Camera phone vs P&S

[bwana]

http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consu...neup/ef_400mm_f_2_8l_is_ii_usm#Specifications

Your pockets, I'll be paying them a visit sometime
Might ring you up if I manage to land a spot on the Agulhas II for next year's trip to Antarctica. It's unlikely that I will, but having a lens like that handy would be, well, handy ;p
Insurance and a neoprene cover for it and all, the latter which you'd get to keep!

Semi-serious, by the way. I am planning to sign up for the trip they're making next year if I can get a weather-sealed body. My uncle went yonks ago and came back with awesome photos - I wanna go too.

It arrived this morning and it's never leaving my sight! Sounds like an awesome trip though - if you don't have the gear I could always take your spot…

FWIT - I've seen tests of the 7D in extreme conditions and it held up without a problem.

 

[akescpt]

+1
I bought a Canon S100 (ultra compact P&S with decent optics) as a carry around and a Canon 650D with 50mm f/1.8 (under R900) and 430EX II Speedlite for the more serious shots. The newborn was the perfect excuse to splash out a bit.
The IQ and DOF on the 50mm f/1.8 is very, very nice for portraits/baby photos even if the construction is cheap and the AF noisy.

My wife's Samsung Galaxy S III doesn't even come close to the Canon S100 P&S let alone the DSLR.
Camera phones generally have very poor or limited optical capabilities.

at 4k the s100 is a no go im afraid. this is the dilemma and causing me so much frustration. i have my phone with me always. if theres something cute happening, i want to snap it. ive learnt over the years that it doesnt matter what equipment you have in your hands, if you timing sux your picture will suck.

to get back on track. the question is. would you carry a p&s to snap pics of your kid/s thereby ensuring you have an additional gadget or use the convenience and availability of a decent camera phone?

ive seen prints produced from the n8 and they are more than satisfactory. the pureview must be insane but not at 450/pm. the s2 is well priced but im not sure of the quality. will have to check a n8 vs s2 camera shootout to compare.

 

[nanonyous]

It arrived this morning and it's never leaving my sight! Sounds like an awesome trip though - if you don't have the gear I could always take your spot…

FWIT - I've seen tests of the 7D in extreme conditions and it held up without a problem.

We could always apply to go together
The trip's essentially free, it's about three months and the only requirement of you is that you help out with manual labour when you land. According to my uncle, who's been in contact with some friends that have gone back over recent years, the manual labour isn't all that intense, either, since most of it is handled by machinery.

The only other real costs for your participation is that things like laundry detergent has to be bought on the ship and any alcohol or snacks/sweets you want have to be bought at the ship's bar/tuck shop.

I was hoping to win a Canon 60D in one of mycamera.co.za's competitions which I might have been able to pay a difference in on to upgrade it to a 7D, but Kobus Tollig ended up winning that one.
At the very least, by the time I do manage to make this trip, the 7D will still be very relevant, so there's no reason I wouldn't consider it closer to the time - at which point it should also be cheaper.

I'm also considering approaching Canon SA to see if they'd be willing to sponsor me with the use of some of their lenses for a trip, though I've got my work cut out for me becoming a photographer they'd want to put their name to before there's any chance of that happening.

Also, I'm serious about applying for the trip together.

at 4k the s100 is a no go im afraid. this is the dilemma and causing me so much frustration. i have my phone with me always. if theres something cute happening, i want to snap it. ive learnt over the years that it doesnt matter what equipment you have in your hands, if you timing sux your picture will suck.

to get back on track. the question is. would you carry a p&s to snap pics of your kid/s thereby ensuring you have an additional gadget or use the convenience and availability of a decent camera phone?

ive seen prints produced from the n8 and they are more than satisfactory. the pureview must be insane but not at 450/pm. the s2 is well priced but im not sure of the quality. will have to check a n8 vs s2 camera shootout to compare.

I would go P&S any day, especially if I already had a Curve 8520, which more than covers all my needs out of a cellphone.

The primary reasoning would be the breadth of controls available to me on the P&S facilitating my ability to take a photo how I want to take it, not how the camera or a camera phone wants to take it.
That and raw. Worry about getting the shot now, correct the white balance and slightly-off exposure later.

 

[ClintZA]

ive seen prints produced from the n8 and they are more than satisfactory. the pureview must be insane but not at 450/pm. the s2 is well priced but im not sure of the quality. will have to check a n8 vs s2 camera shootout to compare.

