Can I Use My Phone as My Camera?
This sounds like a silly question… almost all of us are carrying cameras around in our pockets these days. And unless you’re still using a 5-year old phone, it’s a pretty darn great camera! The simple answer to the question – Yes! Depending…
Depending on what your purpose is. The fact is that today’s phone cameras and the software backing them up are extremely impressive at handling a lot of photography needs. In fact there are times when out hiking with a friend that she gets better shots with her phone than I do with my DSLR because she’s learned how to use it well, and without many manual controls, she can work faster. Additionally, one of my clients shoots instruction videos for the web on her iPhone – with a little attention focused on lighting, it works very well.
So, that’s it for this post…
Wait! What’s that? Why do I still shoot with a DSLR and/or video camera?
Even a phone has it’s limitations. One thing to bear in mind is that a phone has limited storage space. As is usually the case, phone manufacturers work around that by compressing the images and video (for more on compression, check out yesterday’s post) in order to fit more into that space. So yes, you are taking HD videos and 20 megapixel photos, but they have had some detail removed to make the files smaller – issues that may become problems when processing and editing them. The images look very good at a glance, but at closer inspection with a good monitor, artifacts and color distortions begin to appear. This comes down to a judgement call – often phone pics are quite usable as long as you’re not adjusting them much.
The reason professionals still use larger format cameras is two-fold: better image quality and more control.
These cameras have better and bigger sensors. They offer uncompressed options (for example, RAW) or less compressed options for file storage. And as phone cameras improve, so do their big brothers.
More control is the main drive for most of us. Lenses can have a big impact on image quality. They provide a wide variety of visual options and image clarity. Some lenses allow a lot of light in, making them ideal for low-light situations. Some lenses have a very narrow depth of field, meaning that only a small part of the subject will be in focus – this is great for shooting a very sharply focused subject with a very blurry background. And lenses can have filters mounted on them that also impact the quality of the photo.
There are quite a few lens adapters that can be mounted on phones and tablets to similate this experience, but you’re always stuck with that built-in lens.
The other thing with a DLSRÂ is that they are ergonomically designed, allowing a more enjoyable photography experience. It might be bigger and won’t fit into your pocket, but the extra weight and comfortable fit lend a lot to holding a camera and getting the shots you want.
In the video realm, phones tend to have more limitation. Smooth zooming in and out is one option that professional video cameras offer. They also allow one to record for long periods of time – phones often limit the duration to about 30 minutes (so do some DSLRs). Video from iPhones also tends to lose sync with the audio. In long video clips, the audio and video drift out of sync so that words are heard before the lips move. Fixable in editing, but it takes time.
This has been a quick overview – hopefully you have a better idea which type of camera to use for your next media project.
Happy photography to everyone – get out and enjoy, no matter what you use!