Who Has Given Up Their Camera For Their Smartphone?

There is no substitue for my DSLR. But, there will always be times when I don't have it with me and during those times, my iPhone fulfills those duties.

Admittedly, everyone has a different opinion on this because photos are used for different things and hold different levels of importance to different people. I may prefer quality and hvaing the option to adjust and finetune every setting while you may prefer the sheer convenience of posting selfies directly to facebook.

I think this kind of discussion always comes up with the advance of technology and comparing the new to the old. Vinyl vs CDs, CDs vs mp3s, Film vs DSLR, DSLR vs smartphone, GPS vs smartphone, and so forth.

It's all preferences. Generayyly, I think the new tech wins out because it's just so darn handy to carry less gadgets.

I see it as a another option. The best camera is the one you have with you when you need to take the shot.

I agree.. depends if I have the camera or the phone..

But they are useful in a pinch.

I have switched

User smart phone camera for emergency and small occasion (birthday, picnics etc) for vacation I use the professional one.

Given the size of the sensor on phones, it will take forever for phones to think about catching up with cameras!!

It's just basic physics.

The problem with the phone "toy" users is that "good enough is good enough." They are merely appliance operators--not photographers.

I still remember how to use a 35mm SLR, though the steps in processing the film are a bit hazy. High school art classes of the 80s included photography courses, which is where I learned the basics, including the rule of thirds for composition. I would still be using a SLR of some sort today if I wanted to really focus on the art. For the occasional snapshot however, a smartphone camera is fine, and the dedicated compact digital camera is dying out.

While I am curious as to whether the 13mp sensor on my smartphone can outperform the 7mp sensor on my compact digital camera, the reality is that the person using the equipment plays a far greater role in making a good picture than the equipment itself. I've seen some stunning photos come from DSLRs. I've seen equally stunning photos come from smartphone cameras. While I don't see a professional ditching their DSLR, the average person like you and like me is likely going to use the tools at hand: a smartphone.

Calling either camera a toy would be unwarranted. It's divisive, and only serves to promote elitism. Especially when it's the man holding the camera that makes more of a difference than the equipment.

The big difference between smartphones and cameras is, the optical zoom on the lens. Digital zoom just doesn't have the quality.

I still use my camera

Low Light is also a big problem with the phone camera if you can't use a flash or don't want to.

I don't have a cell phone, but I have several DSLRs and even more lenses for them. I'm an amateur photographer who would never think of traveling without my gear. In fact, I often choose my destinations based on the photo opportunities they present.

Different strokes for different folks.

http://www.photoplusexpo.com/

For those who take their digital photography seriously. The trick is not getting in, but finding a garage to park your vehicle

I like that solves the problem.

And I am going to see how it does for a camera. Will be nice not to take several items and just one. Hope it turns out as well as I think.

Anyone using a Note 4 for Camera?

I must admit that the camera in my 6+ has changed my attitude about cellphone cameras. I'm still not going to give up my Nikon for serious photography, but I find that I'm taking a lot more candid photos (especially indoors) with my 6+ than I used to with previous cellphones. It is more than just having it available. I've had a cellphone camera available for several years, but didn't bother to take low light shots because it couldn't handle them. The 6+ excells in low light conditions.

Stopped using a regular camera years ago only cell phone now.

I just got a new Nikon D750 and it is the best camera I have ever used. You can shoot in almost dark conditions and still get a good shot. Another thing you miss on the phone is the ability to shoot multiple frames in a second; a must have for action shots. I also use a Lumix for a lighter carry. The phone is good but the quality is not there for many situations.

A cellphone, iPad or tablet camera is nothing but a point and shoot camera. Probably good for the average person who does nothing but shoot pix of family and a few scenic shots!
My camera has a 32X optical zoom and with the digital zoom at 120x with a tripod can take a full screen picture of a full moon and details are highly visible!

What do you have? How is the image quality of the moon pictures?

How long does it take you to set up all that crap when a butterfly lands on your granddaughter's finger?

longer than it takes to pull the phone out of the holder, turn it on, page through the apps to find the camera icon, frame the shot and then press the "button" about 20 seconds after the butterfly left.

