DSLR vs. Smartphone Photography

“Photography has nothing to do with Cameras.” – Lucas Gentry.

Photography is all about the perfect blend of focus, exposure and composition while capturing a moment. Nothing beats the convenience of a smartphone camera, but a DSLR offers a DSLR offers significantly more functions. But if you want to take your photography to the next level, there’s really no comparison.

So let’s ask our self this question
Could your smartphone one day be the only camera you need?

Whether you are shooting photography or video a DSLR camera is a powerful option. A DSLR is going to take better photos and better videos. These cameras are enjoyed by enthusiasts and professionals for several reasons—from the ability to adapt the camera by using lenses and accessories to knowing that one has complete creative control of their image. DSLR cameras have many great features, but the trade-off is weight, complexity, and cost. While it’s important to consider the main advantages of a DSLR and weigh them up with the interest in photography, especially Travel Photography.

Smartphone camera technology has come on leaps and bounds in recent years, and if developments continue on their current trajectory, then in, say, 10 years' time phone cameras should indeed be capable of producing images comparable to those from today's high-end cameras, and with equally impressive features and functionality.
Why choose a smartphone?

Pros
• Convenience - is the first advantage of using a smartphone for photography. After all, you own it and carry it with you already. All you do is click, edit, and post.

• Fast - Obviously, along with convenience is the time-saving factor.
• Easy - The camera on phones is mostly, if not completely, automated. Thus, if you are not a trained photographer using a camera phone is a great choice because it doesn’t require any special training. Once you learn the easy editing tools on your phone and on Instagram you’re all set.
• Inexpensive - You already own a phone because the camera came with it. Therefore, you aren’t buying expensive equipment. Additionally, you don’t have to take expensive photography classes to take a decent photo.
• Sharing - The majority of modern smartphones can easily connect to the internet. Once connected to the internet sharing travel photography prints is possible within seconds, via text message, by attaching them to an email or by posting them to Facebook.
• Playback – The trend of bigger smartphones with five- and six-inch screens with high resolution makes it easier to compose pictures and see fine detail, and ensures the playback experience of the landscape photography prints with family and friends is more pleasant.
• Image Editing – There are hundreds of smartphone apps dedicated to photography, which let you tweak exposure and add frames, add filters, remove colour or even create slow motion movies making it easier to get your creative juices flowing and experiment with photographs.
Cons
• Limited options – The automated settings of a camera phone, limit the users options to experiment. There are certain lighting situations where a quality photo is next to impossible.
• Poor Quality - Depending on your phone the best quality you can achieve may just not be good enough to create beautiful photos.

Why choose a DSLR?

Pros
• Picture Quality - Excellent image quality is primarily determined by the lens quality and size of sensor, a DSLR is able to house both. Aperture and sensor size are crucial. The wider the aperture the more light can come in and a bigger sensor means the camera should perform better in low light.

• Lens Versatility - The key advantage for a DSLR is the true optical zoom lens capability. All compact cameras have a minimum 3x optical zoom but ‘travel compacts or superzooms’ DSLRs can go as high as 30x, offering the photographer a huge amount of creative control. DSLRs are also better at shooting close-ups.

• Manual Control – DSLRs lets you experiment with action shots and depth of field. Not everyone needs this type of control, but for the keen amateur photographer they are invaluable.

• Perfect Capture in Low Light – DSLR cameras adjust shutter speed, ISO and other settings to ensure crisp, detailed images you’ll want to print and share.

• Autonomy - The battery life of a mobile phone is shorter than that of a DSLR camera

Cons
• Cost - The monetary investment in a DSLR is comparative more than a smartphone.

• Learning Curve – Learning all the details in the DSLR can be complicated and time consuming.

•Time - There is significantly more time involved in the digital process.

So on the surface the question about smartphone vs. DSLR may seem very straightforward. To sum up the advantages let’s take a look at the below pointers.

Advantages of Smartphones

• Lightweight and fit in your pockets
• Uncomplicated and easy to use
• Images are immediately usable
• Apps in the phone allow for easy editing
• Pictures can immediately be shared online
• Capable of easily shooting slow-motion and time-lapse
• Create easy panorama images without complex editing
• Small and unintimidating for models and small children
• Affordable 4K video footage

Advantages of a DSLR Camera
• Interchangeable lenses give you more options
• Zoom lenses give you the ability to shoot further away
• Superior image quality overall
• The ability to have artistic control over the exposure
• More options for shooting in low light situations
• Better overall build quality (some are weatherproof)
• Larger image file-size capacity
• Higher resolution images and more detailed photos
• Better dynamic range and colour accuracy
• The ability to create high depth of field with wide apertures
• Faster shutter speeds for shooting action or sports
• Capabilities can be enhanced with a variety of accessories

Final thoughts on Smartphones vs. DSLR Cameras
As technology advances, there may come a time when smartphone cameras are truly competitive and offer the options and quality that allow them to replace a DSLR or Mirrorless Camera. So, if you are into more serious photography and want to experiment with shutter and aperture, developing your Landscape photography skills, the DSLR is your answer, and if you simply want to take photographs and share them digitally a smartphone is for you. Either way, photography is an art that needs persistence and inspiration. Browse through artOreal for thousands of photos for your regular dose of inspiration.