iPhone camera vs DSLR

[VI™]

But those pictures would all be easily achievable on a smartphone?

They don't have extreme DR or shallow DOF.

Exposure control is available in iOS 8 as well.

Photo 1: DOF

Photo 2, 3, & 4: Dynamic range and exposure controls. I guess if there's an app to control those, then it would help, but the way it is now, I tap on what part of the screen I want to focus on and that's what it exposes for. Then I'm guessing it tries to compensate for the dark area as well and you get the noise. I'll do some experimenting later and play with my lights one day when I have some spare time.

Photo 5: Dynamic range & possibly lighting. This was either a composite, heavily edited image, or and image done with lighting. The sky is exposed so you see the colors and not blown out while the subject and foreground is exposed correctly. This was either done with some high powered flashes (because of having to kill the sun) or with several photos combine into a composite or with lens filters. It doesn't look like a single shot that was done with just a camera and lens. I could be wrong, but that's what it looks like to me.

 

[acearchie]

Photo 1: DOF

Photo 2, 3, & 4: Dynamic range and exposure controls. I guess if there's an app to control those, then it would help, but the way it is now, I tap on what part of the screen I want to focus on and that's what it exposes for. Then I'm guessing it tries to compensate for the dark area as well and you get the noise. I'll do some experimenting later and play with my lights one day when I have some spare time.

Photo 5: Dynamic range & possibly lighting. This was either a composite, heavily edited image, or and image done with lighting. The sky is exposed so you see the colors and not blown out while the subject and foreground is exposed correctly. This was either done with some high powered flashes (because of having to kill the sun) or with several photos combine into a composite or with lens filters. It doesn't look like a single shot that was done with just a camera and lens. I could be wrong, but that's what it looks like to me.

The awkward part is that these photos were all recent winners from the mobile photography awards.

DOF is possible on an iPhone when you are taking macros shots as it is with any small sensor camera.

The DR is limited in all of those shots. Shot 5 looks like a simple capture with editing to me. No need for composites or flashes! Just diffused light from clouds!

 

[Meister]

Do you mean a smartphone rather than a DSLR?

Yes. Typo.

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Most of them were taken from search by camera on Flickr and are only preview images.

Yes the noise is bad when blown up but who blows up pictures any more? People don't even print! I see Facebook and Flickr as the main sources for a lot of my peers and for that 800x600 is more than adequate!

I am not familiar with facebook or flickr.
I thought flickr supports high resolutions? If it just goes to 800x600 then it's one lame service! This thread isn't about people who post their photos on facebook. There is no doubt that if you only want to post pics on forums and similar pages a phone camera is more than fine.
I am talking about billboards, adds, fine art and magazines. That's what enthusiast and pros mostly likely are interested in and a phone doesn't replace a dslr for those purposes.

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The awkward part is that these photos were all recent winners from the mobile photography awards.

I am deeply impressed, again!

 

[VI™]

The awkward part is that these photos were all recent winners from the mobile photography awards.

DOF is possible on an iPhone when you are taking macros shots as it is with any small sensor camera.

The DR is limited in all of those shots. Shot 5 looks like a simple capture with editing to me. No need for composites or flashes! Just diffused light from clouds!

There are hard shadows on the subject. If the clouds were producing diffused light then the shadows would be very soft if apparent at all.

 

[acearchie]

There are hard shadows on the subject. If the clouds were producing diffused light then the shadows would be very soft if apparent at all.

Well to me it looks like changing conditions with the sun dipping in and out of the clouds mainly guessed from the reflection in the windows as well as the patches of sunlight on the grass behind.

There are hard shadows and soft shadows yes but not high contrast intense lighting.

I am not familiar with facebook or flickr.
I thought flickr supports high resolutions? If it just goes to 800x600 then it's one lame service! This thread isn't about people who post their photos on facebook. There is no doubt that if you only want to post pics on forums and similar pages a phone camera is more than fine.
I am talking about billboards, adds, fine art and magazines. That's what enthusiast and pros mostly likely are interested in and a phone doesn't replace a dslr for those purposes.

