What type is the main camera that you use? (Poll + discussion)

[Hughmac]

I’ve noticed recently that a lot of the pictures uploaded to the Photo of the Day thread have been taken on a mobile phone, and some great shots have been showcased.

This is absolutely not a criticism but an observation, presumably driven by the technical improvements in mobile phones, and I would truly be interested in what percentage of people use which type of camera as their main means of making pictures.
Times are changing, and while there will still be a lot of die hard dedicated camera users, this thread is not intended to become a mobile vs DSLR bashing contest.

As someone approaching senior citizenship, if I plan to go out and take photos I will carry my big camera, but on occasion I am without and therefore rely on my mobile to catch a scene.

Hope we can have fun with this and keep it civil

Cheers

Hugh

 

[mollyc]

Primarily ILC cameras, but a mixture of digital and film. Also some non-ILC but manually controlled film fixed lens cameras.

I rarely share images from my phone. Maybe 1-2 a year are phone photos.

 

[Jumpthesnark]

DSLRs, and I'd be shifting to a pro mirrorless if I could make it work with my budget.

I have a fixed-lens mirrorless that I bring with me in situations when I don't want to schlep DSLRs and lenses. That's because I don't feel a phone is good enough yet to really consider as a camera, except as a last resort.

 

[BotchQue]

DSLR. While I'd love to convert to Nikon's "Z" mirrorless system (primarily for the Eye Focus feature) it's taken me 30 years to collect all the F-mount lenses I wanted (or thought I wanted). Not enough time left on this Plane to start over (and yes I know about the adapter thingie, but that's a bit too Rube-Goldberg).

 

[jz0309]

I voted 50/50, not because it represents number of photos but my iPhone is with me pretty much at all times.
Image quality out if an iPhone has greatly improved over the years but cannot replace an ILS ( and probably never can imho).
So when I plan to go out, my camera bag will be with me, but even then I do take shots with my phone.

 

[snerkler]

Any ‘serious’ photography I use my Sony A9ii. I take the odd snap shot with my phone but usually nothing special.

 

[Clix Pix]

My primary shooting tools are Sony mirrorless full-frame cameras (A7R IV, A1) with various lenses, but I also from time to time use a "bridge" camera (Sony RX10 IV) when something is happening out on the lake and I don't have time to grab the A1 and mount a long lens. That bridge camera, with its zoom range from 24mm to 600mm (35mm equiv on a 1" sensor) has captured situations which I otherwise probably never could have gotten.

More infrequently I use my little compact Sony RX100 VII, which is ideal for traveling or for going somewhere that I know I'll want to shoot and want to have some control over the settings, etc, but where having a purse-sized camera with fixed zoom works best such as in places where a larger pro-looking camera, especially with interchangeable lenses, would not be welcome. As it happened I used that little camera this past week -- two of the images I shared on the POTD thread were taken at City Winery in DC.

Last, but not least, once in a while I use my iPhone to spontaneously capture interesting things I see when out-and-about. I also will occasionally use it at home to experiment with an idea that has come into my head to see if it is feasible before getting the other gear out of the cabinet. Also I tend to grab the iPhone when I notice something that makes me want to reach for the nearest camera to fire off a shot or two. Today's shot in the POTD thread is an example of that.

I would say that in general I use the two ILCs 85% of the time and the other three about 15%. Each of these cameras has its own special role to play -- definitely when planning to go out for an afternoon's walk or an excursion to a botanical gardens or some other place, the ILCs and lenses are the choice for going with me. The RX10 got more action in the past during the time period when I was coming back to photography after having taken a break for a while. That camera reminded me of how much I really love to shoot pictures. Eventually this led to my making the switch from my older DSLRs to current Mirrorless gear. The little RX100 and its predecessors have been my traveling companions for quite a few years. The iPhone? Well, who can live without one these days? The camera we always have with us.....

 

[akash.nu]

100% an iPhone photographer since last few years. I’ve made it into a challenge to myself to try and get good shots with the phone and not depend on a full scale DSLR.

