Even More Depressing?

Sorry, my post wasn't meant to be taken that seriously.
 
People who complain about this stuff are usually the same ones posting in wedding threads about how uncle Bob bought a DSLR and now thinks he can do their job. One minute the gear doesn't matter, the next it's challenging the very existence of the profession.

As David said, the technical stuff in photography is already easy. You can teach someone the basics in less than an hour.

If new gear makes photography more accessible, surely that's a good thing.
 
Very true. If the photographic gear gets better, how can that be a bad thing?
 
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ianp5a said:
Very true. If the photographic gear gets better, how can that be a bad thing?
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Mainly because its stuck on a phone. A souless, flat, boring Facebook / Snap Chat / Tw@tter module.

The disease of modern first world countries.
 
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It was stuck on a phone before. Why is the improvement of a phone camera a bad thing? And you don't have to post the picture to any of those places you mentioned. But if you choose to send it somewhere, direct from a phone, how is the inconvenience of a non connected camera better?

Name just one real problem with improving phone cameras?
 
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ianp5a said:
It was stuck on a phone before. Why is the improvement of a phone camera a bad thing? And you don't have to post the picture to any of those places you mentioned. But if you choose to send it somewhere, direct from a phone, how is the inconvenience of a non connected camera better?

Name just one real problem with improving phone cameras?
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For me, you, photographers or the general public?

I can post many reasons for me, on a personal level!
 
Well, many here just don't see a problem with the OP topic of improving a phone camera. Not to the phone user or to other photographers.

Now's a good time to try to help us understand.
 
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odd jim said:
For me, you, photographers or the general public?

I can post many reasons for me, on a personal level!
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Such as? The only thing this will really affect is the compact market, but even if it kills dsrl stone dead so what? History would suggest that the format will continue even in the face of disruptive technology.
 
Ok, it's not the camera I have issues with, it's mobile phones. They had to put something I love into something I hate so I have an irrational distaste for them :)
 
Kind of...
 
odd jim said:
For me, you, photographers or the general public?

I can post many reasons for me, on a personal level!
Click to expand...

I don't see how phone cameras getting better causes a photographer a problem. Like you I will not use a phone camera for a professional job, and neither would any other photographer. How is a better phone camera a thread to your way of working?

Ultimately, camera will get better. This will happen. Not because of the phone in the OP's post, but because technology will improve. We'll get to a point where the technical skills required now will be redundant. When that happens, all that then separates the good photographer from the bad is creativity, purpose and visual literacy. Maybe THAT'S what you're really scared of. When you can't hide behind technical skills any more because ANYONE can achieve the same things you can now... what do you have left?
 
ianp5a said:
Why do you hate mobile phones?
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I do, Simply because carrying a phone around is just allowing someone to have you on a longer leash.

(I do have one, probably less than half a dozen people have the number, all of which know that it's pretty much only for emergency contact, and while I carry it around, its mostly switched off until I want to make a call)
 
TheBigYin said:
I do, Simply because carrying a phone around is just allowing someone to have you on a longer leash.

(I do have one, probably less than half a dozen people have the number, all of which know that it's pretty much only for emergency contact, and while I carry it around, its mostly switched off until I want to make a call)
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That's a very odd attitude to what is probably the most liberating technology of the modern age.

A modern mobile phone literally sets the sum total of human knowledge at your fingertips. GPS tech not only getting you to a destination but allowing you instant access to comprehensive information on wherever you find yourself. Not to mention the basic fact that you can contact nearly anyone from nearly anywhere - not just by phone but by text, e-mail, social media, whatever.

Mobile phones are so ubiquitous that sometimes I think we forget how utterly transformative the tech is. I struggle to understand why someone would forego that for the simple reason that they think it keeps them on a leash. You know what I do if someone phones and I don't want to answer it? I don't answer it.
 
probably comes from being "Issued" a mobile from work, maybe 15 years ago, in a job where I had 24h callout, and getting something like 40-50 calls a day, at all hours of the day and night. Every call was either more work, another problem or some form of bad news. After 5 years of that, I really couldn't stand it anymore, and quit.

Sadly, my aversion to the phone as a medium of communication has been engrained as such a low level now that pretty much every time the phone rings, either at home or with my mobile, I'm just conditioned to think "oh crap, what the hells gone wrong now", and my spirits sink accordingly.
 
jonbeeza said:
Like this you mean? Image quality from my phone is pretty poop, although I did resize them. My compact cant do this at this close, or is it just the phone software maybe?
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I think it is optical, certainly is on my Z2.
I should probably try one of the non-native apps to see if there is anything that lets you adjust aperture as well.

In fairness though, I'm all for improving the camera on my phone. There are times when it is the best tool for the photo I want to take.
 
Why are people worrying about things like this? It's pointless. What is a "real" camera? Are DSLRs a real camera? Surely they only are to our current generation because SLRs was the original cameras before DSLRs and before that when it first began was the Niépce - should we all make one of those as that's the real camera here?

