Phone or Camera Photography? (Part One)

Today's phones are amazing when it comes to taking photos. It's incredible how far phone technology has come just in the last several years. Just point and shoot, even in low light, and share your photos instantly. Great resolution, colorful and clear.

So why bother with a digital camera? How many of you bought a digital camera a few (or many) years ago and now that camera resides in your closet, collecting dust?

We are so spoiled! Why battle with a camera that may not yield results as good as your phone?

Many consumers did buy that digital camera years ago. They put it on "AUTO", took a bunch of shots, got "ok" or sub-par photos, tried again, then pretty much gave up. My guess is that 9 out of 10 people did just that.

Why?

One, the phone: easy peasy. Two, they did not harness the incredible capacity of a digital camera to take great photos because they did not really learn how to use the camera.

Digital cameras outperform a phone in many respects. Here is just one example:

SPORTS. Try to capture with your phone the moment your kiddo scores that goal. Good luck. The phone has a delay after you press the shutter. It can't capture a split-second moment. There is no viewfinder. There is no telephoto lens (sure, you can pinch, but good luck with that.)

A camera can be set to a very fast shutter speed, like 1/500th or 1/1000th of a second, a must for sports photography. You will capture that goal, especially if you have a telephoto lens.

But you need to learn how to NOT use the "AUTO" setting. You must use a manual setting, or what's called "shutter priority", where you set the shutter speed at that 1/100th of a second. BUT there's more to it: you have to know what "ISO" to set the camera at (how much light is allowed in), and what "aperture" (that's the size of the lens opening, and a smaller opening allows you to get more things in focus.)

"Whew", you are thinking. "I think I'll stick with my phone." Well, first, you won't get the results you want, and second, it's not as complicated as you think in terms of getting to know your camera ... it simply takes some patience, dedication and practice. Ever take up a hobby or play sports or play music? Without patience, dedication and practice, you get nowhere. Same with photography.

In my next post I'll talk about the next aspect of how digital cameras outperform a phone in many respects: nature shots. Then we'll move on to other topics, so stay tuned.

PRIVATE LESSONS: If you live in or near Spooner, Wisconsin, I can teach you how to take great photos with a digital camera with a private, 3-hour lesson. Just contact me, Joe Hendershot, at b2bjoeh@comcast.net, or call me at (715) 939-9530.