Digital cameras are experiencing the same fate as MP3 players: The surge in smartphones and the associated technological innovations in mobile phones have caused sales of digital cameras to plummet. Smartphone cameras are improving all the time. Does this save us from having to purchase a separate camera?
In the early days of mobile phones, one thing was still clear: If we wanted to take half-decent photos, we needed a digital camera. The first camera phones lacked image quality and resolution. They were OK for taking quick photos at parties, but weren’t suitable for anything else.
But this is how technology pans out. In the meantime, smartphone cameras have more than caught up.
Advantage of smartphones: You’ve got your smartphone on you all day long
The great advantage of smartphones: You’ve always got it with you, which makes it ideal for taking snapshots.
Grab it quickly from your jacket or trouser pocket and take a picture, done. Conveniently, photos can be sent straight away via WhatsApp or published on Facebook whilst on the move, provided there is an Internet connection. So why the need to cart about an extra device in the form of a digital camera?
If you take photos just for the fun of it, especially selfies and snapshots, there really is no need to have a separate camera if your smartphone is good enough. Obviously the top models usually provide the best picture, now offering resolutions of up to 20 megapixels — more than enough.
The technical limitations of smartphone cameras
Smartphones are not specialists but are jack of all trade with a variety of features — the camera is only one feature of many. And they have to fit the brief of being as slender and slim as possible. But the flat design and multi-functionality also bring technical limitations:
The vast majority of smartphone cameras have no optical zoom.
- A zoom lens allows the subject to be zoomed in on and photographed without loss of quality if you hold the camera steady. However, smartphones can usually only zoom in on a subject via digital zoom, which means the quality suffers.
- Smartphone image sensors are usually relatively small and thus less powerful. This has a negative impact when taking photos in low light.
- The shutter delay on smartphone cameras is often quite long. If you need to take a photograph quickly, it can take too much time from pressing the camera icon to the photo actually being taken.
Smartphones also need a certain amount of time to save an image, which can also have a negative effect on spontaneous snapshots. Digital cameras (still) have the leading edge when it comes to speed.
Even top smartphones do not always have an image stabiliser, such as Apple’s iPhone 6S. An image stabiliser is not only an asset when taking photographs in low light, which requires longer exposure times. It also comes to bear when taking photographs with arm outstretched, which is often the case with smartphone shots.
Digital single lens reflex cameras and system cameras for ambitious photographers
Whether to live with the limitations of your smartphone camera is a personal choice, and your decision will depend on your personal ambitions. Serious amateur photographers don’t beat about the bush when it comes to buying a digital camera.
The trend is an obvious move away from digital compact cameras to digital SLR cameras (DSLR stands for “Digital Single Lens Reflex”) and the newer system cameras (DSLM stands for “Digital Single Lens Mirrorless”).
The lens can be changed for both camera types. The difference is that: System cameras are mirrorless cameras. System cameras are usually more compact than SLR cameras because they function without costly integral lens design.
System cameras also have an electronic viewfinder whilst SLR cameras are equipped with an optical viewfinder.
The electronic viewfinder has its pros and cons, just as SLR cameras and system cameras have their advantages and disadvantages too. Therefore it’s not easy to say what type of camera is suitable for whom.
On the other hand it’s clear that: A smartphone camera is the best option for anyone wanting to take a couple of photos occasionally for fun.
But if it really has to be a separate camera, then your wallet will take more of a hit: A simple compact camera for around 50 euro is of little use to a smartphone owner.
If your mind’s made up, then a high-quality compact camera, or better still, an SLR camera or system camera.
Image sources
Fotolia / 69158447 / Dirima
