10 Reasons Why I Shoot With an iPhone Instead of an Expensive Professional Camera

It’s no secret that the capabilities of smartphone cameras have long exceeded the needs of most users.

Nevertheless, one can often come across the opinion that in order to achieve maximum results in photography, it is necessary to acquire a professional camera, either a SLR or a mirrorless one.

But is it? I want to share with a large number of people why I prefer to shoot on the iPhone, and not on an expensive professional camera.

To start a little remark. I do not take into account those for whom photography is a profession. Of course, they have a mandatory need for consumption with a smartphone more serious. I propose to focus on those who like to take pictures, want to improve the quality of their pictures, maybe they are thinking about buying a camera. That is, most people. We all want to capture moments, flashes of imitation with friends and family.

I have been shooting with a SLR camera for almost 15 years. During this time, my photographs have been published in magazines, books, on various websites and pages, shown in competitions ranging from travel, cars and food to portraits and events.

For myself, I have long preferred to shoot on the iPhone, and in recent years, and for some client work, I have increasingly used a smartphone. It’s all about the constant development of the iPhone’s camera, software updates, improved processing software, and more.

Let’s look at a few reasons in more detail.

All photos in this article were taken and processed on iPhone 11 Pro Max and 6s Plus.

1. iPhone is always with me

Let’s start in the style of Captain Obvious. The iPhone is always at hand, which makes it more important than the camera.

Even in my bursts of incredible photography, I never carried a DSLR with me all the time. But the iPhone is right there. I saw a beautiful sunset, met a cute cat, ordered a cool dessert – in memory of the events of deleting pictures on my phone.

Many acquaintances who bought different types of cameras in their time complain with one voice that they have cameras at hand when they know for sure that they have to shoot something. A trip on vacation, an anniversary of your parents, a school holiday – you can prepare for this by taking a bag with a camera with you in advance. But life is full of surprises, including pleasant ones, so the iPhone has helped me more than once in such cases.

2. Multiple lenses changed almost at the same time

Buying a DSLR or mirrorless is one thing. But it also needs lenses, preferably several at once.

Let the majority of camera owners stop at zoom lenses (with a variable distance), but many have portraits, wide-angle and teleoptics in their collection. This produces a component mass, and also complicates the shooting process, since changing lenses on the go is an outdoor activity.

With the iPhone, everything is much easier. Each model comes with at least two cameras – full and front. Modern smartphones also have a wide-angle module and a telephoto lens with optical zoom. Add to this high light sensitivity, panoramic, macro, night shooting – a common set that covers a huge number of events.

All this is included in the kit, no additional devices or replacement of optics during shooting. Plus, if you want to expand the range of possibilities, there are always accessories, for example, the same removable lenses.

3. Best for travel

When traveling, you always need comfort in order not to notice anything from the purpose of the trip. As a person, I often climbed mountain peaks in an embrace with a huge number of kilograms of photographic equipment, I can say that I often climbed, whether collecting a SLR with me.

Wouldn’t it be better to go easy and take pictures on an iPhone? I am answering this question more and more.

Even if you don’t like to go hiking, carrying even a small camera with you during the day is not a very diverse recreation. Taking pictures on trips on the iPhone, I became less tired, thanks to emotions and impressions that began to be better absorbed. I also come back more during the day.

When we travel, we often try new things or do unusual things. For example, we swim, look at fish underwater, go skiing, try increased activity.

All of this used to require either a standalone action camera or camera accessories such as an underwater case. iPhone without any accessories is distinguished by the presence of most of the available activities.

4. Flexibility in framing

This paragraph partially continues the theme from the world. Thanks to its moisture resistance, iPhone can be used to create unusual shots.

For example, shooting out of the water, in heavy rain, with a maximum value or a high value. And this is only if you use your wit and your own hands. We add accessories of a telescopic monopod – new possibilities immediately open up.

By reducing the weight, the device can remain in an uncomfortable position when shooting, which again favorably distinguishes the iPhone from the background of the camera.

Ease of shooting allows you to shoot in a variety of conditions and get great results. For example, even in a strong wind, you can capture the panorama of the city in a few seconds. Having shot shots for a panorama with a camera in similar conditions, we can see inconsistencies during gluing, because of which a valuable shot will be lost.