I don't think there is any limit to the size of upload to flickr but many peoples screens aren't larger than 1920x1080 ~2mp (not everyone has retina yet!) and I don't really know any hobbyists that want to print there pictures up onto billboards? Even so, then you are getting out of the range of DSLRs and onto MF cameras!

 

[Meister]

I don't think there is any limit to the size of upload to flickr but many peoples screens aren't larger than 1920x1080 ~2mp (not everyone has retina yet!) and I don't really know any hobbyists that want to print there pictures up onto billboards? Even so, then you are getting out of the range of DSLRs and onto MF cameras!

dslr Fullframe 16mpx are still workable for billboards and more than fine for magazines and other prints.

iPhone images even look dirty on 1920x1080 and retina will become prevailant in the future.

 

[acearchie]

dslr Fullframe 16mpx are still workable for billboards and more than fine for magazines and other prints.

iPhone images even look dirty on 1920x1080 and retina will become prevailant in the future.

I think we are straying away from the original point! I don't know many casual photographers who are actively looking to print to billboard size!

 

[Meister]

I think we are straying away from the original point! I don't know many casual photographers who are actively looking to print to billboard size!

casual photographers don't or shouldn't use dslrs.
They used to use p&s. IPhones are indeed replacing p&s.

Pros and enthusiasts usually look for high quality, art, potentialy monetary gain and recognition.
iPhones are barely acceptable for that.

 

[bhtwo]

casual photographers don't or shouldn't use dslrs.

You really mean that?

'Arse' and 'up your own' spring to mind.

 

[Meister]

You really mean that?

'Arse' and 'up your own' spring to mind.

Not sure why you are becoming insulting?
I only meant it's not economical for someone who wants to take casual snapshots to invest in a dslr.
iPhones are becoming like p&s and that makes more sense imo.
Of course if someone has the $$$ and patience a dslr is better. It's just not necessary and iPhones are, like mentioned, more portable.

 

[Apple fanboy]

So here's a case study.
Friend of mine is going to Cyprus for a week with his GF. I was telling him to take his D300 and one lens. He can't decide between that and his iPhone 5s.
It's not a photography holiday. But imagine being on a beach with a beautiful sunset, and your DSLR is back at home?
Or going to see some amazing ruins in a part of the world you may never be at again, and all you have is an iPhone.
No point owning a DSLR if your going to leave it in the box back home IMO.

 

[fa8362]

So here's a case study.
Friend of mine is going to Cyprus for a week with his GF. I was telling him to take his D300 and one lens. He can't decide between that and his iPhone 5s.
It's not a photography holiday. But imagine being on a beach with a beautiful sunset, and your DSLR is back at home?
Or going to see some amazing ruins in a part of the world you may never be at again, and all you have is an iPhone.
No point owning a DSLR if your going to leave it in the box back home IMO.

I have a friend who went to Italy and left her point and shoot at home in favor of her iPhone. Almost all of her photos are worse than mediocre. Her husband, however, took his Pentax K-5 II, so they have excellent photos of the trip.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I have a friend who went to Italy and left her point and shoot at home in favor of her iPhone. Almost all of her photos are worse than mediocre. Her husband, however, took his Pentax K-5 II, so they have excellent photos of the trip.

The photos will be awful whatever he takes. He's a shocking photographer!

 

[fa8362]

The photos will be awful whatever he takes. He's a shocking photographer!

I don't understand your comment.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I don't understand your comment.

Your friend has excellent photos from her trip as her husband took the Pentax.

My friend will not if he takes the D300 or iPhone as he doesn't take good photos. It was a joke about my friend.

 

[shinji]

You can still take good pictures with a crap camera and lens. I've taken a lot of stuff with my iPhone that I like, just because it happened to be with me. It's still not a replacement for a camera with a larger sensor and the ability to change lenses. There would need to be a major advancement in sensor/lens technology for that to change.

