You might think I’m some kind of lunatic for suggesting this, but hear me out. Yes, I’m well aware that everyone in the world has been taking photos on their phones for the past 20 years with close to zero complaints, but I, myself, have a few gripes to level at these dopamine-drip-feeding, society-destroying, brainrot devices.
But this article isn’t just about my problems with smartphones. I’m here with my town crier bell to spread the word on why proper cameras beat smartphone cameras every single time. In the past couple of years, I’ve been fully converted to the church of photography and discovered the benefits of using a proper, red-blooded camera instead of my iPhone. So, without any further ado, let’s jump in.
Photo Quality
As a card-carrying member of the camera superiority society, I’m here to tell you that your grainy phone pics might be good if you just want to scroll through your collection, but if you actually want to do anything with your photos, like post highlights on Instagram or put together custom photo albums, then a camera is always going to do a better job.
Phone manufacturers like Apple and Samsung are obsessed with megapixels, as if it’s the be-all and end-all of image quality, perhaps because they think it dumbs down the complicated topic into something that us stupid customers will understand. But I like to think that the general population is smarter than that.
Cameras have much larger sensors, which means they can capture more light and preserve more detail, as well as have a cleaner image with a more natural background blur. On top of that, phones are well-known for having tiny, almost microscopic lenses that produce lower quality images – even if the manufacturer claims that the phone has a 5 million megapixel camera.
Camera lenses, meanwhile, are much larger and are available in a variety of different shapes and sizes which specialise in various areas, like ultra-wide lenses for landscape photography.
No Distractions
The main reason I switched to a proper camera wasn’t the quality upgrade; it was because I wanted to escape the stranglehold that my phone had on my life. When I take photos, I don’t want to be distracted by notifications or interact with the tech through an abstract user interface.
When I take photos with my camera, I’m using an intentionally designed piece of hardware to take more deliberate photos. The camera feels more solid and stable in my hands, and the whole experience is just more fulfilling. Especially when you factor in that with a real camera, you have complete control over the shutter speed, aperture, and focus.
Closing Thoughts
Now don’t get me wrong. I understand the appeal of a smartphone camera. It’s convenient to use and, for what it is, offers a lot of different modes when it comes to video modes, portrait modes, and panoramic modes. But if you want to take the very best photos and have the most fun doing it, then a proper camera is the way to go.
