DLSR vs iPhone photography

Yes. I traveled with iPhone only on several of my trips. I even created a travel blog for one trip and created content and posted from my phone.
This included text commentary.

I suggest looking at the iPhone Photgraphy School blog for lots of videos and tips.

Equipment I usually take:

• backup battery charger
• iPhone ear buds (can be used as a remote photography cord)
• iXpand backup drive
• Jobi Gorillapod stand
• synch cord to attach to charger.

You may also want to use a case that accepts camera mounts screws. I found that additional lenses were merely OK and not worth the money. YMMV.

The editing software provided by Apple was key to great pictures. You may want to purchase additional photo apps. I used the following apps the most:

• Resize Image - reduces size of file for blog posts
• Slow Shutter - extends the shutter speed for night photography and create special effects. IPhone photography school has other recommendations for apps. I'm not as strong in them so don't use them.

The key, as always, is to learn the features of your equipment ahead of time.

The one place the iPhone failed for me was for anything requiring a long range lens. There is no comparison compared to DLSR. That said, I could hold my iPhone up to the spotting scope and still get amazing photos. I have heard that there are now adapters for spotting scopes.

You will also want a great internet connection if you want to post to a blog. I had decent luck with T-mobile. You need to be an existing customer at T-Mobile for at least as long as your trip duration to get international coverage.

If the lighting is good, I obtain decent snapshots using my iPhone. If I want better quality photos, I take my DSLR with a lens that's great for travel.

I take a small camera (no interchangeable lenses) that fits in a pocket or small purse, but has a good zoom with me, in addition to my iPhone. While the quality of iPhone pictures is amazing these days, I find that I still like zooming in on sites to the extent that I cannot do with the iPhone.

Strictly old school for me! While iPhone cameras have improved I like the flexibility I have with my DSLR. I routinely carry several lenses and a tripod. Some may not want to bother with this much gear, but I don't mind. You never know when you'll find that million dollar shot, I'd hate to see it and not be prepared.

Kaye,

I'm also old school when it comes to travel photography. I always travel with a DSLR, a P&S and an iPhone. I've found that while it's possible to get reasonably good images with iPhones they're of limited use in many situations, especially in low light conditions or where motion is involved. Using App's like Camera+ or Snapseed often makes a significant difference. Having a choice of camera settings and lenses with a DSLR allows me to get the results I want.

I typically only use two lenses so travelling with the DSLR is not a huge burden. I often take a Tripod, but not on every trip. While it's possible to get reasonably good results with newer cell phones, there's no way the minuscule sensor in an iPhone can produce the same results as the larger sensor in a DSLR. The bottom line is what type of results are desired, and what the photos will be used for.

I cannot leave for vacation without my dSLR. I carry a Canon 70D with usually 2 lenses. A Sigma 17-50mm F2.8 and a Canon - EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM Ultra-Wide Zoom Lens. I find I need the wide angle to capture some of the larger than life architecture in Europe. I'll take a few pics with my Samsung S7 and my husband does the same with his S7. I just love the pictures my Canon takes and while the cell phone pictures are absolutely adequate it doesn't compare to my Canon, I shoot in RAW and take several memory cards with me as well as two batteries. There are times when I've just used my cell phone (mainly to take pics of food and menus) Yes, I'm a food picture taker :)

I think it's just a personal preference. I scrapbook my pictures as well.....at least I do in my mind.

The key is your statement about the iPhone pix and the nex being interchangeable. If that is the case why bring the camera? I think the photo quality on the iPhone gets better with each model. And take a class at that Apple Store in Roseville and learn even more tricks to great pictures!

The physics of the question are pretty simple. You can't bend the laws of physics (well not yet) and you will take a better picture with a larger sensor, better glass, RAW files, true optical zooming etc. than you will without them. The question is basically: is the extra weight and trouble worth it to you? What are you going to do with your pics?....Facebook snaps and 4x6s look ok from a cellphone (if not shot in low light or something moving which requires a high shutter speed.) Above that, most people, when pics are compared side to side, can see differences when a camera is used vs. a cell phone. IMHO, those who say they can't tell aren't looking very hard. Is the improved picture important to you? Good photos are important to me, but not to lots and lots of people who take pics only cell phones. So to answer the original question, I have not only not gone with cell phone photography, I don't take pictures with a cell phone at all. I do take spare batteries for my camera.

