Camera buying tips from a photojournalist
A Star photographer balances pros and cons of DSLRs, smartphones
Buying a camera can feel redundant, given the quality of pictures you can get from your smartphone.
But if you’re ready to take the step up from simple snapshots to more professional-looking photographs, and are torn between buying a “real” digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera or investing in a multipurpose phone camera, there are several things to keep in mind.
Star photojournalist Richard Lautens, who has worked in the field for 31 years, shares his top tips on how buy a smartphone that will take (almost) professional photos. What do you want to photograph? While Lautens believes a DSLR camera takes consistently better photographs than a smartphone, if you’re only planning to use your camera occasionally you may want to invest in a smartphone with a high-quality camera instead.
“If you’re not going to spend the time learning all your device can do for you, you probably are better off using your smartphone and saving yourself $1,500,” Lautens says. What you plan on photographing should also be taken into consideration.
For example, if you’re looking to capture mainly well-lit family events, a smartphone will likely serve you well. Sports photography and i ndoor scenes, conversely, will work better with a DSLR that has different lenses and shutter speeds. Do your research iPhone, Samsung, Huawei: Different smartphone cameras have different pros and cons, and doing some research is important. Digital Photography Review is a great website to compare different phone cameras, as is Consumer Reports.
Some of the latest smartphones have transformed the world of phone photography, Lautens adds, such as the Huawei P20 Pro. Huawei recently teamed up with professional camera giant Leica to create a tri-lens camera that comes with a whopping 40 megapixels of resolution — more than most DSLR cameras.
“There’s been a real push on ‘smartphone-ography,’ ” says Lautens, noting that the best phone cameras tend to come on the highest quality (and often most expensive) models, such as the iPhone X and iPhone 8 Plus, the Huawei P20 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.
Newer, larger phones tend to be the most user friendly, given their screen size, as well as superior post-processing and editing features, he adds.
Budget-conscious consumers can transform older phones into superior cameras with an inexpensive camera app.
“Simple and inexpensive apps turn your smartphone camera into a DSLR by giving you options to change shutter speed, turn your flash on and off, alter the ISO, and so much more,” Lautens notes. “For the cost of a $4 app, 90 per cent of what you can do on a DSLR camera you can do on your phone.”
New apps are launched frequently, but try Manual for Apple and Camera FV-5 for Android. And the main thing ... While you may sacrifice some photograph quality with a smartphone camera, it can be infinitely more convenient than carrying around a DSLR – plus you will likely always have your phone handy to snap a candid photo.
“There’s an old adage in professional photography that the best camera you can get is the one that you have on you,” Lautens adds. “If you’re not carrying it, you’re not taking the picture.”