Not me. To me regular cameras still take better photos. Even though the phones are getting close to it.

Way back when this discussion started, I would have said no way to using the phone as a camera. This has changed slowly over the progression from a flip phone to a Droid (which was awful) to an iPhone 5 ( which was mostly OK) to the new iPhone 6. I am very impressed with this one. Despite my Essential Tremours the pictures are clear, geo-tagged and generally better than my Canon camera. The evolution has been impressive at least for my needs. I'm in no way a professional photographer so this works great.

The part of all this that is so eye opening, is that Shooter the OP who was not a supporter of using the camera on a smart phone in the beginning, seems to be a supporter now.

So in 2 1/2 years, a lot must have changed.

I use the camera on my iPhone 5s to take a lot of pictures. And I have taken some very good pictures with it. I use it because it's convenient. I always have it with me. And I can immediately email, text, or otherwise share those pictures if I want from my phone.

However, if I am trying to take really good pictures, I use my real cameras.

The iPhone cannot match the zoom nor macro capabilities of my cameras. Nor can it match the low light capabilities of the cameras.

I'll stay with my Canon EOS 7D and L Lenses. The iphone camera is nice but its know were near my Canon EOS camera.

The iphone or smart phones in general are nice for fast shots but I prefer the results from my Canon EOS camera.

I prefer picture quality over portability.

http://www.theverge.com/2015/1/28/7925023/sundance-film-fest...

Camera phone for everyday used.

Take most pictures with my Iphone 6 Plus Quality is very good.

There's the key for most folks: the best camera is the camera you have with you, not the one back on the shelf at home!

than facebook/instagram.

Our trusty old Nikon D50 (2005) broke, nice, we didn't think electronics broke anymore, huh?

So we have to make do with the iPhone 6 / Galaxy s4 pics for now. If one were to ever try to print them, even 4x6, they are awful.

We have to go back to when we were 16 and think about physics and refraction.

I think the older we get, the more we realize you can't get something for nothing, right?

We have a limited budget but plan on getting the Nikon D5500. Is the 24 mp needed? Of course not, the 6 mp on the D50 was good enough for a 8x10 print already.

mp is like hp--it sells and the marketers know that. How many cars have less torque than hp? The majority. Because hp sells. Again, go back to 10th grade physics and 5252, but I digress...

I have a droid turbo and it has a 21 mega pix camera with a 4x zoom it takes pretty good pictures I also like the fact that from my camera I can print my pictures on my home wifi printer ! the pictures are clear and colorful for me, my wife has an Epson and I have canon printer and they both print nice 4x6 photos.
our camera sits in the closet any more not much reason to take it out any more, with the improvement's in the camera phones .
its hander to shoot and print then a regular camera and its always in your pocket to catch that special moment.

I use the phone when I want to attach a pic to a text or on the RARE occasion when I don't have my camera with me. I usually keep it in the car.

I took my Panasonic DMC-ZS25 on an African Safari. I love the 20X optical zoom and all of the different settings that allow me to experiment when I have the time. I shot some pics of animals that were several hundred yards away and they look like they were standing right in front of me. Can't do that with a phone!

When we got home, our travel agent asked if she could have some of the pics to hang on the office wall. They blew them up to poster size and had them framed. Everyone who sees them, including the travel agent, asks what kind of camera I have, thinking it's a big DSLR. When I pull it out of my pocket, they think I'm lying to them.

The DMC-ZS50 is out now. That's probably my next camera.It has a 30X optical zoom!

My pictures are on my computer from the iPhone with no work at all and I can print them right away. Besides the iPhone 6 takes better pictures than my Canon camera. Never thought I'd say that.

I don't often use my camera. Most of my pictures are taken with my iPhone 6, or my iPad Air

The iPhone 6 takes better pictures than my digital camera did, and it did great job - it was a Olympus CZ2100

I always have my iPhone with me, sometimes my iPad and almost never my camera

Pictures just happen on what I have in my hand ..... which is usually my iPhone

Some shots as "notes" or mini-pictures on the web sure but generally the camera is vastly better in quality and always with me if I'm on a planned trip.

