Do you think smartphones will eventually replace DSLR cameras?

[rpm]

Do you think the advances in camera technology will eventually mean that smartphones will replace specialized stand-alone cameras like DSLRs?

 

[Phil Cooper]

They may well do for casual, holiday-type snapshots.

But their small lenses do restrict their use for some features, and for areas where really decent zooming is need - like game viewing - the SLR is head and shoulders higher.

 

[ngwe23]

Do you think the laws of physics will ever be broken?

 

[bwana]

For the happy snapper? Sure, they probably already have. For me though… nope.

Other camera types such as mirrorless may well replace dslr bodies, but not cellphones. Cellphones will be replaced by something else before that happens.

 

[TheoJ1]

They are very handy for happy snaps and even better. For serious high quality imagery the slr will remain preferred for a long time. The control offered fro exposure preference, point of focus and use of external lighting cannot be done with phones.

 

[konfab]

Not going to happen.

1) People like putting different lenses on their cameras.
2) Image sensors in DSLRs are too expensive to justify their installation in a phone.
3) They don't have enough space to install cooling fans to increase the signal to noise ratio for long exposures.


Cooled 550D

 

[BTTB]

For the casual snapper, yes. Its just easier.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

For the casual snapper, yes. Its just easier.

But that was always the case, except back then your casual snapper used to use a P&S. SLRs aren't going anywhere soon...

 

[mikehome]

the ease of use of a DSLR and the range of ability to focus, zoom, and much much more will never be as easy to use on a cell phone. Nope there is simply no comparison when trying to take professional or semi professional photos.

 

[bwana]

Not going to happen.

1) People like putting different lenses on their cameras.
2) Image sensors in DSLRs are too expensive to justify their installation in a phone.
3) They don't have enough space to install cooling fans to increase the signal to noise ratio for long exposures.

They're also too big…

 

[RossiRPI]

Yes and no, as many people have mentioned for casual users a smartphone might as well replace a DSLR. I mean my DSLR has not been taken out of its bag in over a year because my galaxy s6 takes great pics and the DSLR is just such a mission to take out.
On the other hand a DSLR is hard to beat for professional use. I mean I wouldn't pay a photographer to come and take pictures with a smart phone. I'd rather rely on the people at the event to take pics with their smart phones and then share them with the people who were at the event.

 

[creeper]

Casual snaps and capture the moments, smartphones are good enough. Taking photos where low light and good focus acquisition is needed, DSLRs are still the best.

 

[Alain Craven]

Everything will converge. "Phones" are not just "phones" anymore - and this will continue. We will eventually have multifunction devices that will at times (probably most often) contain some or other means to make a voice call to someone (GSM/VoIP whatever)

 

[Rouxenator]

If you look at how much phone cameras improved from the 0.1mp 352x288 it started out with then I'd say it will keep on eating away it the dedicated camera market.

It will take very long (if ever) to replace medium and large format cameras, but the market will become more of niche.

 

[Skerminkel]

If you look at how much phone cameras improved from the 0.1mp 352x288 it started out with then I'd say it will keep on eating away it the dedicated camera market.

...

Higher specs do not necessarily mean better quality pictures.

 

[Rouxenator]

Higher specs do not necessarily mean better quality pictures.

No, it does not. But the specs have increased as have the image quality. So it is not a direct ratio, but still.

 

[adsl3g]

Not until I can get a 40x optical zoom in a camera phone.

 

[AstroTurf]

I said no not because of SLR vs Phone but because I think that by the time technology gets to the point where tiny devices can do what SLR's do we will no longer be using smartphones.

 

[panayi]

Cellphone cameras offer no comparison in the feel and depth of a dslr camera ..... that being said, the best camera is the one you have with you, so cellphones have the lead there.
It's not OR, it's AND......

 

[R1ch4rd]

There are just some things where a dedicated device wins. Photography I believe is one of them.

DSLRs are built to make manual manipulation of your shot easy for those who know how. Auto-focus and a high Megapixel count are no match.

At the very least, smart phones will never win for professionals and enthusiastic hobbyists.