As the famous Chase Jarvis quote goes, “The best camera is the one that’s with you,” and for most people these days, that’s likely to be the smartphone in your pocket. So unless you are carrying your bulky DSLR or mirrorless camera equipment around with you, a smartphone is often the next best thing.
Smartphone cameras have come on leaps and bounds over the past few years. Even mid-range models now feature powerful devices and many of us may not be aware of the sophisticated technology that now makes them comparable in quality to the compact digital cameras of a few years ago.
“Mobile phone photography is a great way to capture memories and moments on the go,” says professional smartphone photographer Himanshu Roy. “Smartphone cameras have made great strides recently. Many of them are capable of taking highquality photos to rival those of traditional cameras.”
Competition between manufacturers means that engineers are constantly working to improve camera quality. One advantage smartphones have over cameras is their processing abilities, meaning they can adapt technologies such as AI, allowing smartphone cameras to raise their performance in areas such as sharpness and white balance.
But while the technology is impressive, their lightweight, compact nature means they are limited by the need to avoid bulky components. However, with the right technical knowledge, these limitations can be overcome. Over the next few pages, we’ll look at the technology behind smartphone cameras and how you can make the most out of yours.
Discover pocket-sized technology
Learn what's important in a smartphone camera to achieve maximum quality
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Apply a stylised detail enhancement
Give your photos a movie aesthetic with the bleach bypass effect in Photoshop
Sony FE 16-25mm f/2.8 G
Matthew Richards investigates this lightweight wide-angle zoom lens with a unique focal range
Nikon Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR
This lens offers everything from wide-angle to super-telephoto reach, says Matthew Richards
Novo Helix T50 Carbon Fibre Tripod
Adam Waring discovers an unfeasibly small yet feature-packed travel tripod
OM System OM-1 Mark II
James Artaius finds the OM-1 Mark II has features that you wish your camera did
How do I get into events photography?
Jules Renahan, owner of Jules Renahan Photography and co-founder of PhotoHound, tells us what to expect when photographing events
Career advice
This issue, Claire Gillo looks at the logistics behind running a photography business and talks to an events photographer
My dream photo kit
With help from used camera gear specialists MPB, we've created an expert photographer's fantasy camera kitbag
Create wet plate portraits
Recreate the collodion process for enhanced detail
Fine-tune colour and saturation
Use Lightroom's extensive controls to enhance individual colours in your shots