Attention Photographers: It’s Time to Take Your Iphone Camera Seriously!
From DSLR to the Iphone: Why I’ve Transitioned (Partially)
About two years ago, I had a realization that the iphone camera might be more than just a handy tool for taking snapshots of family and friends (that’s all I was using it for at the time). I noticed that some of my fellow camera club members were submitting terrific iphone photos to competitions (and receiving high marks for them).
About the same time, I took on the position of Director of Education in my community’s camera club. When I surveyed the members, the great majority only wanted to learn more about the camera they were using most of the time: their iphones (and androids). I realized that if I was going to teach the members of my camera club anything, I had to become proficient with the camera I always had with me, but never really used: my iphone.
Photography has been a passion of mine for over 15 years. I transitioned early on from a point and shoot camera to DSLR’s; I started with a cropped sensor camera and one all purpose lens, and eventually moved up to a full-frame DSLR, with multiple lenses. More recently I’ve switched to a much lighter mirrorless camera and lens system.
At first, I knew little more than how to press the shutter on my phone (I didn’t really think there was much more to it). As I delved into the camera system, I became more excited about how much this tiny camera could really do.
I started to make comparisons between my iphone camera and the “regular camera” I was using. I had the XS model at the time, which couldn’t shoot in RAW (at least without using a 3rd party app). To do an Apple to Apple comparison (pun intended) with my regular camera, I felt it was important to shoot in RAW on my iphone. So, I ordered the 13 pro max.
At first glance, I was impressed with how well the RAW iphone images compared to those shot with my sony full frame A7iii and my nikon 800 (albeit on a computer screen). My conclusion: the new iphones took quality photographs and did it pretty effortlessly.
I am now using the 14 pro max and have signed up for the automatic upgrade option because I don’t want to miss out on any camera improvements from year to year (no matter how small). I’m sold on the merits of the iphone, but not all photographers are (or will be).
First step for “serious” photographers: Take your iphone camera seriously!
Over the past couple of years,, I’ve experienced a decent amount of resistance by some of my camera buddies about using the iphone when they’re out on a shoot. While they cite many plausible reasons for ditching their phones, I found that it was often a lack of experience that was holding them back.
Many photographers have a “thing” against shooting in auto ( a huge plus of the iphone). After all, they spent years learning the technical ins and outs of shooting with ‘regular cameras” (as I did) and just didn’t want to let go of that or minimize the importance of other shooting modes, (e.g.aperture priority, shutter priority and manual). Bottom line: Start shooting with your iphone in different situations and experience the power of the iphone’s automatic shooting mode (the default mode on the phone). I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. And for those who just refuse to try auto shooting, there are apps available on the iphone that allow you to set your own shutter speed and ISO. Unfortunately, f/stops are the only setting that can’t be changed.
The Iphone isn’t the Total Answer to all your Photographic Needs: Yet
Yes, I’m a convert. I really love using my iphone to take photographs. But, do I think it replaces my regular camera in all (or most) situations? Absolutely not. At least, not yet.
Experienced photographers have some well founded reservations for not using the iphone when they go out on shoots. Can I get the depth of field I want? How about selective focus? Exposure compensation? What about getting natural looking bokeh? Star burst effects? Long exposure effects? What about shooting in high contrast or low light scenes? What about the reach needed for capturing wildlife? Or, high shutter speeds to freeze action?
I think these are all great questions, and the answer is: the iphone can do a good job of taking pictures in some of these situations if you become familiar with how to use all it has to offer, BUT it still isn’t the end all for all types of photography in all situations.
Spend more time shooting, less time fiddling with camera settings
Maybe you’re a pro (or serious hobbyist) and don’t think about camera settings much (i.e. its easy for you). Even if that was the case, you sometimes have to adjust your camera settings while on a shoot. And, that can take your attention away from working the scene and getting the best shot (especially if its a candid or street shot).
I am going out on a limb here to say this….but, shooting in automatic on your iphone can give you comparable results with some of the best DSLR’s and mirrorless (of course there are exceptions) in certain situations. And, you might find that your compositions improve because your attention has shifted from worrying about the settings on your camera to the subject/scene in front of you. .
Why Iphone Photos Compare Favorably to DSLR and Mirrorless Cameras:
The newer iphones use computational processing in order to get the best tone and color in the finished photo. Every time you press the shutter your iphone takes multiple images; Apple sources say your iphone takes 9 (or more in recent models) separate images with every press of the shutter button. They call this computational process: deep fusion.
The phone combines the 9 (or so) photos to create the final image without having to do a single thing - other than press the shutter. The final HDR image is similar to what you would get by bracketing and compositing multiple exposures with your regular camera (key word: similar).
The iphone autofocus function gets it right most of the time, giving you sharp pictures throughout (i.e. great depth of field), often without the need to set a focus point manually. The newer iphones are producing photos with excellent dynamic range and color reproduction. Even when the lighting conditions get difficult, the iphone’s computational processing prevents the highlights and shadows from clipping in many cases (there are exceptions to this and that’s where your photography smarts will help).