 

[JDDavis]

https://www.macrumors.com/2014/09/18/photographer-iphone-6-plus-tests/

Most probably saw this on the front page. Just continuing the conversation. I agree with earlier sentiments that technically phone cameras are replacing portable P&S cameras. My wife no longer uses hers in favor of the 5s camera. It's sure tempting to upgrade to get the 6+ camera. I'll have to be strong and wait though.

 

[acearchie]

https://www.macrumors.com/2014/09/18/photographer-iphone-6-plus-tests/

Most probably saw this on the front page. Just continuing the conversation. I agree with earlier sentiments that technically phone cameras are replacing portable P&S cameras. My wife no longer uses hers in favor of the 5s camera. It's sure tempting to upgrade to get the 6+ camera. I'll have to be strong and wait though.

http://www.theverge.com/2014/9/18/6339583/iphone-6-and-6-plus-camera-test-iceland

...and here is the link to the verge article with a load more shots.

Some really great stuff there!

 

[Diode]

You can get some amazing pics with just the iPhone if you have the right lighting.

Full size cameras though kill the iPhone when it comes to low light. I took this with the iPhone and this is a highly compressed version. The original looks pretty damn good.

 

[shinji]

You can get some amazing pics with just the iPhone if you have the right lighting.

Full size cameras though kill the iPhone when it comes to low light. I took this with the iPhone and this is a highly compressed version. The original looks pretty damn good.

That is a really nice shot.

 

[Attonine]

Pros and enthusiasts usually look for high quality, art, potentialy monetary gain and recognition.
iPhones are barely acceptable for that.

Utter nonsense. As I stated at the beginning of this thread MAGNUM photographers have published, worldwide, using iPhone.

http://lightbox.time.com/2011/05/20/the-war-in-libya-photographs-by-michael-christopher-brown/#1

So Time Magazine, yes TIME MAGAZINE, publishing iPhone photos. This work was good enough to get the photographer nominated and accepted to Magnum photos, you know, the world's most prestigious photo agency. Do you think they were sitting around at the AGM discussing the DoF and DR of the shots?

Stop focusing on the tool, and focus on the photography. There are people who know about photos and people who know about cameras, guess which are the successful photographers?

I have met many, many big time, big name photographers, and I have to say none of them have ever spoken to me about cameras. The only one I can think of who mentioned a camera is Bruce Gilden who spent a while slagging off Leica - a bit of a surprise as he uses them. Steve McCurry, Salgado, Peter Turnley, Abbas, Chris Steele Perkins, Moises Saman, David Gibson....the list goes on.

iPhones are fine. If they're good enough for Time Magazine, for Magnum photogs, they're good enough for the rest of us. Granted, some types of photography may be better suited to other camera types. Some photogs may prefer other camera types. A good photo is a good photo whatever camera is used. Yesterday I read an article about the best young instagrammers to follow, there was one young man, 15 yrs old, from NY, doing fantastic work with an iPhone, oh, and selling prints. Apparently he went for a long while not knowing how to use the DSLR his parents bought him.

I have a friend who is a fairly successful landscape photographer. He had an exhibition in Brighton once and told me it was interesting watching the viewers. Amateur photographers would walk up to the prints and start pixel peeping. Buyers would stand back and look at the prints.

 

[mtbdudex]

I recently sold my Nikon D 80 and bought the little Nikon D 3300. The pictures that come out of that little D 3300 are stunning. On the other hand, it doesn't fit in my pocket.

Sometimes the best camera is the one you have on you. It's like that old adage about f-stops: f/8 and be there. A so-so picture is better than no picture.

I take my D3300 when I think I'm going to be taking pictures. Other than that, I have my iPhone with me.

There is so much to be said about this:
"Sometimes the best camera is the one you have on you. It's like that old adage about f-stops: f/8 and be there. A so-so picture is better than no picture."


Define what we are:
-Hobbyist
-Artist
-Pro photogtrapher ; ie, make a living off the work and only the work
-weekend pro; side job not main job

Camera is a tool, not a means to an end.
The right tool for the right job.