I have the SGS3 now, which is apparently an upgrade to the SGS2, I'd assume camerawise too, and it has nothing on the N8. Main differences, after ignoring the "small" issues like larger sensor size and Carl Zeiss optics, is the extra megapixels and the proper xenon flash. Believe me trying to shoot a fast moving object in less than ideal light with a feeble LED flash is a futile exercise unless you like your subjects very blurry.

Of course you would be choosing Symbian vs Android but that is a whole different discussion and coming from a BB would not be a huge issue

I would go P&S any day, especially if I already had a Curve 8520, which more than covers all my needs out of a cellphone.

The primary reasoning would be the breadth of controls available to me on the P&S facilitating my ability to take a photo how I want to take it, not how the phone or a camera phone wants to take it.
That and raw. Worry about getting the shot now, correct the white balance and slightly-off exposure later.

And the major negative is that extra device you need to carry around with you all the time. A trip to the local take away often offers up photo opportunities or while you are sitting at a friend's house or even driving in the car with your little one. In all these circumstances you are likely to have your phone in your pocket, the same cannot be said for the camera. Many of the decent camera phones now offer an array of settings that can be adjusted too....

I know we will never agree on this but always important to have both sides of the argument balancing each other out

 

[Dreamer]

We bought a samsung P&S recently and it is the one with the lcd at the back but one in the front. It has a feature where you can play a kids video / animation on the front lcd with sound, which grabs the attention of the kid ... perfect for kids shots

 

[nanonyous]

And the major negative is that extra device you need to carry around with you all the time. A trip to the local take away often offers up photo opportunities or while you are sitting at a friend's house or even driving in the car with your little one. In all these circumstances you are likely to have your phone in your pocket, the same cannot be said for the camera. Many of the decent camera phones now offer an array of settings that can be adjusted too....

I know we will never agree on this but always important to have both sides of the argument balancing each other out

Considering how small a compact is, I can't honestly understand why someone wouldn't have it with them. Pouches have slots for a belt to go through, your pants have *SHOCK* two or even more pockets. If you know you're an active snapper and that you're constantly going to be wanting to take photos, why would your camera not always be with you, especially if it's so small and light?

 

[akescpt]

We bought a samsung P&S recently and it is the one with the lcd at the back but one in the front. It has a feature where you can play a kids video / animation on the front lcd with sound, which grabs the attention of the kid ... perfect for kids shots

what a brilliant innovation. hmmm. google-foo!

 

[ClintZA]

Considering how small a compact is, I can't honestly understand why someone wouldn't have it with them. Pouches have slots for a belt to go through, your pants have *SHOCK* two or even more pockets. If you know you're an active snapper and that you're constantly going to be wanting to take photos, why would your camera not always be with you, especially if it's so small and light?

So when you walk out the door you can grab your GPS, your iPod, your compact camera, your phone and your wallet. Or you could just grab the last two.

Yes, you could carry a stack of things in your pockets, hell you could even carry a backpack with you at all times, but what is most convenient?

 

[nanonyous]

So when you walk out the door you can grab your GPS, your iPod, your compact camera, your phone and your wallet. Or you could just grab the last two.

Yes, you could carry a stack of things in your pockets, hell you could even carry a backpack with you at all times, but what is most convenient?

What phones don't have a media player function these days?
Blackberry Curve 9300 has GPS, the 8520 has a mock-GPS if you have BIS. I'm certain there are competing cellphones that have comparable features at a similar price point.

Wallet? Use a skinny and carry only your credit card, petrol card if your company's issued you with one and a limited supply of cash on your person - you don't need a wallet the size of Paris Hilton's handbag.

That means you still only effectively have two items. Your phone and a really compact camera that can go into your other pocket or into a belt holster. If you're wearing a jacket, I should hope it's one that has an inner chest pocket - those are insanely convenient for carrying things like your phone or a camera. If it's summer and you're wearing shorts, get shorts that have a front thigh pocket if need be. Pockets exist for a reason.


What's most convenient? A camera that performs when you need it to and that controls how you need it to. If you wouldn't carry a compact on you at all times, you're not a person that needs a camera on their person at all times whether it's a phone camera, compact camera or DSLR - all you're interested in is being able to get general snapshots.

*edit* Also, this.
I used a manbag while I was in japan, and I can tell you now, you get used to it insanely quickly. It even turns into a godsend at times when you've visited a place you saw while walking around and got a pamphlet or bought something and want to stow it somewhere.

