I Ditched My Camera for My Smartphone as a Pro Photographer: Here’s How It Went

Key Takeaways

  • Smartphone pictures can produce good images, however has limitations in comparison with devoted cameras.
  • Utilizing a smartphone could make you extra inventive and take extra on a regular basis images.
  • Smartphones are nice for studying pictures fundamentals earlier than investing in a digital camera.



As somebody who does skilled pictures and likewise takes footage as their principal interest, I used to be compelled to undertake a daring experiment: ditch my digital camera and simply use my smartphone. After testing this method for per week, this is what I realized.


1. You Do not Want a Correct Digicam to Take Good Photographs

Photo of flowers in a city courtyard
Danny Maiorca/MUO

I’ve stated for years that gear does and does not matter, and I stand by that opinion after working this experiment. It is easy to get caught up in advertising and marketing campaigns and hearken to producers say that you just want one thing. The reality is that whereas cameras may also help you improve your pictures, you do not want one to take good images.


After I let go of my digital camera for per week, I used to be initially frightened about not having the ability to seize pictures that I preferred. However pictures is primarily in regards to the story you inform, and you are able to do that with a smartphone. I additionally discovered it fairly straightforward to regulate the colours and such utilizing Apple Photographs, and I additionally assume that I do know extra about what does and does not work now.

I truly took images solely on my smartphone for 2 years earlier than deciding to get my first digital camera. When you’re nonetheless determining whether or not you wish to take pictures extra significantly, I recommend doing the identical. And in the event you’re only a informal photographer, you will get away with solely utilizing your smartphone.

2. However Smartphone Cameras Nonetheless Have Their Limitations

The opposite facet of the coin right here is that smartphone cameras are nonetheless restricted. I do not assume I would ever use a smartphone for skilled work, and I additionally did not like utilizing my smartphone for capturing objects farther away. For instance, the picture high quality is—in my view—not nearly as good on a smartphone when photographing cityscapes or landscapes.


these are the features that I think smartphones need to compete with cameras. The zoom high quality on smartphones is nowhere close to the usual I am used to on my mirrorless digital camera, and even when I take advantage of smartphone digital camera apps, they do not give me wherever close to the pliability of a purpose-built digital camera.

Each gadget has its limitations, and this additionally goes for cameras. I am positive that I might want to improve my gadget sooner or later; your smartphone is usually a stepping stone in the event you later wish to additional pursue your pictures.

3. Utilizing My Smartphone Pressured Me to Get Extra Artistic

Photo of house roofs in a city
Danny Maiorca/MUO


Regardless of the drawbacks of utilizing a smartphone digital camera, I’ve to say one factor for positive: it compelled me to get extra inventive, and I preferred the problem. After I use prime lenses and smartphone cameras, I usually discover that the restricted flexibility from not having the ability to zoom truly brings out extra of my inventive facet. That was additionally the case with this experiment.

As a result of I needed to assume extra rigorously about taking good footage, my smartphone compelled me to assume outdoors the field and search fascinating angles. I discovered myself observing my environment extra for various objects that I might leverage, which finally led to extra fascinating pictures.

If you would like some concepts to begin with, try this information on getting the perfect composition in your smartphone photos.

4. Organizing Your Photographs Is Even Extra Necessary on a Smartphone


I all the time maintain my digital camera footage organized in several recordsdata and folders, however admittedly I typically slack a bit on this space. Nonetheless, when taking footage on my smartphone, I shortly realized the significance of holding my digital camera roll in form. Your smartphone digital camera roll options screenshots, movies, and numerous different issues, and never organizing them will shortly turn out to be complicated.

To cease my digital camera roll from turning into cluttered, I made an effort to delete footage that I knew would by no means be put to make use of. You are able to do this by first marking the photographs you want as favorites; as soon as you’ve got carried out that, undergo the others and determine whether or not they’re value utilizing or not. If they are not, there isn’t any level in holding them.

5. I Took Extra “On a regular basis” Photographs With My Smartphone

Photo of a cityscape along a lake
Danny Maiorca/MUO


One other huge perception I bought when ditching my digital camera for my smartphone is that I took extra “on a regular basis” footage. For instance, I used to be extra prone to seize pictures of issues that I assumed regarded good at dwelling. That is primarily as a result of taking footage with a smartphone requires much less effort than taking my digital camera out of my bag, turning my gadget on, altering the aperture, after which getting the shot.

Since my temper is all the time higher after I take images, this was a really good byproduct of solely utilizing my smartphone. It is also one thing that I wish to proceed, despite the fact that I now use my correct digital camera once more. When you’re pondering of doing the identical, just be sure you tweak some essential settings before posting your smartphone photos.


6. Smartphones Are Wonderful for Studying the Fundamentals of Images

As I discussed earlier, I used a smartphone to study the fundamentals of pictures for 2 years earlier than getting my digital camera. One might argue that I’d have realized extra if I would purchased the digital camera first, however I do not assume that is true. Why? As a result of if you cannot use a instrument, it is finally ineffective—whatever the specs.

When you’re completely new to pictures, I recommend utilizing your smartphone to study fundamentals like composition and lighting. When you’re comfy with the core elements of taking a great image, you’ll be able to improve to a digital camera. It was good to have this reminder when ditching my digital camera for my smartphone.

7. You Care Much less Concerning the Technical Features When Taking Photographs With a Smartphone

Image of a Cityscape Along a Lake
Danny Maiorca/MUO


I’ve made a acutely aware effort to care much less in regards to the technical facets of pictures over the previous years as a result of it felt like I used to be stifling my creativity. In my view, you turn out to be an knowledgeable at one thing if you study the foundations after which know the way to break them. Whenever you take a look at a fantastic picture, you in all probability do not assume an excessive amount of in regards to the aperture it was taken at or what ISO the digital camera has.

After I took images with simply my smartphone, I cared lots much less in regards to the technical facets than on my digital camera. The primary purpose behind this was that I had much less management, so I targeted extra on what to {photograph} as a substitute. My key takeaway right here could be this: study the technical facets, however when you’re skilled sufficient, use them as a tenet and never an absolute rule.

I Will not Ditch My Digicam Without end, however I Realized a Lot From This Experiment

Having per week away from my digital camera and focusing simply on smartphone pictures was fairly good, and it was good to get again in contact with the fundamentals of pictures. I would not use my smartphone for skilled pictures, and to be sincere, I used to be fairly comfortable to begin utilizing my mirrorless digital camera once more. Nonetheless, it made me understand that it is not important to have your digital camera if you wish to take good images.


I’d truly recommend utilizing a smartphone to study the fundamentals of pictures earlier than upgrading to a digital camera later. Nonetheless, you will additionally want to know the restrictions of your gadget.

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