Cross signals
I am sure that there are many reasons for people using compact cameras rather than smartphones. Here are my reasons. I spend much of my working time in industrial premises, where there is little access to the internet as signals are blocked by steelwork, machinery, and electrical interference. There is often Wi-Fi for staff, but not visitors. I use a compact camera and shoot in raw and JPEG. The camera does not need to access the internet, so the battery and the camera work until I get back to the hotel. However, I did once suffer a memory card failure, and had to use my iPhone. Initially all was well, but the phone wanted to upload images to the cloud. Trying to connect to the internet quickly drained the battery, and the iPhone ‘bricked’ before lunch time.
Lesson learned, as I now carry a spare compact camera and cards, as well as my phone. Desperate to connect to the internet, the phone limps through a working day, while my compact camera easily lasts the duration. Also, phone signals can be poor, especially outside London. Though I live in UK’s second largest urban area, I can’t even get a phone signal in my home, except via Wi-Fi. When travelling around the nearby countryside, my iPhone barely functions as a phone, so forget taking pictures. Technology is wonderful, until it stops working. David Price
Perhaps you need a new phone, or at least switch off the cloud uploading when you’re out. But you make some good points here, David. Predictions of the death of the compact appear to be premature – just look at the demand for the new Fuji lm X100VI.