You could walk about with it in your hands, which is super convenient, or you could stick it into your pockets, which you seem to be averse to doing, or it could go into a small bag you're always carrying with you.

But carrying things is super inconvenient. Have to walk around with only manties on.

 

[ClintZA]

We could no doubt go back and forth with this all night

What phones don't have a media player function these days?

A R150 one as was referred to in another thread, by yourself if I'm not mistaken, is unlikely to have a decent one, if one at all. And interesting how when it comes to cameras you argue the merit of quality but when it comes to the other functions offered by a phone the quality is not of much importance. If I listen to music on my phone I'd prefer it didn't sound like I was in a tin...

Blackberry Curve 9300 has GPS, the 8520 has a mock-GPS if you have BIS. I'm certain there are competing cellphones that have comparable features at a similar price point.

Whether it can fulfill the same role as a stand alone GPS navigation unit is debatable. Just the screen size alone would make this unfeasible. And is there offline turn by turn voice navigation? I'm asking as I really do not know Blackberrys

Wallet? Use a skinny and carry only your credit card, petrol card if your company's issued you with one and a limited supply of cash on your person - you don't need a wallet the size of Paris Hilton's handbag. That means you still only effectively have two items. Your phone and a really compact camera that can go into your other pocket or into a belt holster.....

You seem to be conveniently missing the entire point. It is not the size of the items but the number of items. Even then I never said anything about a "Paris Hilton handbag sized" wallet at all.

Your phone and a really compact camera that can go into your other pocket or into a belt holster. If you're wearing a jacket, I should hope it's one that has an inner chest pocket - those are insanely convenient for carrying things like your phone or a camera. If it's summer and you're wearing shorts, get shorts that have a front thigh pocket if need be. Pockets exist for a reason.

...or just get a phone with a decent camera and slip that into you one pocket. Every solution under the sun offered here by you to carrying multiple devices but absolutely no concession that some phones can easily fulfill the role of a compact camera. Even your small wallet has to go somewhere, and your keys, and your cellphone and this compact camera you are going to lug around. You conveniently left out two of those. You could argue you only need your car key but I think you'll find most have house keys, various security lock keys and the like on there too. So suddenly you have bulging pockets and still need to find place for a camera...

What's most convenient? A camera that performs when you need it to and that controls how you need it to. If you wouldn't carry a compact on you at all times, you're not a person that needs a camera on their person at all times whether it's a phone camera, compact camera or DSLR - all you're interested in is being able to get general snapshots.

I think this is precisely what the OP was referring to. Or not? And your constant reference to controls on the camera seem ill placed too. When you are snapping a child you do not usually (unless you are a pro being paid to do a shoot) have the time to adjust settings and the like. You whip out the camera and snap the shot while it exists. You can't ask a 1 year old to hold that pose.



Point all along has been that your phone is with you already. If the chap is needing a new phone then why not just get one with a decent camera. This does not preclude him from EVER buying a seperate camera some time in the future. He can still do so.

 

[nanonyous]

Snipped up a wall of text. I don't get people like you at all. I grew up being willing to carry things while it seems you grew up averse to the idea of having to carry anything at all. I grew up with the idea that if you already have something that serves your purposes, there's little to no point in replacing it with something that costs a lot and barely gives you anything new that you need. I grew up with the idea that when I'm spending money on something I need, I don't go out and buy something partially-related because it gives me all these other features that have nothing to do with the primary purpose of what I'm getting, and that are things I already have, anyway.

Op has a capable phone, there is no reason besides gaining GPS to upgrade to a Nokia N8. *edit - as an example phone. right now it's the most capable phone when considering photos that I know of at its price point, hence it being the primary point of reference*

Nokia N8 costs R3k+
A decent compact costs R800+

The only thing that anyone would notice here is an extra tiny bit of weight and bulk on their person.

Oh, and one more item to carry. Because numbers matter and people should be able to go out in nothing but manties that can give them turn by turn navigation, send and receive messages and post a text transcription of their latest fart to twitter, while posting a photo of it to facebook and instagram for them. Oh, and make and receive calls.

I honestly can't believe there are people in the world that would rather buy a camera phone over a decent compact when they're wanting to take photos, purely because they hate carrying things. I've never encountered someone like you.

This does not preclude him from EVER buying a seperate camera some time in the future. He can still do so.

It does, because he's burned a bundle of cash on a phone that he didn't need to buy, but did because of its camera, only to now want to replace it with a camera that he could have bought to begin with.