Smartphone or Dedicated Camera? Three Considerations for Hobbyist Photographers

In recent years, the world's major mobile phone manufacturers have placed a growing emphasis on the camera as the key feature that will provide them with a competitive edge. The ultimate beneficiary, of course, is the consumer. All of us now have access to at least a decent (if not outright fantastic) camera that fits into our pockets and is ready to take pictures all day, no matter the occasion. With that said, if you're interested in taking your photography hobby further, is it possible to get by with just your smartphone? Are there some limitations that will eventually require you to pick up a DSLR or mirrorless and learn the ropes of using a dedicated camera?

Pushing technical capabilities

At the top end of the market, the cameras on today's phones are technically amazing. Smartphone image output can easily surpass the specs of DSLRs in years past, and even compared side by side with pictures taken by a contemporary professional camera, it can be hard to tell the difference.

Still, some situations will stretch the technical capabilities of a smartphone.Low-light photography is a common scenario that gives many hobbyists some trouble. A dedicated camera has a larger sensor and lens aperture, which simply lets in more light. On the other hand, smartphones tend to boost ISO and slow the shutter speed to compensate. The former leads to grainy, noisy images; the latter can cause a loss of focus if the photographer's hands aren't steady, or if objects in the scene are moving.

Using gear extensions

While smartphones offer users the ability to zoom into a scene with a quick gesture, until recently, this was purely a digital feature-you'd be simply blowing up individual pixels and possibly compromising image quality. Newer phones with multiple cameras allow you to switch between different focal lengths for effective optical zoom. But this is no match for the zoom reach afforded by a single telephoto lens, for example.

DSLR and mirrorless models have an extensive line of lenses that can fit onto their unique mounts, and that's not the only extension you can add to your toolkit as a photographer using a dedicated camera. Off-camera flash units, for example, can be triggered to sync with the camera's flash and allow you to shape the light of a scene effectively. These options are comparatively lacking for phones, which limits the variety and nature of images you create.

Exercising creative control

Smartphone users enjoy significant variety and convenience when it comes to editing their photos using apps. However, in general, smartphone photography is more heavily reliant on software to enhance images and overcome technical limitations. When you work with complex subjects such as jewelry, capturing the shine and sparkle of the gemstones can be difficult; you may need retouching services to ensure high-quality jewelry photos.

Although even professional photographers engage in post-processing as a necessary part of their workflow, the more you can "get right" in-camera, the less reliant you'll be on software to achieve the desired result. Thus, using a dedicated camera allows you to be more selective in editing and wield greater creative control over your final images.

The improvements in mobile phone cameras are amazing and make them a valuable tool for spontaneity and ease of use. But if you want to take your photography to the next level, it may be better to let smartphones serve as an introduction to the skill and use a DSLR or mirrorless in your efforts to get better.