September
01
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Is A Smartphone Camera Good Enough For Your Next Trip?
Traveling with a large DSLR camera? Thinking about traveling with one? I’m doing so less and less. Many people are touting the amazing photos that can be had with micro four third camera systems. I haven’t jumped on that bandwagon yet but I’m finding that the DSLR is staying in the bag more and the iPhone is staying in the pocket less.
The iPhone not only has a reasonable camera, it also has a plethora of application options. Yes, I know; A lot of people have already talked about this, blogged about it, and have dedicated web sites to it. OK. I’m proud enough of what an Apple iPhone and a few applications can do that I’m posting a few photos of my own that were shot with an Apple iPhone 4S, VSCOcam. Hipstamatic, and Google’s Snapseed (previously from Nik Software). All of these photos were captured, processed, and posted straight from the iPhone. I’m no pro photographer but I’m happy to have these photos in my travel collection.
Maybe for my next trip the DSLR will stay at home. Might an iPhone or other smartphone be the only camera you bring on a trip? It sure would lighten the load. Let me know what you think.
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That Estonian Girl 
I switched from iPhone to my first mirrorless DSLR a few months ago and haven’t gone back since. As far as picture quality goes there is just no comparison, I do colour/exposure adjustments in Lightroom afterwards but otherwise I’m not interested in any fancy effects, the photograph is going to stand on its own or not at all.
I had really tried to become part of the iPhoneography movement (I had the Olloclip attachments, too) and some people can really do amazing stuff; but I only started to take my time composing, thinking about what I was doing, making a real effort once I had a DSLR in my hands.
I get that carrying a camera bag is irritating, though mine is pretty small and I am still trying to whittle down the lens collection even further.
But on holiday? DSLR. No contest.
The real issue I struggle with is why even take photographs at all? You can put low-res copies onto Facebook and make people feel bad they aren’t on holiday – until they do the same. Or they end up in a box or a disk somewhere. And in the end they’re all just forgotten. Sigh.
C’mon Cody, get some of those great DSLR or iPhone photos printed and get up on the wall so they won’t be forgotten.
This is such an interesting post! I struggle with this all the time. I studied analog photography and used to be a snobby purist, but the realities of being unable to afford film and darkroom space post-college opened my eyes to digital. Unfortunately my PS editing skills are not that great, so I do enjoy how easy it is to edit with smartphone apps. I just posted on this topic before finding your article via Reddit. Today I’m ordering my first digital prints in 5 years! Very excited.
That’s awesome. I’ve been contemplating doing the same thing. I tend to keep my digital files digital and they sit on my computer or the Apple TV screensaver. I’m with you on this one. I think it’s time to get some prints and get some photos on the wall. Thanks for the inspiration Marlene.