Hi all, I'm noob in camera, so please pardon my ignorance.

I'd like to ask if anyone here using smart phone camera while travelling? I know that a proper camera is definitely better but if budget is an issue, should I buy a good smart phone (with a very good camera), or keep my old phone (Nokia 5800) and invest the money to get a decent cam like Canon S100 or Lumix LX5.

The all important question is: with the recent progress in smart phones, can it replace a mid-range camera mentioned above?

short answer no
basic thing like optical zoom also dont have how to replace a camera?
then wide angle also dont have how to take scenery?
limited ISO range, flash range, usually plastic optics...
still a far far way to go

Contrary to the poster above, I beg to differ. Comparison between smartphones and compacts(P&S) are still possible. Of course, larger cameras with interchangeable lenses and DLSRs are in a market of their own.

It will depend on your priorities whether a good camera phone will be able to replace a decent mid-range point-n-shoot such as the Canon S100 or Panasonic Lumix LX5. The short answer is yes. The Nokia Pureview 808 is capable of producing an image quality that is comparable or even superior than the S100 or LX5 in all shooting conditions. A comparison between the Lumix LX5 and Pureview 808 has been carried out in a review and the latter has come up favourable in some aspects, pulling away in low light shots with lower levels of noise and better detail.

In a recent comparison between the Lumia 920, a lesser smartphone and the Canon S100 shows that there is not much separating between the two in image quality.

Having that said, the quality of the built-in camera in smartphones is not the main feature or priority for everyone. The operating system, ease of use in text messaging and web browsing, other features such as larger touch screen for easier text messaging or higher resolution screen for richer colours and clarity when viewing photos or watching videos etc. All these features will be equally as important in the selection of a smartphone apart from the quality of the camera. As such, some compromises will have to be made, and that will be dependent on which feature is more important to the user.

At this current point of time, the Nokia Pureview 808 is the best camera phone in terms of image quality(some may not consider it smartphone due to the Symbian OS). If camera performance is top priority, the 808 has no rival in the camera phone market. The main downsides are the Symbian operating system and hump at the back of the phone which houses the largish 1/1.2" sensor which turn most people away apart from the small 4" low resolution screen. Since you are currently using a Nokia 5800, all these aspects may not be much of a concern to you.

Other disadvantages of using a phone as a camera(apart from image quality) is in the ergonomics in the grip and lack of manual controls, which may or may not be an issue to the user. The advantages of using a phone as a camera is the portability aspects of it and the fact that a phone will always be with the user all the time. The same can't be said with a compact P&S camera although some folks may carry them all the time too.

The Pureview 808 has been compared to mid-level cameras up to the top compacts, the Sony RX100, and the results have shown that the 808 is comparable or better than most mid-range P&S cameras curently available in the market but inferior to the RX100. The differences may not be as large as one would have expected at times, as the built-in camera in the 808 is quite excellent on its own.

There are other smartphones that will produce decent quality images in good light, though they will usually fail in low light producing a lot of noise, and they fail quite spectacularly in those conditions. The differences in IQ between good smartphones in good light are usually not too significant. The difference in image quality between these smartphones will be larger in low light, and this is where the better phones will produce better results, shots which show better clarity and detail with lower noise.

If you can still live with the 5800, you may want to consider a quality compact camera to complement the it. If you want to upgrade your phone to avoid carrying an additional device in a compact P&S camera, killing 2 birds with one stone, there are few models that will fit the criteria. As said earlier, it will depend on what you want in a smartphone and how much of an "improved" picture quality you are expecting from the shots you will be taking during trips or vacations.

In my view, if you can live with the Symbian OS and are considering mid-level cameras such as the S100 or LX5, it may be worthwhile to put the Pureview 808 in your shortlist. Image-quality wise it may be nit-picking between all these devices. If you want even better picture quality(particularly in low light), it will be the Sony RX100. If you prefer to have an additional device, a dedicated P&S that has more manual controls and other useful features of a compact, then consider a point-and-shoot.

short of budget for a camera? get Nikon V1 for RM11XX with basic multipurpose 3X zoom lens (but need to buy the highly useful flash separately) or J1 with slightly cheaper price (built in flash not very useful though).

still want a camera phone? the higher end phones are enough to satisfy most casual shooter. SIII, iPhone 5, Galaxy N1/N2, etc etc. i don't recommend Nokia 808, i have it and i can tell you the white balance sucks big time particularly indoor shots, on top of it, symbian isn't the most popular OS.