 

[JDDavis]

Utter nonsense. As I stated at the beginning of this thread MAGNUM photographers have published, worldwide, using iPhone.

http://lightbox.time.com/2011/05/20/the-war-in-libya-photographs-by-michael-christopher-brown/#1

So Time Magazine, yes TIME MAGAZINE, publishing iPhone photos. This work was good enough to get the photographer nominated and accepted to Magnum photos, you know, the world's most prestigious photo agency. Do you think they were sitting around at the AGM discussing the DoF and DR of the shots?

Stop focusing on the tool, and focus on the photography. There are people who know about photos and people who know about cameras, guess which are the successful photographers?

I have met many, many big time, big name photographers, and I have to say none of them have ever spoken to me about cameras. The only one I can think of who mentioned a camera is Bruce Gilden who spent a while slagging off Leica - a bit of a surprise as he uses them. Steve McCurry, Salgado, Peter Turnley, Abbas, Chris Steele Perkins, Moises Saman, David Gibson....the list goes on.

iPhones are fine. If they're good enough for Time Magazine, for Magnum photogs, they're good enough for the rest of us. Granted, some types of photography may be better suited to other camera types. Some photogs may prefer other camera types. A good photo is a good photo whatever camera is used. Yesterday I read an article about the best young instagrammers to follow, there was one young man, 15 yrs old, from NY, doing fantastic work with an iPhone, oh, and selling prints. Apparently he went for a long while not knowing how to use the DSLR his parents bought him.

I have a friend who is a fairly successful landscape photographer. He had an exhibition in Brighton once and told me it was interesting watching the viewers. Amateur photographers would walk up to the prints and start pixel peeping. Buyers would stand back and look at the prints.

All great points and I agree. Like I said earlier these type of discussions tend to mix the technical viewpoint versus the artistic view point and the point ends up being lost. Both sides of the point are right. DSLRs are technically superior to phone cameras and at the end of the day beauty is always in the eye of the beholder (or the purchaser) and equipment is rarely the selling point.

It's good we are having the discussion though. That's how you learn something new or appreciate someone else's view point.

 

[Jessica Lares]

I remember seeing a 8x10 matted print like 10 years ago at a studio our teacher took us to on an all day photography field trip. There was a little square cutout for the actual print. It stuck out among the gelatins and really huge prints.

We also used to have a 1.3 MP photo on a huge canvas on the wall at school.

There's a whole difference between a print and seeing it in digital form on a screen. If you want people to look at a closer distance, you make the picture smaller, if you want them feet away, you make it regular, if you want people to appreciate it further, you make it even bigger. That is the good thing about photography, as an art form, it's very flexible.

And yeah, I totally thought the same about those pictures I posted earlier. I've been playing with the new manual settings in ProCam 2 these past two days and flipping through one of my other apps. The first developer who releases a proper app with all the bells and whistles with a feel of a real camera with custom presets and stuff is going to making a yacht load of money.

Instead of saying that the best camera is the one you have with you, let's say that the best camera is the one you know how to use. You can have a DSLR, but if you don't know how to use it, then it's completely useless. And if you're going to shoot in auto mode, you might as well be using the smartphone.

In the next few months, the camera apps on iOS are going to change a lot. Pay attention at what the photo pros are raving about, and pay attention to the numbers and modes a lot of these apps will let you see. If you know nothing about these things, you will learn a lot this way, and it will be easier to pick up a DSLR for the first time later on. You'll have the mindset of knowing what settings work best for what situation.

I'm very happy with the way the iPhone camera works, especially now, but I shoot for myself and would never consider the iPhone suitable for pro photography. The proper cameras and gear pay themselves within a few months, so there's no point in NOT going all out.

 

[hakuryuu]

At no point is my iPhone 5 or the incoming 6 Plus going to be a match for my 7D (and oh if I could afford the upcoming 7D mkII). But for the times when having a DSLR with me is more of a pain in the arse than I am willing to put up with then the iPhone will be the best camera I have available to me at that time. I have on occasion actually managed a passable picture with my various iPhones but it has been a rare thing indeed by my standards (my wife on the other hand.. will accept damn near anything as long as its not a blurry mess).

However, if some of the pictures i've seen lately are any indication, the 6 will be a surprisingly competent shooter for a phone.