A few years back I realised that in most cases I don’t like to carry a heavy camera gear to wherever I go, if anything carrying a full on camera became a hassle in some of the places I’ve been to.

So I’ve made iPhones my new main and only camera. And when I can take shots like these I don’t complain at all.

 

[r.harris1]

Definitely a lot of nice images on mobile devices, for sure. For me, though, 99% of the time its ILCs of one variety or another. Big, small and in between. I do use my clunker iPhone (X) on occassion, but...I don't care for the form factor and I don't like getting phone calls and texts on my cameras, in general .

 

[Mr. Awesome]

If I’m going somewhere specifically to take photos I’ll take my trusty old Canon 70D, but more and more I find myself just using my phone. In most scenarios I get 90% the same picture with 10% of the work. The only real disadvantage is lack of physical zoom, but when I eventually upgrade to a triple camera system I imagine I’ll use my phone for pics even more often.

 

[dimme]

I use my D750 and interchangeable lenses 99% of the time. I wish I could break that habit because that stuff is heavy and my body is getting older. I carry my "gear" when I go on early morning walks with my dog on the weekends. The walks average 2 hours or so. I would love a bridge camera but I think that type of camera is being forgotten my the camera manufactures. And I don't blame them with all the advances in phone cameras I can see the market for them is very small.

 

[AlaskaMoose]

Digital: mirrorless and SLR
iPhone use: occasionally

More and more people are switching to cellphone for street photography and other places where pro cameras and lenses are cumbersome, or catch undesired attention.

 

[kenoh]

100% an iPhone photographer since last few years. I’ve made it into a challenge to myself to try and get good shots with the phone and not depend on a full scale DSLR.

A few years back I realised that in most cases I don’t like to carry a heavy camera gear to wherever I go, if anything carrying a full on camera became a hassle in some of the places I’ve been to.

So I’ve made iPhones my new main and only camera. And when I can take shots like these I don’t complain at all.

Yup. you have been kicking my backside with your phone for a while! lovely shots.

I selected ILC but I use a Leica Q2 most of the time right now - but thought the essence of it was more ILC than "something else"

 

[akash.nu]

Yup. you have been kicking my backside with your phone for a while! lovely shots.

I selected ILC but I use a Leica Q2 most of the time right now - but thought the essence of it was more ILC than "something else"

You’re too kind as always. Nowhere close is what I say. Thank you for the appreciation though as always.

 

[lkalliance]

OK, so...this is one of those threads that make me recall that I'm just a dilettante, just a dumb guy with a camera that has a little bit of knowledge. I do not have professional equipment. Most of my "photography" is with my trusty consumer-level Canon DSLR (T2i) with a kit lens. That's what I use when I want to do actual Photography. Or when I need the telephoto reach my iPhone can't give me. Not since there was just one model of iPhone to choose from have I had the top-of-the-line model, so I've usually lagged behind the phone camera quality curve; but my current 13 mini is the best I've had.

So I guess, like @Mr. Awesome talks about above, that if I'm going somewhere with the specific intent to take photos (vacation, grad parties, senior portraits, the occasional wedding...I'm that friend a lot of people have with a "real" camera that "knows" how to take "real" photographs and is much less expensive than hiring a professional, i.e. free) I take the Canon. I also do almost all my shooting of my bird feeders with my Canon as well. Otherwise, it's my phone.

BUT...I might be reaching an inflection point. I'm not a professional, and though I have considered throwing myself into learning how to do this for realsies over the years, I have opted to put my time and money elsewhere. And I know that if I'm going somewhere I might want my DSLR, then I'm going to spend the entire time behind my camera, and not participating in whatever it is I'm otherwise shooting. Over the years, my priorities have shifted: I want to be participating more in the activity and less in the photographing of the activity. So I expect to do more and more with my iPhone. In 2023, my wife and I are scheduled for our first foreign trip: a cruise along western Italy and the south of France. And...I'm probably not going to bring my DSLR.

