For those who used to take a digital camera on holiday, do you now use your smartphone instead?

Forums › Digital Imaging › For those who used to take a digital camera on holiday, do you now use your smartphone instead?

heavenlywild

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#213942 20-Apr-2017 10:05

That is the question I am asking myself. I have always used a digital camera on holiday, because I was never confident that my smartphone could do the job properly.

What do you plan to do on your next holiday?

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#1767758 20-Apr-2017 10:16

I don't go on the trip without dslr. Smartphones are good, but not great. And no zoom.

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Jaxson

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#1767760 20-Apr-2017 10:18

I take three, but am debating adjusting this. The Cellphone (work iPhone 6) is still for happy snaps, usually WhatsApp'd to family members etc. The others are a DSLR and a GoPro.

Whilst I'm considering down sizing, a Cellphone is still not a viable alternative for 'real' photos for me yet. They've fine during the day, with good lighting, but still very poor when it gets dark. They can be cool for action shots, as you tend to have them on you and able to start up quickly, though I often find they've back focussed when using the burst mode for action.

So for me, I've been considering a high end travel compact to replace the DSLR. A large interchangeable lens camera will still provide the best results, but the reality is that technology has really jumped ahead in the last few years, and it's becoming a situation of diminishing returns when taking all the big gear.

The Cellphone has crushed the low end/entry level compact camera market, but travel wise there are cool alternatives now to taking a full blown camera kit with you.

timmmay

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#1767761 20-Apr-2017 10:19

Even new phones, like the Huawei P9 I have, fall short of cameras.

I used to take my DSLR on holiday, but these days with a young child there's no way I want the hassle. I use a Sony RX-100 v1 which is probably 5 years old, and fits in any pocket, including a front jeans pocket. The RX100 v4 is out, and there are similar cameras from other manufacturers. The RX100 has a 1" sensor and has a reasonable ISO3200, so it's much better in low light than a phone with its tiny sensor. It also produces RAW files, which are better for post processing.

KillerHulk

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#1767764 20-Apr-2017 10:23

Frankly speaking,

i have dslr cam. but now i use 6p & my wife's pixel xl.

image quality on nexus 6p and pixel xl is great

Plus, convenient to carry them.

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sxz

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#1767765 20-Apr-2017 10:23

More and more am just using my mobile (LG G5). Photos are great. But, when I do bust out my old DSLR I am always surprised about how great the photos can be.

So on a proper holiday, yes I still use the DSLR, but I don't know how much longer for, it's just so bulky!

heavenlywild

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#1767767 20-Apr-2017 10:24

With a toddler in tow I am really thinking about simply using my S7 Edge as the primary camera, because it is always in my hands and it easily fits into my pocket. With a camera, it just seems more difficult now with a young one.

Most likely I will still take my phone and camera. Perhaps using my phone during the day and the camera in more difficult lighting conditions?!

reven

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#1767772 20-Apr-2017 10:28

I would just take a smartphone, in fact I don't own any other type of camera these days. But I'm not a huge photo person, I'm just you average joe who takes photos of their kids and something interesting occasionally.

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nedkelly

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#1767774 20-Apr-2017 10:32

Depends where the trip is.

I went to Fiji a few years ago and took cellphone, 50x point and shoot and two water proof cameras

But when I go to Kawau or somewhere else on holiday/break/long weekend I take the same along with the cheaper of my two SLRs in case I want to do shots of the stars.

MikeB4

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#1767779 20-Apr-2017 10:39

Still take both there are things phone cameras cannot do. It depends what we are doing as to whether we take the DSLR out and about with us as they are cumbersome things.

davidcole

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#1767784 20-Apr-2017 10:50

Nope. Take both. With a larger phone now (128gb) and a camera connection kit, unload all the photos into my phone then use Plex camera upload to send them home + google photos

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nzkiwiman

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#1767785 20-Apr-2017 10:53

Digital Camera for me; mostly used when I go overseas

Dairyxox

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#1767799 20-Apr-2017 11:21

Smartphone instead. The convenience outweighs the drawbacks.

The only real deficiency for our basic use is the limited zoom / ability to clearly capture objects in the distance.

muppet

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#1767801 20-Apr-2017 11:24

Good luck taking any decent photos of something slightly far away with a Smartphone. Their lenses are still pretty hopeless.

If you only want photos of people then sure, but if you want landscape photos or buildings etc then I think you still need something with a proper lens, be it a DSLR or even a compact with a decent lens.

alasta

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#1767829 20-Apr-2017 11:54

My iPhone 6S is good enough for a lot of general holiday snaps, but would have been useless last weekend at the Omaka Airshow, and likewise when I'm taking photos at dog socialisation events.

lurker

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#1767830 20-Apr-2017 11:58

Smartphone is always with me for unplanned video/photos which are typically family moments that don't require any zoom.

But when JB Hifi sold the Nikon P900 for $649 I couldn't resist (83x optical zoom) so that comes with me on any planned outings.

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