Cameras on mobile phones these days are amazing! I think we all know that by now. They go everywhere with us, and fit in the convenience of our pockets. I personally love having a great camera with me everywhere I go and it has become an invaluable tool in capturing personal memories, trips, and ideas.
However, when it comes to taking “real” photographs, I always find myself reaching for my DSLR’s or state of the art Sony camera systems. Compared to a phone, these professional systems are big, bulky, and less convenient for sure, but their picture quality is unmatched. That said, there has been this nagging question in my mind regarding the possibility of my mobile phone being able to actually capture professional level photographs. I have been tinkering with this thought for awhile now, but decided it was finally time to try it out for real. No other cameras, no other options, no backups, it was do or die.
In the late summer I headed into the remote Wind River mountain range with my brother and our sons for a week of backpacking, fly fishing, and photographing. We do this every year, and one of my professional cameras always find its way into my pack. This year was going to be different as I vowed only my iPhone X would be coming along on the trip. So off we went into the solitude of wilderness for 6 days and some 50 miles of trail.
We encountered all kinds of light on this trip. From the piercing blue cloudless skies, to the magical high mountain storms. And the scenery did not disappoint, it never does. Using only my iPhone X, I did my best to capture as I normally would, and the results? Stunning! Okay, I know it is just a phone, but the picture quality was absolutely amazing.
After 6 days of exclusive shooting on my iPhone, I walked out of the wilderness with a more confident answer to that nagging question: Is a mobile phone camera better than or equal to my professional DSLR’s or Mirrorless systems? Not a chance. Is a mobile phone camera capable of creating professional grade photographs? If you are shooting ultimately for sharing on social media, web or digital presentations, then the images created using these newest phones (iPhone X and Xs) are absolutely professional enough for such platforms.
That said, there are a few things during the capture process that will make your images, and the overall quality exponentially better. Ditch the native camera app and use an app that allows you to actually control your mobile camera. Items such as RAW capture, white balance, shutter speed, aperture, and the most important for mobile, ISO. I have found that for my particular shooting style and workflow, the Lightroom CC camera app is my go to favorite.
My iPhone X (now Xs) is a vital piece of professional photography equipment that I use nearly everyday, and it gets to go everywhere with me, and that alone is amazing. However, my professional DSLR and Mirrorless systems are what I will continue reaching for when it really counts!
If you would be interested in learning my mobile techniques and workflow, let me know in a comment below.