I do agree about the "toy" users. Usually, just usually, people set out to snap and capture.

Now, to photographers. People with DSLR cameras for the most part are not photographers either. Most people with a DSLR camera just have a more expensive "toy". A DSLR set on auto takes any decision making away from the person. Unless doing something like sports photography a photographer "sets" his camera for the work at hand. They will have preferences developed over time - aperture priority or shutter priority. Photographers learn to manipulate their cameras and lenses to achieve what they desire. I talk about casual photographers here. If you don't know the functions of your particular camera and almost always have it set on auto, then you probably fall into the casual group. No offense. That is where I set my camera most of the time anymore. Unless, it is macro or extreme telephoto work I'm doing. Casual shooting is in auto.

The advent of digital was a boon for photographers for they could preview and not wait for developing. Proofing was quick. Before digital, photographers were kind of at the mercy of developing labs. A good lab was gold. A bad lab could skew what you were looking at, or worse, destroy your film. Film is the 1st instance and anything after from that negative is a 2nd instance of what was shot.

I used to own a small lab. Times were a changing. Then - they changed on me.

My smartphone has become my primary camera as I always have it with me I love the quote the best camera is the one you have with you. sure you might produce a better pic with a better camera but often times for a spontaneous photo shoot you will not have a DSLR with you.

The depth of field on phone is too wide for my taste and takes away from interesting shots. It does not eliminate the goodness but something lacks.
I use the phone for pics to entertain my 10 year old or something quick to text the wife. It is more of being a tool akin to hammer instead of a mallet since it lacks finesse.

I just came back from a trip out west, I live in florida.
put 7200 miles on my rv. used my phone most of the time.
as a matter of fact I put my Nikon 3200d on ebay and sold it.

Since the Nikon D50 broke a few months ago....

Just got a deal on a D5500, with a 18-55 VRII 3-5.6, and 55-300 VR 4.5-5.6. I've never had a VR lense and don't plan on switching it on.

The piece de la resistance is a 10-20 mm 3.5 MADE IN JAPAN.

Now remember the D5500 is not a full sized sensor so it has a 1.5x factor.

How much you want to bet, that an 18 y.o. today, does not understand what 3-5.6, 18-55, 1.5x means? Just like so few can drive a car or truck with a clutch.

At least their iPad Pros play music more accurately and methodically than me on my Martin.

Old and in the way comes to mind lol

I remember as a struggling college student I saved for a SLR. It already had a lot of electronics and I was limited to a 1.8 50 mm that it came with, but eventually got a 70-300 4.5-5.6. At the time I dated a girl from Norway and she was into $100 B+W filters, and manually focusing, so she considered me a lightweight. I just got a D5500 and will likely shoot on auto much of the time. I don't even want to read the manual, I want to see how much is intuitive. It took a while to figure out how to simply shoot using the viewfinder, and not the LCD--that just even to me doesn't feel right.

I'm curious, why don't you want to use VR? It helps especially if your hands aren't as steady as they can be.

It doesn't consume that much power.

I my wife and I don't have a smart phone. We can't justify the use of it. We do have a cell phone that does the job. I have a camera that I use if I want to take photos. We would love to own one tho, It is a nice gadget to have. All I children and grand-children have one. We just can't justify the cost. The cost of our cell phones run about 10.00 a month. Just pay for usage only, no monthly charges for services.

...are probably better viewed as hand held computers with one or more photography apps, AND a whole lot more.

Not everyone is suited for such a thing.

For local bird wildlife. Smart phone lens are too short and not fast enough for moving objects.

I don't know how the VR actually works, and my 2005 18-55 DX didn't have it. Kinda like when a new car has traction and stability and ABS, you turn it all off cuz you didn't have it when you were 16 and learned to drive (joking)....

I use both. Which one depends on the situation. Use the phone more frequently because I don't have the camera always with me.