While there was a confrontation between DSLR and mirrorless cameras, in which the latter easily won, mobile photography has significantly increased its potential. More and more people are abandoning cameras in favor of smartphones with advanced cameras. And there are good reasons for this.

Benefits of mobile photography

Mobility

The key benefit of smartphone photography lies in its mobility. The phone is conveniently accessible, fitting into pockets or small handbags, allowing instant and effortless shooting. Processed using mobile photo editors, the photos are easily shared on social networks and sent to contacts through various messaging apps. This process is less physically demanding compared to using cameras.

Control

Smartphones are perfectly suited for fast shooting. The vast majority of them take photos and record videos in auto mode. Moreover, artificial intelligence and machine learning systems, flexibly implemented in mobile photography, allow you to determine the genre of shooting and adapt settings to it, whether it is a landscape, portrait, animal or plant photography. "Smart" algorithms literally dore the image to make the frame look prettier. On the plus side, there's no need to mess around with shooting parameters, which makes the process many times easier.

Smartphones are good because you can quickly take them out of your pocket and quickly take a photo without unnecessary hassles.

Mobile phone cameras often include extra settings, serving as a bonus. For instance, numerous camera phones feature a dedicated pro shooting mode, offering manual control over shutter speed, white balance, ISO, and exposure correction. These manual options empower users to flexibly manipulate their smartphone cameras, catering to specific shooting requirements.

Features of modern camera phones

To cater to diverse mobile photography needs, smartphones typically feature multiple camera modules. A standard setup includes a primary sensor with a medium focal length, a wide-angle module for expansive views, and a telephoto lens with optical zoom for distant shots. Some devices substitute the telephoto lens with a macro camera, and depth sensors are often added for portrait mode's background blur effect. While smartphones achieve beautiful bokeh through software-based background blur, even top models like iPhones face occasional challenges in accurately separating the main subject from the background.

To prevent image blurring and ensure steady video recording, camera phones frequently employ optical and, in some cases, matrix stabilization systems. Typically, the primary camera's image sensor is stabilized, with occasional stabilization applied to the telephoto camera — essential for shooting at long focal lengths to avoid micro-blurs in photos.

Optical and matrix stabilization systems help avoid blur in photographs and increase the smoothness of recorded video.

Some high-end smartphone models aspiring for photographic excellence feature a telephoto camera with a variable zoom ratio. Although uncommon, this feature enables zooming without resorting to digital zoom, which often degrades image quality through software algorithms. Advanced camera phones also boast variable aperture optics, allowing users to manipulate the aperture for controlling depth of field and background blur.

The megapixel competition is making a comeback, evident in flagship phones like the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra boasting a 200 MP sensor. However, its DxOMark ranking falls below the Google Pixel 7 Pro and the the Apple iPhone 13 Pro (three 12 MP lenses). This discrepancy arises from pixel size and binning, where neighboring pixels combine, acting as one. The Galaxy S23 Ultra uses 16-pixel binning, resulting in a final 12 MP resolution. An alternative, combining 4 pixels into one group, achieves a 50 MP resolution. Yet, high megapixel count doesn't guarantee success. When choosing a camera phone, focus on real capabilities, considering reviews and insights. Learn more in the article “Megapixels in a smartphone camera: is their number really important?”.

Matrixes in mobile phones have already crossed the 200 MP mark. However, in practice, such a high resolution does not provide an obvious increase in image quality.

Partnerships between established camera brands and mobile manufacturers significantly enhance photo quality. Xiaomi's flagship cameras, for example, benefit from a collaboration with Leica, while Sony proudly features Zeiss on their camera phones. Explore more about these collaborations in the article “Collaborations of famous smartphone manufacturers and photo industry giants”.

Price

While smartphones are generally more affordable than traditional cameras with interchangeable lenses, a mirrorless camera comparable to a high-end camera phone outshines in image quality and overall photo and video capabilities, especially for content beyond social networks. Smartphones prioritize top-notch hardware, advanced screens, and wireless features, limiting the allocated budget for the camera component, making it challenging for them to compete with dedicated cameras.