 

[stillcrazyman]

Not such a balanced use of different cameras, but I use my mirrorless Fuji XT3 95% of the time. My iPhone gets used to get snaps and such. Though I’ve seen some impressive shots done with the iPhone right here in this forum.

My preference is for the camera and lens setup.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Like most seem to be saying it’s main camera (DSLR D750/D7100) most of the time for me.
I just don’t enjoy taking photos with an iPhone. It’s just for snaps for me.

 

[Laird Knox]

When the building containing my gallery shut down I rented space in another gallery for about a year. When that gallery moved on it was time for me to take a break. It has been a while since I have done any serious photography. With that said...

I am always taking pictures with the phone. The iPhone 12 Pro Max takes some amazing pictures for a cell phone. The night performance is better than I would have ever thought possible. The newer phones are even better.

If I do go out for a specific shot I use the following:

Digital - Nikon D800 with a variety of lenses. Most of them are geared for night photography.

Film - Toyoview 45G although I'm itching to pull out the Rochester Optical King one of these days.

Now to start shooting again...

 

[mackmgg]

My photography is split between the iPhone, RX100, and Canon R6. But definitely not an even split! They've all got pros and cons, and that determines which I use when. The iPhone gets used by far the most, since it's the one I carry with me everywhere. But even when I'm heading out knowing I want to take photos, there are times I'll only take the iPhone or RX100. There are definitely lots photos I can only take with the R6, or at the least the R6 will take a much better photo. But there are also photos I can only take with an iPhone, where the weight/bulk of the R6 would prevent me from getting where I want to be! For those days if I think I want a focal length greater than 77mm, I'll take the RX100. Otherwise I'll just use the iPhone.

And even when I have the R6 with me, the excellent main camera on the iPhone lets me use a different lens. I've had plenty of trips where the 70-200 stayed on the R6 and I just used my iPhone every time I wanted something wider.

 

[mtbdudex]

Just voted "both", in reality though it's +95% iPhone11Pro with 5% or less my new Canon R5.....
Like many here have stated, the best camera is the one with you.
Now, there was a time I actually kept my T1i in the car with me 2009 - 2013, when my iPhone back then well sucked for its camera. With the 7+ and more so the 11Pro though I can take decent enough images to use and post, both social media and at photo sites. I got a 70D in 2014 and never really kept it in car as by then the iPhone sufficed.
However, I recently purchased the R5, and once again with that in my hand I do go on "photo outings" ..
Plus - come snow ski season I can still use the R5 with my EF L lens 70-200 / 2.0x or 1.4x TC's as ski team photographer, something no smartphone can match yet, that low light optical reach.

 

[GooseInTheCaboose]

Lately for me my main camera has been a drone.

I also use an underwater camera, a gopro, and a Canon DSLR. I'm in the market for a new Mirrorless ILC camera and am considering Oly or Fuji for that...still undecided

(And of course I use the iPhone camera, as well as the iPad Pro and MBP webcam sometimes)

 

[cthompson94]

I also voted both but I would probably put the percentages at 70% Mirrorless and 30% iPhone. The opposite goes for video though(I know this is a photography thread)

 

[tizeye]

What's a camera? I just make people stand really still while I draw them. What is really hard are flowers when the wind is blowing and bees daring in and out. Have to be really quick.

I use a Sony A7RIII as my primary, with the debate on what my next camera body will be - A7RV or make the jump to the A1. For traveling light, wife's A6000 which she rarely uses. With her, it is 10% camera and 90% iPhone, so much so that I have had to bump the memory with each new phone. I am the exact opposite, 90% camera and 10% iPhone.

 

[fcortese]

Fujifilm X-T3 (soon to be X-T5) is my main camera, the Fujifilm X100V is my walk around. Left Canon several years ago and I am into the Fuji eco-system

 

[tcphoto1]

I make a living shooting images and own own a couple 5DIV’s with L lenses, I will take snapshots with my iphone11 but nothing work oriented.