What ever happened to it not being about the camera but being about the photographer? Evolution is going to happen. I have an iPhone 6 and it has a fully curved design along the sides but Samsung just brought out the S6 Edge which has a curved screen! - We could do this all day. None of this matters nor should it matter.

Sorry for being sarccy but I think the greater issue is the fact that people are losing perspective about what photography is about and instead replacing it by worrying about silly things.
 
I care about photography not cameras, If I can take brilliant pics with a phone then I'll buy a phone.
 
TheBigYin said:
I do, Simply because carrying a phone around is just allowing someone to have you on a longer leash
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That is one of the reasons I don't have one. They are remote controls for humans. I like to be uncontactable when I go out of the house. Also they seem to exist to comunicate trivia.


Steve.
 
TheBigYin said:
probably comes from being "Issued" a mobile from work, maybe 15 years ago, in a job where I had 24h callout, and getting something like 40-50 calls a day.
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It's not the phone that is the problem there. I have a private phone that my family can call or SMS. No work or unwanted calls. If no one has contacted me, I can relax, as I know all is well. I can also relax when meeting people and someone gets the wrong time or place or is held up. The meeting can still go ahead if you have a mobile phone. Don't blame the hardware.
 
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ianp5a said:
Don't blame the hardware.
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i'm not blaming the hardware, I fully admit it's my pavlovian response to the phone ringing that's the issue... but it doesn't change the fact that FOR ME, I simply hate the whole idea of having a mobile phone, and use it purely for MY OWN convenience... As I say, it's pretty much always with me, but almost NEVER switched on. The few people who DO have my number fully expect to get diverted straight to the answering service, because they know I never switch it on.
 
RichardtheSane said:
I think it is optical, certainly is on my Z2.
I should probably try one of the non-native apps to see if there is anything that lets you adjust aperture as well.

In fairness though, I'm all for improving the camera on my phone. There are times when it is the best tool for the photo I want to take.
Click to expand...

I think the only thing I can change on my phone is exposure, done by swiping up or down on screen. Again not sure if this is done by software, or changing shutter speed :thinking:
 
ianp5a said:
It's not the phone that is the problem there. I have a private phone that my family can call or SMS. No work or unwanted calls. If no one has contacted me, I can relax, as I know all is well. I can also relax when meeting people and someone gets the wrong time or place or is held up. The meeting can still go ahead if you have a mobile phone. Don't blame the hardware.
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I never give my mobile number out, only a few close friends and family. I still get loads of sales calls ..wonder how they get my number :thinking:
 
My approach to phones is similar to The Big Yin's. I have a work phone that I need to leave on during the day but switch off as soon as I leave the building and a personal one that I switch it on to make a call or if I'm expecting one, that's it, only a few people have my number and know they're likely to be out of luck if they call on the off-chance. The camera is neither here nor there for me, occasionally useful for work. My private phone was made before cameras were added. Sorry for heading off topic. Something I find interesting is the way that using something so light and portable affects the composition and literally brings new angles because of the flexibility. Which brings us to selfie sticks.
 
ancient_mariner said:
TBH I generally prefer not to take a picture at all with a phone camera unless I want a crappy quality image, because it inevitably leads to disappointment and frustration. I'd rather miss the shot than have an image that looks bad to me regardless of how much effort I put in.
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It's generally about access, a smartphone is easily accessible.

I cannot lug around my DSLR all the time, it's simply not practical.

I personally feel it is only a matter of time before DSLR use falls, we can already see may users going over to mirrorless, as well as using the Fuji cameras.
 
Mani Gill said:
It's generally about access, a smartphone is easily accessible.

I cannot lug around my DSLR all the time, it's simply not practical.

I personally feel it is only a matter of time before DSLR use falls, we can already see may users going over to mirrorless, as well as using the Fuji cameras.
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I probably do lug my SLT around all the time (wife not always impressed ;) ) but it's a lot lighter than a many traditional DSLRs - guess I'm already mirroless. :D I'd also like a CSC for the times it would be good just to have something smaller, but would rather carry a compact than use a phone.
 
TheBigYin said:
probably comes from being "Issued" a mobile from work, maybe 15 years ago, in a job where I had 24h callout, and getting something like 40-50 calls a day, at all hours of the day and night. Every call was either more work, another problem or some form of bad news. After 5 years of that, I really couldn't stand it anymore, and quit.