Last summer my husband and I went to Banff and Jasper in Alberta Canada. My husband took pictures of the incredible mountain/lake scenery and I did the same with my iPhone. When both sets of pictures were downloaded on to the computer you couldn't tell the difference between the two. Where the difference showed up was when we tried to enlarge the pictures. The quality of the pictures was not as good with the iPhone. I use my pictures at times to scrapbook. There was no difference when we printed up 4x6" pictures to attach to my scrapbook pages. The iPhone is limited when it comes to the lack of a zoom. I have decided on my next trip to only use my iPhone. To me, it's all about convenience. The phone will fit in my pocket or purse. My husband uses up half of his backpack space with his dslr camera. The biggest question is... what do you do with your pictures after you get home? Do they sit on your computer and you look at them occasionally? Do you create scrapbooks? Do you make enlargements and get them framed? Do you create "slide shows" that you use for presentations? That would probably determine what kind of camera you want to use.

Here is a good zoom app, "camera+", for iPhone: https://camera.plus

I am happy with the photos I get using the iPhone, particularly with the above app, but then I don't enlarge them much either.

Just a tip for the iphone. You can snap a photo by depressing either one of the volume buttons when the camera is on. Using one of those, I seem to get better photos since I can hold steadier than when I use the normal camera button.

I don't like the pictures I get with an iphone. This is probably user error because I see plenty of excellent photos taken on phones, but I can't get it to work for me for anything better than basic snapshots. For "real" photos - either family or travel - I bring out the DSLR. For travel I don't like a lot of equipment so I just bring an 18-140 lens (not fast enough at the high end for dark areas so I also have a fast 35mm fixed lens that stays at the hotel unless I am specifically wanting night/low light pictures).

I will say that the size of a phone is a real advantage - sometimes if there is a fence or bars a phone lens can line up and get an unobstructed view while a DSLR gets fencing in the way. I'm thinking of the dome of St. Peters specifically - I got better dome photos by using the phone. With the DSLR I played with the focus and got some interesting angles of fence + dome, but for a classic, unobstructed picture you can't use a DSLR.

My husband has a 7+ and the camera is excellent - but the phone is way too big for me to use the controls, frame a shot, and hold it steady enough.

I do use my phone a ton during the day (not for photos, but maps etc) and a charger is essential. I have one called the Jackery which fits easily in a purse and will recharge the phone. I just plug mine in when I'm not using the phone (walking, at lunch, and so on) to keep it charged all day. Charge the charger at night and repeat. I think something like this is essential if you plan to use your phone as a camera or use it more than occasionally for any other use.

I absolutely love to take pictures with my iPhone! From still pictures to videos to panoramas to HDR, the iPhone is a remarkably capable camera.

BUT .... I would not want to rely solely on my iPhone on an important trip. When the light gets low, or the subject is moving, or I need a longer focal length, I still want one of my "big girl" cameras. These days, I travel with a couple of Micro 4/3 bodies and an embarrassingly large assortment of lenses, as well as my iPhone. The big, full frame dSLR stays at home.

(I usually keep a little lipstick-sized Anker battery in my pocket, just in case the iPhone gives out of juice.)

It doesn't sound like you take the types a photos where a dslr excels (low light, wide angle, long telephoto, specialty filters like polarizers). So going iPhone only might work well for you.

Perhaps you can take a local trip (lake Tahoe, Sacramento, wine country) and try using your phone as your sole camera to see if you miss the nex.

Try this best application for iPhone photography : https://www.howtoisolve.com/best-photography-apps-for-iphone-and-ipad-free-pro/

I use DSLR most of the time but sometimes iPhone as well. Btw, which tool do you use to store and manage pictures?