Should you go iPHONE ONLY in 2020?

I hijacked this YouTubers title for mine, but here's what I want to toss out there for discussion.  Computational photography is taking leaps forward.  Samsung just released a 108MP camera, and there is just so much happening with smartphone cameras.  Now while even this guy in this video speaks about the shortcomings with smartphone cameras right now.  Do you think we are getting close to having legit files from our smartphones that can be used professionally?  Are we getting close to the day when content creators will be able to head out the door with just their Samsung or iPhone to get what ever photos or footage they want?

I guess so, depends on what you want to do with the photo.  If you want larger prints, you'll want that sensor size from the mirrorless or DSLR.  

It is probably doable for the casual photographer.  It isn't likely good enough for a pro who needs more depth of field control, lens interchangeability, and overall image quality.

I recently went on holiday with just my phone (not an iPhone) and dynamic range was the biggest issue outdoors. And in low light, it'd basically unusable for anything you'd actually want to publish. They also tend to struggle with anything involving fast motion, and if it's dark and moving, forget it. I find myself regularly cropping images on my proper camera and if you try to do this on phone images, even ones taken in perfect conditions, the image would fall apart very quickly.



They are very impressive for what they are, and it's definitely a legitimate question as to whether you're going to bring a proper camera on a family holiday, for example. But you can't cheat physics, and I'm sure you'd be pretty miffed if you paid $2k for a wedding photographer and he turned up with an iPhone.

But for me, the only reason that so many photographer Youtubers keep making videos about the iPhone (why no other camera phone?) is because it gets them clicks, not because it's actually a legitimate option for serious photography. There have been videos about how the iPhone is just as good as professional cameras and video cameras since at least the iPhone 4 (I particularly remember a video comparing various video cameras from the iPhone up to the Arri Alexa, conveniently playing down the tens of thousands of dollars of lights they all had at their disposal to light the scene).

I've also officially decided that I hate those computer-generated shallow depth of field shots. There's something about them that just looks totally fake.

What part of "no" is unclear? For so many reasons.

garyrhook wrote: What part of "no" is unclear? For so many reasons.

Would you say this for the 108MP Samsung phone too? 

No thanks. I have a good camera, and my ten year old smart phone still works as a phone. Depends on what makes one happy.

JHoward wrote:

garyrhook wrote: What part of "no" is unclear? For so many reasons.

Would you say this for the 108MP Samsung phone too? 

Yes, absolutely. Tiny sensor, short focal length, awkward form factor, reliance on software.

Not interested.

I think we'll be seeing more and more acceptance to this technology in the near future.  Just my 2 cents.  

KENT MELTON wrote: I think we'll be seeing more and more acceptance to this technology in the near future.  Just my 2 cents.  

Well yeah, but in a proper camera.

JHoward wrote:

garyrhook wrote: What part of "no" is unclear? For so many reasons.

Would you say this for the 108MP Samsung phone too? 

If your sensor and lens can't capture this level of detail, then all you're achieving is wasting more storage space on much bigger files. This camera has the same sensor:



Don't get me wrong, it's great for a phone, but it's not a replacement for a proper camera for professionals.