Cell Phone Cameras Versus Traditional Cameras

As technology advances, camera phones are becoming more useful and convenient, nearly taking the place of traditional cameras in some aspects. Many phones are now able to take photos comparable to point-and-shoot cameras and are more readily available with a variety of additional features that aren’t available on traditional cameras. Depending on the quality of photos, ease of use, and occasion, a cell phone camera could actually be a more practical choice for taking photos in many situations.

Several years ago, taking a picture with your cell phone was more for personal amusement than anything, as the photo quality was so low that the resulting image was often only recognizable or significant to the one taking the picture. The cameras equipped on today’s more popular smartphones are close or at par with those of middle-line point-and-shoot cameras. “The original iPhone debuted in 2007 with just a 2-megapixel camera. Flash forward to today, and the iPhone 4S camera boasts 8 megapixels. The Android-based Galaxy S II also features an 8-megapixel camera.” (Ogg) Many camera phones include a flash and zoom options, similar to traditional cameras. The quality of these components varies depending on the device and different cameras have different advantages. Dedicated cameras have easier access to settings such as zoom, flash, and shooting modes. Of course, SLR cameras defeat all others in quality, zoom, and flash, but are also very expensive, bulky, and difficult to master. All three types of cameras are capable of capturing images that can be printed in various sizes, although the quality of images and prints depends directly on the quality and capability of the camera taking the photograph.

While many aspects of camera phones may not be on par with with traditional cameras, their convenience and features make them a hearty opponent. The most obvious perk to a mobile phone camera is that it’s close on hand – usually literally in your hand or pocket. This alone contributes to the reason that a majority of photos these days are taken with cell phones. User-friendly options add to the popularity of cell phone cameras, as well as the availability of applications that add to the experience. Another major advantage of mobile cameras is the ease of photo sharing. Any camera phone, digital point-and-shoot, or DSLR camera stores images on digital media that can be loaded to a computer and stored or shared online. Wireless access and high speed mobile networks on smartphones give you the ability to instantly post photos from practically anywhere. In the same aspect, the difficulty in using higher end SLR cameras can be beneficial to a professional photographer, as it makes the average user more likely pay for high quality images and the service of someone with a superior camera who knows how to use it.

The occasion being captured makes a big difference as to what type of camera is best suited for the situation. Every day, casual photos, especially spur-of-the-moment pictures, are usually easier to take with a cell phone. This is not only because of the convenience of access, but also the casual nature is more likely to capture a candid shot. You would probably prefer to use a point-and-shoot or SLR camera for more important or rare events, such as weddings, birthdays, or vacations. It’s also a good idea to take into consideration the possibility of an accident causing the loss of not only your camera but your phone as well, “you probably don't want to risk damaging the center of your mobile-computing universe by using it to take underwater or skydiving shots” (Moynihan).

In summary, cell phone, point-and-shoot, and SLR cameras are all useful in different ways, but smartphones are definitely increasing in popularity. Because of similar image quality, user-friendliness, and casual use, cell phone cameras are used more than point-and-shoot cameras these days. Pocket size cameras still come in handy for certain situations, however, such as times when you might put your phone in jeopardy. SLR cameras produce the highest quality images and offer the most detailed setting adjustments, but also have the highest learning curve, as they are the most difficult to use efficiently.

References:

Ogg, Erica. “Smartphones Killing Point-and-Shoots.” GigaOM. 22 Dec 2011. Web. 25 Mar 2012. http://gigaom.com/2011/12/22/smartphones-killing-point-and-shoots-now-take-almost-13-of-photos/

Moynihan, Tim. “Camera and Camera-Phone Trends to Expect in 2012.” PCWorld Communications, Inc. 29 Dec 2011. Web. 25 Mar 2012. http://www.pcworld.com/article/246887/camera_and_cameraphone_trends_to_expect_in_2012.html