Cameras Versus Cell Phones
This week on Tech Byte, we try to settle the age-old debate of modern-day cell phones versus high end DSLR cameras! Could cell phones really replace professional photography equipment? I’m joined by an expert in his field, Herman Prater, Jr., an award-winning photographer and videographer, to help weigh in.
Herman Prater, Jr. works behind the camera in the News 12 studio and, like me, is a semi-pro photographer. Herman’s work is absolutely phenomenal, but can everything in his camera bag be replaced by an iPhone?
According to Herman, “no, you definitely can’t replace a camera with a cell phone. They both serve their purposes. Don’t get me wrong. Cell phones are a little bit more convenient if you’re trying to do something on the go. But if you’re trying to do something professional, you need a camera.”
But what are the major advantages of a high-end camera and a simple cell phone?
HERMAN: “Well, from my personal experience, a camera, you’ll get better quality than what you’ll get with the phone. Don’t get me wrong, some of these phones do have great quality. But if you want something a little bit more high-end and you want something a little bit more professional, you definitely want to go with a camera.”
The biggest difference when it comes to the technology between a camera and a phone is the built-in sensor. I brought in some of the latest cameras from Nikon, and they’re what’s called full frame camera sensors. Simply put, if you were to look at the camera sensor, it’s about the size of a postage stamp. The size of the camera sensor in your cell phone is about the size of the end of your finger. Yes, they can have the same megapixels. They can have the same count. They might even have the same processor in some of the tech behind the scenes. But at the end of the day, bigger is not always better.
But sometimes, the convenience of a cell phone is too good to beat. If you’re walking around vacation, you can just snap a few photos. You don’t have to carry a heavy camera. But if you want your cell phone to replace professional equipment, you’ll need detachable lenses, and then you’re going to have the battery problems that Herman and I struggle with.
If you have questions about today’s episode or you need to see us feature your idea, please feel free to email news@wdef.com. If you need to know more about my friend Big Herman, visit his website at visualsbyherman.com.
