DSLR IQ from a SmartPhone

[Graham_of_Rainham]

There's no doubt that IQ on SmartPhones has improved considerably over the years, with more and more people taking more and more pictures using them, rather than using a conventional camera.

Even our own Ian, used one for his recent "Seaside" trip.

With one of the top players buying technology Link and claims that DSLR IQ will be achieved, at what stage would you consider buying a SmartPhone based on the IQ of the camera.

Personally, I stayed with the iPhone 4, because the IQ was acceptable for my out and about "record" shots. I actually found myself using the XZ-1 less and less, where it was previously my pocket camera.

Where is the IQ line that we would need to see crossed to make the change

[Naughty Nigel]

Re: DSLR IQ from a SmartPhone

I don't think IQ is necessarily the deciding factor.

I take a lot of technical photographs for use in reports, which I down sample to 3 MP in Photoshop so that my Word files don't get too big and print speed is reasonable.

(I was very happy with the resolution of my E1; it was the low light capability that I couldn't live with.)

I therefore don't need fantastic IQ, but I do need the ability to focus sharply on (and sometimes isolate) particular points of interest, which I cannot do with a camera phone.

I know it's a minor irritation, but I also find it is much easier to keep my DSLR lenses clean than those on my phone and iPad!

[MargaretR]

Re: DSLR IQ from a SmartPhone

.... at what stage would you consider buying a SmartPhone based on the IQ of the camera.

For me, no stage. Call me old fashioned, but I don't buy a phone to be a camera, I buy a camera for that. The phone is for email, internet access, and even an occasional phone call ...

[Ross the fiddler]

Re: DSLR IQ from a SmartPhone

For me, no stage. Call me old fashioned, but I don't buy a phone to be a camera, I buy a camera for that. The phone is for email, internet access, and even an occasional phone call ...

I use my phone to make phone calls. OK, text messages too (but my cheap plan doesn't allow picture texts) & yes, I'll use the camera too if I think of it to record items in shops etc if I need a visual record of it or only if I'm desperate will I use it to record something that should have been taken with a camera. I do have my favourite recorded music on it too.

[OM USer]

Re: DSLR IQ from a SmartPhone

Its good to have a camera with you at all times and putting it in a 'phone is a perfect way to do this. Tap to focus/shoot will take care of most problems with the ergonomics but no matter how good the sensor the lens is still a weak point and physics (and size) are limiting factors. If I want to take pictures then I will take a camera but if I need to record something (an accident maybe) then a phone will do fine.

[pdk42]

Re: DSLR IQ from a SmartPhone

Whilst I can sympathise with those who think phones are for phone calls, the reality is quite the opposite - esp with people under 50 years of age. The graph below shows this reality in terms of numbers of cameras sold (in the widest sense) by year:



There is a lot of very creative work being done on smartphones. Personally, I still prefer the tactility of a real camera and of course the ability to change lenses still provides a lot more flexibility. However, I can see the day when a smartphone will do 95% of what a real camera does if we restrict ourselves to the 20-100mm effective focal length range.

[Internaut]

Re: DSLR IQ from a SmartPhone

You're not going to get DSLR IQ from a phone anytime soon, but that shouldn't stop you using the phone to take photos. A preview of what I will be showing from my proper camera, in the next week....


The Po Lin Monastery, Lantau Island.
by jason_hindle, on Flickr


Traditional Chinese fishing village. by jason_hindle, on Flickr

It was great to be able to share what I was doing on the fly. Problems? Anything with haze, from my phone, looks digital. The tonality I can get, from a nicely optimised exposire, just isn't there. Oh, and I'd give my right arm for a mobile editing tool that includes USM (but I think Snapseed is great)!

Edit: The other great use for my phone's camera is when preparing expenses while outside of the country. I take photos of each of page of the hotel bill, and all receipts. It's all perfectly reasonable.

[timg]

Re: DSLR IQ from a SmartPhone

You're not going to get DSLR IQ from a phone anytime soon

It may happen sooner than you think... have you seen the Panasonic CM1? 20mp 1-inch sensor, and a 28mm Leica lens, RAW capture, manual controls etc.

http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/panasonic_lumix_dmc_cm1_review/

[ian p]

Re: DSLR IQ from a SmartPhone

I will only ever use a camera to take pictures. Fortunately for me there is one in my smartphone.
The resolution is more than good enough. In low light the IQ gets a bit poor though.
For serious photography, future phone cameras should add easier controls. And be able to simulate serious telephoto lenses, wide apertures and narrow depth of field. It's all doable. Ignore any "future deniers".

[Graham_of_Rainham]

Re: DSLR IQ from a SmartPhone

I've always tried to "start with the end in mind". So if I think the image is destined for the web at resolutions of 1920x1080 max., then using a smartphone makes some sense.

Obviously a fixed FoV is often quite limiting, along with many other aspects of the current technology. But I can see many of these limitations being offset by the next generation technologies.

I can't imagine not having my DSLRs & CSCs, but there may well come a time when the XZ-1 gets left at home, on those days when a smartphone is all that's needed.

[Naughty Nigel]

Re: DSLR IQ from a SmartPhone

You're not going to get DSLR IQ from a phone anytime soon.....

Maybe not, but to put things into perspective, the IQ of today's phone cameras is still streets ahead of the 'Instamatics' and other similar cameras that were used to take family snapshots until the advent of affordable digital cameras.

As a point of interest, has anyone ever used a mobile phone camera as an exposure meter? I have an old Kodak Retina that I like to take out sometimes, and it would be handy to have an exposure meter to hand. I know you can guess, but I like to get the exposure as close as possible.

[Graham_of_Rainham]

Re: DSLR IQ from a SmartPhone

<snip>As a point of interest, has anyone ever used a mobile phone camera as an exposure meter?

Yes. this works reasonably well, for those times I've not had my Sekonic with me and wanted to measure lighting ratios and shadows etc..

[Ross the fiddler]

Re: DSLR IQ from a SmartPhone

Yes. this works reasonably well, for those times I've not had my Sekonic with me and wanted to measure lighting ratios and shadows etc..

I knew there would have to be an 'app' for it.

[Internaut]

Re: DSLR IQ from a SmartPhone

But why??? Oh, hang on a minute.... Some of you still snoot film?

[Who's_E]

Re: DSLR IQ from a SmartPhone

Strangely enough, a key reason I downgraded my Nokia N8 to an iPhone 5c was to be able to use the WiFi Olympus app. I now have an app-friendly phone that I can connect to my great camera.

Thus I gave up the 1/1.7" sensor, 12mp, xenon flash and good image quality for poor image quality offset by the OS benefit. (The writing was on the wall for Symbian but I didn't take the decision lightly and agonized over it.)

I haven't replaced my camera with a phone and have even regressed slightly: To compensate for not having a decent camera on my phone, I bought a Panasonic gf3 and use the 20mm on it.