MOBILE PHONE AND DLSR PHOTOGRAPHY COMPARISON
MOBILE PHONE AND DLSR PHOTOGRAPHY COMPARISON
Photography has evolved into to a magnificent state in our human consciousness. Photography has also been democratic and generous to the masses by becoming easy accessible due to technology; especially mobile phone technology. It doesn't matter how complex or simple a camera can be (from field cameras to DSLRs, to point and shoots and mobile phones), it just a tool for capturing images that can defined as a rendition of light. Since the bold trick done by Philippe Kahn in 1997, cell-phone photography became a reality, and it has reached a powerful attainment nowadays.
Today we are going to talk a little bit about the pros and cons in terms of photo quality when choosing a DSLR camera or a Mobile Phone for making photographs. Since technology gallops pretty fast, we'll not center on brands for neither smartphones nor DSLR cameras. We'll just assume that you have access to the minimum decent quality for each. After all, there are a ton of gear related reviews out there, like the one done by these guys.
DSLR Pros and Cons
[if !supportLists]- [endif]Pros
[if !supportLists]- [endif]Engineered for capturing images: Cameras are built just for image recording, and they have way larger sensors than the ones you can find inside a powerful smartphone.
[if !supportLists]- [endif]Lenses: Lenses are the big secret behind investing in a DSLR gear. Investing in glass is also more important than investing in a camera body, because they last longer in terms of updates. Generally speaking, entry level cameras come with a lens known as the kit lens, which has various limitations in terms of aperture and built in materials. But frankly they offer a decent focal range, and are good for defining the next step in lens acquisition. All the further decisions in lens investment SHOULD be driven by the style of photography you feel keener to. Use the kit lens to its limits, and you’ll make a wise choice when investing in other lenses.
[if !supportLists]- [endif]Cons
[if !supportLists]- [endif]Price: Powerful cameras with powerful image capabilities, are somewhat expensive, and they need a decent quality lens attached to them too.
[if !supportLists]- [endif]Bulkiness: Ok, so carrying a heavy DSLR all day long, during the whole week, for your entire life, is tedious and impractical.
Mobile Pros and Cons
+ Pros
[if !supportLists]- [endif]Apps: Here is where phones really beat the hell out of cameras. Their capability of running a huge amounts of apps, make them a great tool for creative expression, and they also work as tools for photography made with cameras, like DoF calculators, ND charts and Light Meters.
[if !supportLists]- [endif]Portability: this one is pretty obvious, phones are seamlessly integrated with our daily lives, and not carrying them feels odd and weird. So uncomfortable that you will return to your home if you ever forgot it there.
[if !supportLists]- [endif]Pushes you to creative solutions: Being limited to just one focal length and practically no real zoom, makes you figure out some really creative solutions.
[if !supportLists]- [endif]We need one anyways: Mobile phones have become an important part of our lives. They work as little offices for us, and we practically need one as much as we need certain basic things of life. So, even if you have a regular camera with you, you’ll have your phone too; but not the other way around.
+ Cons
[if !supportLists]- [endif]Sensor Type: Sensors found on Mobile Phones are not as powerful as those inside of an average camera. Sensor should be the defining element to analyze when upgrading photography centered gear from a less powerful piece of equipment.
Optics
There is another thing that you need to understand here, and is optics. Optics is this precise and amazing branch inside physics that centers on the behavior and properties of light when interacting with a surface, usually a translucent one. Lenses are the result of great efforts done at development and research from your favorite brands of gear. They are engineered for specific purposes, and until this day, there are some photography situations that just can’t be done with a phone because of the aforementioned image sensor engineering. Some of them are:
[if !supportLists]- [endif]Real Shallow Depth of Field
[if !supportLists]- [endif]Low Light Situations
[if !supportLists]- [endif]Extremely Fast Shutter Speeds
The presence of a Camera helps Pushing Yourself Forward
I have found that having an actual camera with me, pushes myself in the act of pursuing images. Something that not necessarily happens with phone unless I’m 100% committed to doing something with my phone. Having a camera with me makes me feel guilty for not using it to capture meaningful photographs, that’s why I feel more aware of situations when I have my camera with me.
As a social photographer, I'm a true believer that the best camera is the one you have with you when the moment of capturing light is needed. My cellphone has given me the pleasure of being able to capture certain moments when a regular camera wasn't at my reach.