Popular camera phones

Advantages of cameras over camera phones

Image quality

The basis of photography is light. One of the main advantages of cameras over smartphone cameras is the size of the matrix. The larger the image sensor, the more light it can absorb. This means the pictures will be brighter, more detailed and quieter.

In some scenes, smartphones are almost as good as “adult” cameras. But only if there is enough light.

Even in high-end camera phones, the sensor size typically doesn't exceed 1", a specification reminiscent of the 2012 Sony RX100 camera. In contrast, Micro 4/3, APS-C, and full-frame sensors are substantially larger, allowing individual pixels to capture more light. The pixel density in camera phones, while high, leads to potential noise in photographs. No smartphone can match a dedicated camera's performance at high ISOs, crucial for shooting in low-light conditions.

While smartphones are improving with each generation, cameras with interchangeable lenses still outperform them significantly in terms of background blur.

Replaceable optics

Cameras have a distinct advantage with their interchangeable lenses, offering a vast array of options for creative expression. From high-zoom ratios to wide-aperture "wide" and "portrait" lenses, to specialized options like "fish-eye" lenses, the variety is extensive. The only consideration is the cost. If you can invest in a set of lenses, the capabilities of a camera far surpass those of a smartphone.

The camera and its set of optics help to realize the creative potential an order of magnitude better than shooting on a camera phone.

The use of a large image sensor and high-aperture optics in cameras delivers impressive background blur, surpassing what can be achieved through software processing. Cameras excel in creating genuine bokeh, an aspect where mobile counterparts fall short with software-based blur.

Autofocus

Modern cameras prioritize advanced autofocus systems, extensively integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning. These technologies enable precise focusing on human eyes, specific body parts, and recognition of animals, birds, and vehicles. In high-end mirrorless cameras, autofocus performs exceptionally well, even in low light conditions, maintaining sharp focus quickly (as fast as 0.02 seconds, depending on the camera model).

Working with flashes

As mentioned earlier, light is crucial. When outdoor lighting is insufficient, cameras can use an external flash attached to the "hot shoe" or employ a synchronizer for controlling external flash units. Most smartphones lack compatibility with external flashes, and their built-in solutions may not meet the needs of mobile photographers.

Flashes for smartphones are a rarity. They are mainly produced for top-end camera phones like the iPhone, Samsung flagships and Google Pixel.

There are occasionally exceptions to this rule, but they are expensive and not compatible with all camera phone models (often with Apple and Samsung mobile phones).

Video recording capabilities

In professional cameras, the focus extends beyond photography to advanced video recording. Even basic mirrorless cameras effortlessly capture Full HD videos at high frame rates, with many lines geared towards 4K and higher resolutions for professional video production. Operators have access to optical stabilization in lenses or in-camera stabilization systems, along with various tools and modes for achieving top-quality and detailed picture. However, post-processing on a computer is necessary, along with the requirement for a fast and often costly memory card.

Smartphones now excel in video shooting, supporting frame formats from 4K to 8K, interval shooting, slow-motion videos, and even ProRes. The process is user-friendly: open the camera, choose a mode, hit record, and you're good to go. Completed videos can be edited on the go using the built-in or downloaded editor.

Popular mirrorless cameras

While camera phones fall short in professional filming compared to dedicated cameras, they have largely replaced non-replaceable optics in digital cameras in the amateur sector. Purchasing such cameras is now impractical as smartphones at hand capture images at a comparable level. Exceptions include ultrazoom cameras with high zoom ratios and advanced camera models featuring large image sensors.

Mobile photography, as the name suggests, serves different objectives compared to cameras with interchangeable lenses. Camera phones excel as convenient daily solutions for social networks and personal photo/video archives. However, for more substantial tasks, a more potent tool — a camera with interchangeable lenses — is required.