. Thanks again.
Very enjoyable video with valid points. But have you seen or reviewed the Fjorden iPhone camera grip? The claims made seem valid to control many manual operations in creating an image. Thanks for your photography which always inspires my own creativity!
Yesterday I was taking photos of a bridge being lifted into place on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway at Haworth. I had my micro four thirds camera with an 8-25 mm lens attached (equivalent to 16-50 mm full frame). I used the full range of focal lengths available, because it was a BIG crane, and there was really only one place available to stand. The 8 mm end allowed me to get the top of the crane in the picture, and the 25 mm end let me get in a bit closer. I couldn't have got the pictures with my phone.
Hi Paul, In great light Smartphones can take great images, but they just don't take good photos in low light. But they have improved significantly over the last ten years. Nice photo of the Old Blue Shed reflecting in the Water, taken at Three different angles. Looked like you used a Graduated ND Filter for the Blown out Sky, giving you a more balanced photo. That was a great tip for me to use. Love your work Craig. 😊
"Bypass all the complications of shutter speed, aperture and ISO" - almost like a Holga!
Wish i could give a double thumbs up for the golf comment 😂
Since the phones are getting bigger and bigger I opted for a Sony compact, which is by the way also bigger than its predecessor. The camera, and especially the lens of this phone is such an afterthought that I just never consider using it. Small Olympus/ OM System camera in a pouch on my hip is what I use where ever I go. And that is with an EVF in contrast to the Ricoh 🙂
Hì Craig.
Which camera did you use at 0:20 ?
Fuji XPro2
@@e6Vlogs Thank you.
I ditched my Olympus system to and see if I could make my 15 pro max work as a camera. Not a chance, as you stated for landscape yes, some street stuff (street art) yes. So here I am now looking for a new camera.
I did the same and I could almost cry. My 13 pro is good, however the Olympus has the better sensors. Like you, I’m looking for a new system.
I was in complete agreement with you until you mentioned smartphones and simplicity. I can use my smartphone to take a quick snapshot of something, or even a short video clip at the default settings. But beyond that, I'm faced with obscure icons whose function isn't clear. If I tap one, *something* happens - maybe - but what? I'm finding similar frustrations with my first digital camera, where I have to dig through menus to find a specific setting. Then making a selection may bump me out of the menu system, and I have to traverse the menu tree again to get back to where I was. (There ought to be a simple "back" or "undo" button.) I may not have the same degree of fine control with my old Canon F-1 film camera, but at least I AM in control and it's clear what each thing does. I suppose I need to spend some quality time with the manuals, but I wish I didn't have to do so.
Phones are the one time use cameras of the 90s.
Convenient, cheap, usually always keep it with you since in the 90s you could buy those plastic cameras literally in any store, even clothing stores in my country used to sell them LOL. Cause they sold, people needed a picture? They just went and bought one for 50 quid and there you go. And so easy to develop the film, just put it in the machine and out came pictures!
Phones are that, its just a convenient, cheap tool but at the same time, people who get serious about photography on their phone always graduate to an actual camera, after all, you are not gonna build a house with a swiss army knife are you? Its nice to have, but to build a house you need proper tools for the job. And people get so bent up and emotional over their tools specially brand names that they forgot at the end of the day it does not matter, they all do the same thing, phones are not designed for photography its not meant to do it well, but a camera is regardless what brand it is, obviously it will be better.
Phones are totally overrated for taking photographs. Ergonomic disaster areas in the main and fake megapixel counts to boot. I much prefer my Canon Powershot SX 740 over my iPhone 14 pro for taking pictures.
A.I is as fake as political promises
Although phones 'fake' it a lot using software tricks for low light shots, background blurr, etc. You can get some lovely shots from them that cameras can't get so easily (although their fakery can sometimes not come off with ridiculous results!). However, they can't really compete with larger sensored cameras If you print from them or look at them on large screens. They also are far harder to use if you need to change settings, my Ricoh or Canon cameras can have settings adjusted in no time whilst shooting via buttons and dials, my Samsung Galaxy needs a lot more faffing around in menus to change even quite basic settings.
