A Monkey's Revenge - My Blog

The best camera

The best camera is the one you have with you. These days that usually means a phone with a built in camera-in my case an iPhone 4s. This was taken today during a coffee break after shopping in Kettering town centre. I liked the way the reindeer stickers on the window seemed to be floating in the air. Problem is that I find my iPhone's camera very difficult to use for street photography and capturing a moment. I hate the lack of a viewfinder in any camera. Also the shutter lag and the incredible 'pull' on the volume shutter button. Lack of control on focus and shutter speed-etc,etc.

There are good things about the smartphone camera though. Number one of these is they are so ubiquitous that nobody takes the slightest interest in what you are doing. The quality is good enough for web use. If you are into filters there are tons of them to give 'professional effects'. We pro's will probably turn our noses up at these filters, but if it helps people enjoy photography then that can only be good news in my book.

Many newspapers are sending reporters out with smartphones for video reporting and even to take stills pics. That is always going to be second best to doing the job properly with a trained pictures person and decent gear, but in these 'good enough' times I don't see anything changing soon on that front unfortunately. 

It often amazes me when I see other photographers work on smartphone cameras. It can be very accomplished unlike my humble effort above.I have no idea how they do it with so many limitations. Perhaps I don't use mine enough to be familiar with work-arounds. I think I'll wait until somebody makes a real pocket sized digi camera that produces lovely files and has a great viewfinder. Hopefully before I retire ;-)

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