5. Minimum and maximum settings in one

Cameras usually have a very large number of settings. Of course, this has its advantages, but it often confuses novice users. Of course, there is also an auto mode that controls the shooting of the payoff.

However, some modes do not yet know how to accurately determine any scenarios of events in the frame, so you need to study the taste of the camera yourself, or put up with the fact that some frames are not successful.

With the iPhone, it’s different. Here you can simply click on the shooting setting, and the software itself will figure out how to take a picture.

If you wish, you can explore further and further in various modes. We try portrait, night shooting, shoot in RAW or use spot shooting. If the standard settings are not enough, you can set up external programs that allow you to set the shooting to your taste.

6. Processing is faster and easier

Many do not process photos and have every right to do so. But this is not the fastest and easiest process.

Photos must first be transferred from the camera to your phone or computer. Then select, throw in the editor, process and save. After that, you need to transfer them again so that you can lay out the network. If you use applications to transfer from camera to phone, it still turns out to be long and complicated, since most applications are still highly optimized.

Photos taken on the iPhone are immediately stored in the device’s memory. They are easy to select, note, put in an album.

For iOS, there are a huge number of paid and free applications that allow you to quickly and efficiently download photos. Many of them have been held over the years, but this has happened a few times, most often.

Snapseed: free application from the all-in-one series. Filters, color correction, skin retouching, resizing, artistic effects and more.

Lightroom: professional processing directly on the phone. Creating the possibility of filter presets for color correction or importing presets from professionals, masks, effects, resizing. Plus a huge number of tools for shooting.

Tezza: filters and collages. A constantly updated collection of beautiful flowers with flexible settings. Literally in one click, successfully completed like your favorite bloggers. You can add effects and create collages.

7. Pictures immediately per frame

If you shoot on the iPhone, then we immediately see the result. Therefore, we can make sure that the frame turned out. The smartphone screen allows you to quickly zoom in to see the details. This adds confidence and appreciation for stress during filming.

Pictures can be immediately posted online or sent to loved ones. Whether you’re creating content for a client or for your blog, you can quickly select and edit photos.

A huge plus is that you don’t even need to specially allocate time for this, because you can do it while waiting for an order in a cafe or driving home. All this not only saves time, but allows you to publish content and complete projects faster. There is time for rest or other activities.

8. No memory cards or batteries needed

Memory cards and batteries, though not by much, still add weight and also cost money. In addition, they can easily be lost at home, in a hotel, at work, in a car, and even lost.

Most photographers have lost pictures at least once in their lives, whether due to fear of a card, accidental formatting, or simply through carelessness. Removable batteries can also cause trouble, for example due to aviation security regulations. Well, losing a battery somewhere or losing it also happens all the time.

Saved on the iPhone, you just need to keep track of the remaining charge and memory. In most cases, both are enough for any shooting, although this depends on the smartphone model.

But even if you encounter a problem, it is easy to solve. Out of memory – quickly delete unnecessary applications and old pictures or upload them to the cloud. The battery is running low – you can always charge your phone on the go or take a short break. Even if you don’t have your charger at hand, in almost any cafe, hotel or office there is a kind person who will stretch out the help wire.

9. Didn’t attract attention

No, this is not for some dark dealings. Sometimes permission is required to shoot with a professional camera. In particular, if there is any suspicion

You can shoot on the iPhone wherever it is absolutely allowed. If you haven’t noticed they are being photographed.

Returning to the topic of travel, not everywhere you can feel like with an expensive camera in your hands. To capture interesting moments, and also not to draw too much attention to yourself – for this it is better to shoot on the phone.

10. Quality at the level

Last, but perhaps the most important factor is the quality of sensations. After all, in the end, all the advantages of the iPhone over a SLR or mirrorless camera do not matter if the quality of smartphone photos is noticeably inferior. But it’s not.

For years, the iPhone has been capable of capturing incredible image quality that rivals, and sometimes even surpasses, many camera models.

As always, the question is tangible. Someone can achieve incredible heights in mobile photography, and someone will not be able to take a great shot on an expensive DSLR. Of course, you need practice, desire, knowledge of the basics of photography and possession of third-party programs that can take quality to a new level.

PS I wish mobile photography was developed at the current level when I bought my first camera.

What are your stories about this? The opinion of photographers is especially interesting. Do you still use cameras or do you often use your iPhone too?