Sadly, my aversion to the phone as a medium of communication has been engrained as such a low level now that pretty much every time the phone rings, either at home or with my mobile, I'm just conditioned to think "oh crap, what the hells gone wrong now", and my spirits sink accordingly.
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Agreed. And add to this that people under the age of 40 seem to be addicted to them. My own gf will sit on the thing all night Facebooking, texting, Snapchatting (that probably says more about me but hey!). Then there's me. I have 3 of the things. One is mine the other two are for work. There's no escape. The last thing I would want when I'm out relaxing and taking photos, is for my camera to advise me that I'm needed urgently somewhere else to do something far less enjoyable :)
 
YoshiK1 said:
Why are people worrying about things like this? It's pointless. What is a "real" camera? Are DSLRs a real camera? Surely they only are to our current generation because SLRs was the original cameras before DSLRs and before that when it first began was the Niépce - should we all make one of those as that's the real camera here?

What ever happened to it not being about the camera but being about the photographer? Evolution is going to happen. I have an iPhone 6 and it has a fully curved design along the sides but Samsung just brought out the S6 Edge which has a curved screen! - We could do this all day. None of this matters nor should it matter.

Sorry for being sarccy but I think the greater issue is the fact that people are losing perspective about what photography is about and instead replacing it by worrying about silly things.
Click to expand...
What is a real camera?

Its very simple. A machine that is built and dedicated to taking still (or moving) images without compromise. Not a jack of all trades, communcation device / rubbish gaming console / mobile PC / torch / music player etc!
 
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Airplane mode? Generally when I'm out in the hills getting peace and quiet/taking photos there is no mobile signal anyway.

I managed to find one of the few signal black spots in northern bits of the Pentlands while camping out for a shot last year, wouldn't normally be a problem but my wife was 8 months pregnant, didn't get much sleep that night, I had to keep tramping over to the city side to check my messages. But had I not had a phone I'd not have got a licence for that night.
 
I never, ever, want to have to select the "airplane mode" option on my camera!

If it came to that, it would be a sad day...
 
odd jim said:
What is a real camera?

Its very simple. A machine that is built and dedicated to taking still (or moving) images without compromise. Not a jack of all trades, communcation device / rubbish gaming console / mobile PC / torch / music player etc!
Click to expand...

Many cameras that were built for that one purpose were compromised.. still are. So? I could argue that your teeny weeny small format DSLRs are compromised.

All this "real" camera nonsense is just that.... nonsense.
 
odd jim said:
What is a real camera?

Its very simple. A machine that is built and dedicated to taking still (or moving) images without compromise. Not a jack of all trades, communcation device / rubbish gaming console / mobile PC / torch / music player etc!
Click to expand...


Or over encumbered by batteries and electronics...
 
steveo_mcg said:
Or over encumbered by batteries and electronics...
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Not really. I usually take a 6d with a 24-105 for general stuff and landscapes. A single battery is good for 300+ clicks, usually enough for me in one go.

Lets not be silly!
 
Pookeyhead said:
Many cameras that were built for that one purpose were compromised.. still are. So? I could argue that your teeny weeny small format DSLRs are compromised.

All this "real" camera nonsense is just that.... nonsense.
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A dedicated camera is just that - a camera.

A camera phone is called a camera phone as its a phone with a camera.

A smart phone is called a smart phone as there are now too many things on it to list!
 
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odd jim said:
Not really. A dedicated camera is just that - a camera.

A camera phone is called a camera phone as its a phone with a camera.

A smart phone is called a smart phone as there are now too many things on it to list!
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You said it was compromised, and a proper camera is a camera for that sole purpose... with no compromises. I disagree. Many camera designed for that single purpose are horribly compromised. Your DSLR is compromised. It has a tiny sensor.

Choose another definition. What constitutes a real camera?

Any camera is a real camera.. stop being silly. The best camera is the one you have with you. How many times do we have to demonstrate that good photographers produce good work with whatever you place into their hands?
 
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odd jim said:
Not really. I usually take a 6d with a 24-105 for general stuff and landscapes. A single battery is good for 300+ clicks, usually enough for me in one go.

Lets not be silly!
Click to expand...

More batteries than I usually carry, but speaks to the various definition of "real".
 
Pookeyhead said:
You said it was compromised, and a proper camera is a camera for that sole purpose... with no compromises. I disagree. Many camera designed for that single purpose are horribly compromised. Your DSLR is compromised. It has a tiny sensor.

Choose another definition. What constitutes a real camera?

Any camera is a real camera.. stop being silly. The best camera is the one you have with you. How many times do we have to demonstrate that good photographers produce good work with whatever you place into their hands?
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I guess what constitues a "real camera" is different depending on the person, and I'm ok with that.

I agree, all cameras are compromised - heck, even our own vision is (our brain filters out so much that is there)!

For me a proper camera is simply a machine designed to be a camera. Something that has all the necessary controls and design features that enables me to do what i need to do in the best way possible. Tonight I'm off out taking photos of the ISS. I will be taking my 6d to capture that, not my phone.

Using this example, a camera phone to me isnt a camera, it will always be a phone.
 
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steveo_mcg said:
More batteries than I usually carry, but speaks to the various definition of "real".
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The sinlge battery in my camera is more than you usually carry?

Does your phone not have a battery?
 
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