The whole 'pleasure in taking photos' thing is also real to me. I love the wandering looking for shots and the feel (not the weight) of the cameras as I take the shot. I agree that phones are unlikely to ever overtake cameras for photography, but are great for snap shots, filtered selfies and portraits and very occassional more arty content, all of which can be shared immediatly.
I have a -xiaomi 14 ultra pro phone with 1 " Sensor , shooting in raw gives asthonishing good photos also on a large screen and has even a special grip
But at least when it comes to their UI they're more intuitive to work with than many dedicated cameras. Also cameras built-in editing or ability to share a image to another device via wirelessly, for many of them, are still back in the 2000. There needs to be a balance somewhere. I hope camera makers take away from smartphones and learn how to make a better UI experience
I am not sold on the UI, it's interesting that Apple have added a dedicated button for theri cameras; perhaps connectivity could be improved, but then you'll be introducing all sorts of security issues and suddenly you need antivirus software etc.
Great points in this video... But a few weeks ago i was tempted when i Saw Xiaomi 14 pro - 1" sensor with add on.😵💫 They are getting very close. Thanks for your thoughts. All the best from Portugal
I think getting phone images on a computer and trying to edit them says all you need to know. Perfect for everyday stuff though if you are not a photographer. If I had to sell all my cameras the GR3 would be the one I would keep.
cant ring out on my fuji xe2, nice vid Craig
a fairly overcast day and woolly jumper, will there ever be good weather photography from UK? so depressing always photographers in woolly hats
I think you nailed it with the "disconnected/too connected" comment. But what do I know, I'm an old fart with a bunch of old Nikon film camera's.... trying to like Fujifilm camera's and a distinct aversion to computers. Bangin rocks is more fun to this Luddite 🤪.
I think smartphones are for people who don't think they are photographers in general and people who use cameras/lenses are for people who believe they are photographers. My kids take way more photos than I do with their phones and when I say they are photographers, they completely disagree :) I seldom use my smartphone for photography unless I'm documenting somewhere I'm visiting and might forget the name of the place or occasional snap shots of my granddaughter/family. I find using my smartphone for photography bores me where I get excited to use a camera/lens combo. Both have their uses and places though.
Very interesting thoughts - for once I agree in general but disagree in detail.
All right, but getting „the job done“ with a phones camera imitations to me is an „experience“.
Yes, photography with my Olympus (yes, that one) ist still the better experience. But the phone is „ok“ when the camera is too bulky or not at hand. Dedicated phone sessions are not that bad…
I have the opposite experience... Taking out my DSLR is a worse feeling than using my phone.
For many reasons
Why is that?
I say, if Olympus had put a phone feature into the EM1 mk3, they might still be around...
Thank you for the great video. You could have emphasized the poor image quality of the iPhones -- terrible color rendition!
I give up on the album cover...who is the band or artist? The best I could get on Goggle was Mr. Big, or Big Star.
Yes - Big Generator
(Thanks, Google Lens 😊)
@@rebbel67 Thanks!!!
just watching, like the lead in photos😊, my phone cops fair bit of abuse therefore don’t take photos other than snapshots.
Completely agree. But what kind of crazy madman holds their camera over a huge drop into the deep dark lake!! lol. It has a wrist strap for a reason, bro - spare my shredded nerves please! :-) And keep making these great videos.
I like to add an element of danger to my videos!
The lens and the shutter button are all in the wrong place on a smart phone. They are the most awkwardest thing to use as far as i am concerned.
Hi Craig, I think this is upside down, the phone companies don’t want you or I to drop our ricoh’s or film cameras, they don’t want the ‘yute’ to pick them up - that’s how they will dominate the market in 20years with a generation of no comparison to the camera experience and no desire for it. Take care, Toby
hang-on, is that you taking "pretty" photos!!!
I am totally not bothered by the way other people take pictures, and neither should you.
No point me having a UA-cam channel then, offering advice.
@@e6Vlogs That is not what I meant. Your personal experience will still be a valid inspiration for many people, especially beginners.
I quite agree. Folk, these days, do not have a soul.....and thats what using a camera is about.
If family or friends ask me take a photo on a God forsaken phone I do the worst photo I can so they never ask again. It's either on a real camera with me or not at all. I'll leave photography first after 21 years before I use a phone for photography. Photography for me for getting away from my phone.