PS: symbian is smartphone OS, just maybe not as smart as other OS right now.

my opinion would be to upgrade your current phone to a good smart phone with a more than decent camera and you're good to go ! when you have the budget again in the future then can buy another camera for travelling. Mostly the smart phone is sufficient for taking nice pics during travelling.

Smart phones, at least the better ones can match low end point and shoot.
However they still fall pretty short from achieving S100 or LX5 standard which have significantly better optics and sensor.
An iphone 5 camera isn't as good as the S100 especially in dark conditions. Having said so, in proper lighting the difference in images isn't very prominent.
The camera on the iphone 5 is one of the best smartphone camera currently bar the 808. So if that can't match the S100, the rest wouldn't do much better at best.

Note that while the 808 may be able to match the S100 in some aspects, IMO as a phone it's more of a brick when compared to phones like the iphone5 or S3.

This post has been edited by LegendLee: Nov 20 2012, 06:32 PM

For sure camera is better than phone cam. But imho smart phone cam is good enough. I'm quite satisfied with SGS 2 pictures.

Me too have Nokia 5800, my experience of using using it: if bright light, the pictures are quite good, but not nice when light is low, worst at night scenes. also, phones don't have optical zoom and limited angle. if my travels are most day time, no problem for me :-)


This post has been edited by chopin: Nov 20 2012, 11:20 PM

Depends on how great photo quality you want. Smart Phone camera also can get decent photo base on situation. Smart Phone camera had more limit compare with camera.

In short answer - get at least a decent P&S Camera. (At least a mirrorless interchangeable camera preferable)

Higher range smart phone (also need around RM 1.9k to RM 2k) can get decent photo in bright area, ok in bright indoor. That it. Not really workable in low light situation - a lot of noise, not really for moving object and ....... most importantly no optical zoom. Digital zoom is a way to no, it can snap something you see in not details but the output is too bad for keeping in my opinion.

In all, it all depends, some people don't care on quality, a lot my colleagues never care and they can't even differentiate quality in between DVD & Blu-ray, for them all is same. They always told me as long can see is enough.

This post has been edited by Andrewtst: Nov 21 2012, 09:51 AM

ive been using my bold3 as camera for about 6 month because i left my camera at sabah.for me,depends on the person itself.
like me,i take picture using my bold 3 for my 'memories'.doesnt need a high quality as long i know there's story in my picture.

Simple

Phone = call
DSLR = Pictures and videos

Answer: Get a camera for ur trip.. u wont regret.

---

Added on November 23, 2012, 1:38 amAgree with you, some ppl just want superb ALL IN ONE phone...... take picture, games, call, SMS, videos, internet, etc....

This post has been edited by xjia: Nov 23 2012, 01:38 AM

best post so far.

it all depends on what quality of photos you want.

I prefer to use compact camera, or better yet the camera on my phone when it comes to travelling. It's a lot more convenient. If you're talking about travelling and hoping to get great photos then that's a different story all together, in that situation you'll put up with the weight and hassle to be rewarded by the results.

As you can see, either way it's all good.

Put it simple

- If you're travelling just to enjoy the journey and all, then carrying a bunch of camera stuff could just be a hassle, a burden to an otherwise enjoyable trip.
- If you're travelling to take photos, then going with just a phone camera would probably leave you with a whole lot of regret.



There's also a middle point between this, they are the ILC (eg Pentax K-01) and the high-end compacts (eg Canon Powershot G1 X).

good information to me
im make this as my future reference

thanks bro...

