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Digital cameras are losing...

BioDriver

BioDriver

A Cinderella story
Supporting Member
Aug 29, 2008
5,045
3,362
Richmond, VA
#1
... to smart phones.

Is the iPhone the Only Camera You Need? - WSJ.com

I'm sure we all knew it was only a matter of time. I'm not expecting smart phones to beat out SLR cameras, but with the cameras on today's phones and the apps available it's really no longer necessary to carry a point-and-shoot camera anymore. One has to wonder how much longer before camcorders are also phased out....
 
#3
This snippet pretty much sums it up:

"OK, there's a bright side. The DSLR will always be king for serious photographers."

The one thing the iPhone (style) cameras will never be able to emulate is resolution.
Sure, theres a buncha fancy image-enhancing apps, but they're for fun, mostly. Fine for taking pictures of your rear bumper after the idiot behind you slammed into you cuz he was texting. But for serious photography, you need 12 - 20 megapixel and lenses.

Funny article, tho.
 
#5
I think it's great. I like taking photos sometimes, but I have no illusions of ever becoming even a serious amateur photographer. As such, I like that I can take half-decent (for my purposes) photos without needing to have another device to carry around, but rather use that little computer in my pocket that I also use for texting, email... oh yeah, and making phone calls.

As pointed out, real photographers will always have what they need available to them, and the rest of us can participate at our own level too.
 
#7
skychief said:
This snippet pretty much sums it up:

"OK, there's a bright side. The DSLR will always be king for serious photographers."

The one thing the iPhone (style) cameras will never be able to emulate is resolution.
Sure, theres a buncha fancy image-enhancing apps, but they're for fun, mostly. Fine for taking pictures of your rear bumper after the idiot behind you slammed into you cuz he was texting. But for serious photography, you need 12 - 20 megapixel and lenses.

Funny article, tho.
Click to expand...

I'd take a good camera with 5mp over a cheap one with 12+ :p

Chromatic aberrations, weird noise, and all the yada yada that comes with pixel being too small in point and shoots is just poop.

random google example:
http://petavoxel.wordpress.com/2010/01/19/mp-swindle-example/
 
#9
skychief said:
But for serious photography, you need 12 - 20 megapixel and lenses.
Click to expand...

This is sort of a mixed truth. The megapixel count dictates resolution, which doesn't always equate to picture quality. You lens and image sensor are what dictate the actual quality of the image captured. Many D-SLRs had ratings as low as 9mp and took AMAZING pictues that a 15mp point and shoot couldn't touch in terms of image quality. I think you were alluding to that, but just wanted to clarify for others reading.

To the OP's point...yes, the phone cameras are getting pretty stellar. The camera on my Droid Incredible has really good image quality, but you have to be uber still and within flash distance if the lighting isn't good. Slower shutter speed and less lens to suck in light are going to be short points for many cameras in phones. If you get them in that sweet spot though, you can get some REALLY awesome pictures :hyper:
 
#10
I agree on the point and shoot market. The DSLR market and the 4/3 market will still be viable. But within the next three years their will be no reason to spend money on a point and shoot. Even now it makes very little sense. I think the next big thing is tethering of DSLR's to Wi-fi its happening but not near on the level or speed pros need.
 
#11
I'm old school, and I refuse to give in the the latest fads. My cell phone looks like Captain Kirk's communicator, yet it works great for the purpose it was made for, making phone calls. My digital camera takes excellent high-quality pictures, and can double as a video camera. My computers are old, but they go on the Web just fine. I really have no use for a smartphone or the contract they come with.

Now get off my lawn, damn kids! :hiding:
 
#13
stratovani said:
I'm old school, and I refuse to give in the the latest fads. My cell phone looks like Captain Kirk's communicator, yet it works great for the purpose it was made for, making phone calls. My digital camera takes excellent high-quality pictures, and can double as a video camera. My computers are old, but they go on the Web just fine. I really have no use for a smartphone or the contract they come with.

Now get off my lawn, damn kids! :hiding:
Click to expand...

We're not on your lawn
 
#15
Hmmm...I don't know. True, smartphones have cameras and the market may be leaning more toward having people use their phones, but at this point in time I'm not convinced. First off almost everybody's camera phone has a filthy lense since they usually don't have lense covers and they travel everywhere you do often in a dirty pocket or purse. The photos are often mediocre at best.
Second, once you get a few apps on there, the phone doesn't have the storage capacity of a digital camera.
Third, they are often slower since the app has to load, etc. IME.

Sooner or later, though, the digital pocket cameras will fade out I imagine. I'd rather use my pocket camera than my phone camera when both are available.
 
#16
stratovani said:
I'm old school, and I refuse to give in the the latest fads. My cell phone looks like Captain Kirk's communicator, yet it works great for the purpose it was made for, making phone calls. My digital camera takes excellent high-quality pictures, and can double as a video camera. My computers are old, but they go on the Web just fine. I really have no use for a smartphone or the contract they come with.

Now get off my lawn, damn kids! :hiding:
Click to expand...
My dad brags about being old too. He's 81. You sound like him...he's...81:hmm:

Of course, he used a FILM camera not a digital one. I'm surprised you'd even use a digital camera. :smug:
 
#17
totallyfrozen said:
Hmmm...I don't know. True, smartphones have cameras and the market may be leaning more toward having people use their phones, but at this point in time I'm not convinced. First off almost everybody's camera phone has a filthy lense since they usually don't have lense covers and they travel everywhere you do often in a dirty pocket or purse. The photos are often mediocre at best.
Second, once you get a few apps on there, the phone doesn't have the storage capacity of a digital camera.
Third, they are often slower since the app has to load, etc. IME.

Sooner or later, though, the digital pocket cameras will fade out I imagine. I'd rather use my pocket camera than my phone camera when both are available.
Click to expand...

My 32g iPhone 4 has a huge pile of apps (many are camera related), and I have come nowhere close to running out of space or even half filling my phone with pics and movies. I also have film, digital SLR and point and shoot digital, and except when I want the extra flexibility of the DSLR, the iphone is more than enough camera, and it's connectivity makes it a HUGE winner. Shoot and text,email or post instantly.
 
#18
BurningSkies said:
My 32g iPhone 4 has a huge pile of apps (many are camera related), and I have come nowhere close to running out of space or even half filling my phone with pics and movies. I also have film, digital SLR and point and shoot digital, and except when I want the extra flexibility of the DSLR, the iphone is more than enough camera, and it's connectivity makes it a HUGE winner. Shoot and text,email or post instantly.
Click to expand...

Heck, my 4s streams my pictures over the web to iphoto. Talk about convenience.
 
#19
Ziltoid said:
Heck, my 4s streams my pictures over the web to iphoto. Talk about convenience.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I have the cloud feature as well, but it's not as useful to me, because I mostly hate iPhoto. ;) But it is great for direct transfer. I actually in a pinch have used the PS app for quick photoediting at work too.
 

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