The Iphone Camera’s Advantages are Many
Lightweight camera with 3 prime lenses that don’t have to be changed (just tap on the lens you want to use to change the focal length).
Image stabilization similar to DSLR’s and mirrorless cameras when taking hand held photos in in low light situations with slow shutter speeds
Automatic shooting mode by default: focus and exposure are set automatically and do a good job in many situations.
Ability to manually adjust focus and exposure when necessary.
Wide focal length camera (1X) provides great depth of field without the need to worry about f stops.
Ultra wide macro lens (.5 lens) on newer models (13 and 14) provides sharp focus and great depth of field for close-ups (auto focus to within 2 inches of your subject).
Iphones shoot HDR automatically (whether you’re shooting in RAW or not) without the need to shoot several images and combine them in post.
Panorama shooting mode stitches together multiple photos automatically without the need to composite images in post.
Low light situations automatically trigger night mode, which allows you to hand hold the phone’s camera while it uses slow shutter speeds (up to several seconds) to create sharp photos with minimal noise.
Burst mode of 10 fps allows you to freeze motion and capture the action you wanted.
Ability to shoot high dynamic range RAW photos (with newer models).
High resolution video (pro res) on newer models has been used to film parts of hollywood movies.
Live photo shooting mode is a 3 second video that allows you to grab the frame you want and use it as a still.
Long exposure photography (using live mode) without the need for a tripod or ND filters (quality is decent, but may fall short if you’re a long exposure buff).
Ability to organize and edit your photos on the spot or view them on your computer where they can be accessed through the cloud without having to transfer them from an SD card.
Access to countless apps to edit or stylize your photos directly on your phone.
Great for instant posting and sharing to social media sites.
Ability to capture iphone infrared images by applying an external filter; the image quality may not match your IR converted camera, but is pretty decent.
My Take on the Disadvantages of the iphone camera:
Can’t create a shallow depth of field with bokeh as well as a regular camera (e.g. DSLR, mirrorless) that has a high quality, fast lens. (iphone portrait mode is getting better at this, but the quality can sometimes be questionable to a trained eye). Some 3rd party apps are pretty effective at producing realistic bokeh.
Can’t adjust shutter speed, ISO or f/stop with the native camera (3rd party apps such as lightroom mobile can be used to adjust all of these settings except for f-stop).
All cameras/lenses on the iphone have a fixed focal length and reach (no zoom lens available).
Doesn’t have the reach you often need for wildlife and other situations requiring more than a 77mm focal length. Maximum telephoto reach is limited (77mm in the iphone 13 and 14 models).
Shutter speeds can’t be set manually to capture moving subjects with the native camera (in strong light high shutter speeds selected in auto shooting mode by the camera may be sufficient to freeze action).
No zoom function. Have to change cameras/lenses to change optical focal length. “Pinching to zoom” with your iphone degrades the quality of the photo.
Reduced quality when shooting astrophotography due to small sensor size and other factors.
Wildlife photography -
doesn’t have the reach necessary to get the shot many times (focal lengths not long enough)
Can’t set the shutter speed high enough to freeze motion manually (some apps on the phone allow you to do this).
I Still Rely On My Regular Camera in Certain Situations
Here’s a (partial) list of situations when I still use my regular camera:
Anytime I need a greater reach than the 77 mm telephoto lens my phone can deliver. I might still take a wider shot (i.e. use a shorter focal length) in RAW and try cropping later (the newer 14 model does have a 48 mp sensor, which allows for a certain amount of cropping without degrading the picture quality).
Extreme low light situations which require a tripod because the shutter speed is too slow to hand hold the shot (I’ve been using tripods with the phone in some of these situations and getting good results). Night mode on the iphone can yield surprisingly good results.
I am currently experimenting with making larger prints from iphone images ( I’ve used software apps to increase the resolution of iphone photos to make large prints and have had great results). But, if I’m in a place that isn’t easy to go back to, I will take a back up shot with my regular camera if I’m thinking of printing a large image. Wildlife photography:
You won’t be able to capture that bird in flight a distance away with an iphone yet (you might if you were right on top of the bird).
The Equipment I Take on a Photo Shoot Now
I have started to eliminate the wide angle lenses on some of my shoots (the wide and extra wide angle cameras on the iphones have been performing well). I will usually take a zoom lens with a pretty wide range (say 24-240mm) and a longer lens (if I’m planning on shooting wildlife). Maybe the next generation of iphones will have a camera with a longer reach and I can leave the long lens at home. Who knows.
In the meantime I’m having a blast with the new iphones and photography has become a lot more fun for me. So, if you aren’t making enough images or don’t want to lug around all the heavy gear, try leaving your regular camera at home and shoot more with your iphone!
Once you learn the ins and outs of this magical little camera, I guarantee it will change your photographic life forever! Start having fun with your photography!
Good News for Photographers: Your knowledge of photography will help you get the most out of your iphones.
Don’t be surprised if many of your best photographs start coming from your iphone!
Click here for a look at some of the photos I’ve taken with my iphone.
Turning Pictures into Works of Art!
Bob Shor