+1

My problem like TS is that even if I have DSLR, I am quite lazy to carry it around. Most of the time I end up using my camera. I have full confidence in SE cybershot range. Here are example photos I took with SE C510 (before I got a SGS2)



Compared to the SGS2, I say the SE cybershot better because it has a dedicated camera button- more stability. In fact, I was thinking of upgrading to a newer dSLR, but then the only features from dSLR which matter to me are:
low light performance-look at the picture.
speed
Optical zoom
IS-though some phones already have IS.

Also-if someone can tell me where to find smartphone camera app which can control shutter speed/aperture please let me know. I think can cure the low light performance if longer exposure.


I say in terms of performance, the C510 3.2 mp > SGS2. You don't need a lot of MP, only a steady hand.

No way a camera can be replace by a smart phone FOR NOW. We don't know about the future thing. But the zoom, picture clearness and ISO, you still need a camera.
A smart phone's camera can help you to take a picture, but not good/ excellent pictures. Thats it.

Not all people will like to have a dSLR as the weight and size of 1 would be a turn off for some. I agree that point and shoot do not have the capabilities to do all what dSLR can, but not all needs or understand them. There are people who bought a dSLR end up keeping them at home after a while and use a compact/mirrorless camera instead. Those high end compacts do give a pretty darn good picture output.

So, it boils down to your priority. If you're onto a photographic journey, learning the ins and outs of photography, then a dSLR would probably a good choice. If you just wanted a better image quality, I would say a high end compact or a mirrorless camera will do.

As per Chase Jarvis quote, "The best camera is the one that's with you". A big powerful awesome dSLR won't make it if you find it a hassle to bring out, keeping them at home instead.

And for phone cameras for travelling, under good lights, can give some decent output. Also, keep a power bank handy in hand

This post has been edited by zeipher: Mar 6 2013, 07:26 PM

This one true. Myself also like this. Also, see fb also like this. Profile pic with dslr, but then upload image all sent with sgs3

You cannot be more wrong. DSLR is not the be all and end all for everyone. You also have to consider portability and usability for many. I certainly don't want to carry around a big camera with me everywhere. At first sure it feels like an event to shoot but after a while, you just want to enjoy your holiday and travel. Most will find it a hassle to carry around and at the end of the day just flash up their smartphones to take photos.

Which comes to my next point - technological advancement. Don't underestimate the capability of camera sensors ins smarphone nowadays. Sure it cannot beat a high end camera mainly due to its small sensor but for the most part, the quality is certainly more than acceptable. Infact I'd say in the hands of very good photgraphers shooting in daylight, the quality of the pictures taken will be comparable to shooting with a DSLR.

And at the end of the day the camera that matters most is the one that you have with you everyday. No point having an expensive camera but 8 out of 10 times the camera stays at home. But if anyone were to invest in a point & shoot, I'd say buy a Sony RX100 or a Fuji X20, absolutely amazing cameras, or those M43 cameras such as an Olympus Pen EP-3 or Panasonic GF5. I have Sony NEX 3N and while it take great photos due to its huge sensor size but since the sensor size is hug, the lens is huge as well, which makes it not that portable. I'm currently using a Fuji X100 and cannot be more than happy with it, a great great camera.

the best camera is the camera that is always with you.


now choose.

This post has been edited by whyteaz: Mar 7 2013, 12:06 PM

My Nokia 920 is very satisfactory as the camera that is always with me. And the OS is Windows which is extremely fast but not much apps yet. Which is fine for me as I'm not into having 10,000 apps and games on my phone.

The camera in this phone are:
-Great low light pictures with no flash.
-Great close up photos, especially food.
-Good photos of people like the same quality of a PnS camera.
-Decent landscape
-Fast focus
-Got quick fix edit for the dark face bright background situation.
-Full HD 1080 video with LED light that can do video even at dark night clubs.

Honestly if you're not going to learn the art of photography a good phone camera has everything you need. Its a decent camera that is always in your pocket that takes photos that can be nicely put onto facebook.

The phone is always with you so having a picture is better than no picture.

I have a Canon S95 and a lot of the times I don't bring it out. Compact camera doesn't mean its always in your pocket.