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Ricoh spins off its 360-degree camera division, announces new ultra-compact selfie camera

Ricoh has announced it’s spinning off its 360-degree camera division into a new startup called Vecnos and simultaneously releasing the first product from the Ricoh-backed venture.

The Vecnos venture started back in 2018 when Ricoh decided, as part of its new business development initiatives, to create a team tasked with creating ‘specialized cameras for a new generation of consumers.’ This new team, led by Shu Ubukata (now Vecnos’ CEO), proved entrepreneurial enough to Ricoh that it decided to turn it into a separate startup, with Ricoh as the investor.

There’s not much information about Vecnos, aside from a bare Twitter account, but to drum up some interest, Vecnos has announced its first product, a 360-degree ultra-compact camera that’s designed to ‘reinvent the selfie for social media natives.’

Specifications are scarce for the prototype camera, but Vecnos does say it will feature a proprietary four-lens optical system with a single lens on the top and three lenses around the perimeter of the wand-like device. Vecnos says the camera will work with an upcoming mobile app that will allow users to ‘users can easily enhance and share their images and videos on social media platforms.’

Based on the above promotional video, the camera appears to function almost identical to the Ricoh Theta cameras, with the ability to capture 360-degree photos and video and recompose the content as you see fit using the accompanying mobile app. The device itself features a power button, a shutter button, a dedicated button for switching between still and video mode and a what appears to be a pair of holes for an internal stereo microphone.

No pricing information has been shared, but Vecnos says the camera will be available in 2020.

Ricoh spins out Vecnos to focus on consumer 360-degree camera segment

First product aims to reinvent the selfie for social media natives

MARCH 10, 2020, YOKOHAMA, Japan – Vecnos Inc., the visual revolution company, today unveiled its vision to be a leader in the consumer 360-degree camera market and announced its first product, an ultra-compact camera that aims to reinvent the selfie for social media natives. Vecnos is a new startup venture spun out of and funded by Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Vecnos was founded by the core team that designed and launched the pioneering Ricoh Theta 360 camera in 2013. At Vecnos, the team—led by CEO Shu Ubukata—will leverage its expertise in optical and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to develop new approaches to 360-degree and other specialized cameras, software and apps with a goal of making advanced imaging accessible to and enjoyable for broad consumer audiences.

“Enabled by advances in technology, combined with new social networking platforms, we are building a new generation of cameras, with our first product designed to reinvent the selfie and be used by a younger consumer,” explained Ubukata. “Our objectives are to combine ease of use with advanced capabilities for shooting, enhancing and sharing images, in beautiful and elegantly designed products that people will want to use. We aim to inspire a new generation.”

Vecnos’ first product will be a 360-degree camera that achieves new levels of miniaturization in a sleek and sophisticated design. A proprietary four-lens optical system, with three lenses on the side, and one on the top, enables the camera to be ultra-slim and pen-shaped. Using the Vecnos app, users can easily enhance and share their images and videos on social media platforms. The 360-degree camera and app will be available in 2020.

Emerging from Ricoh’s new business development initiatives, Vecnos was founded on the principles of open innovation and leveraging third-party knowledge, said Ricoh Company, Ltd. President and CEO Yoshinori “Jake” Yamashita. He explained: “Ricoh has always been committed to supporting innovation in visual communications. As part of our new business development initiatives, a team led by Shu Ubukata was formed in 2018 to create specialized cameras for a new generation of consumers. Ultimately, we all realized that it made sense for this highly entrepreneurial team to be spun out into its own venture. And with that, Vecnos was born. Ricoh is proud to be the lead investor in a young company with a Ricoh pedigree and a vision to build revolutionary products.”

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

March 10, 2020
5 Reasons You Should Use Mirrorless in 2020
The post 5 Reasons You Should Use Mirrorless in 2020 appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

Are you struggling to decide between DSLRs and mirrorless cameras? Do you want to know which is best for your needs? You’ve come to the right place. In this article, I’m going to give you the main reasons you may want to use mirrorless in 2020 over DSLRs.

And, if at the end of this article, some (or all) of those reasons speak to you, then mirrorless is probably the way to go.

If not, then I recommend you stick with DSLRs, because they really can produce amazing images.

Make sense?

Let’s get started.

1. Mirrorless cameras offer a live exposure preview

For me, this is the absolute best thing about mirrorless photography and the main reason why I bought my first mirrorless body.

You see, on a DSLR, when you look through the viewfinder, you see the actual scene before you (through your camera’s lens).

But if you look through the electronic viewfinder of mirrorless cameras, then you don’t see the scene in real life. Instead, you get a feed from the camera’s sensor, which incorporates exposure information.

See the area where you look through on the camera below? There’s a small OLED or LCD screen, which allows you to see a preview of the shot.

The feed isn’t perfect. It doesn’t always show you an accurate representation of the final image, especially if you’re shooting long exposure with changing light.

But it’s really, really good. And it’s extremely useful for those situations where you need to capture shots on the fly, because you have an immediate understanding of where your camera’s exposure is and where it needs to be. Just a few twists of your camera’s dial and – voila! – you’ve got a good exposure.

Note that there are also downsides to using these electronic viewfinders. They vary a lot in terms of quality, and even the best EVFs are nowhere near optical (DSLR) viewfinders in terms of clarity.

Plus, there will be some situations where you’ll want to work without exposure simulation, and this often means diving into your camera’s menu in order to figure out how to turn the feature off.

But if you’re the type of person who wants to know the resulting exposure before you hit the shutter button, then mirrorless is a great choice.

2. You can fit a mirrorless body in your pocket

I’m serious.

With some of the smaller mirrorless cameras, you can mount the lens on the body and stick it in your pocket, no problem.

You do need to use a small lens, but it’s still pretty impressive, and it’s another reason to use mirrorless in 2020.

In other words:

Mirrorless cameras tend to be much smaller than their DSLR counterparts.

In fact, the small size was considered the original groundbreaking advantage of mirrorless, and is still pretty great, even though DSLRs like the Canon SL3 and Nikon D3500 are really quite small.

That’s why mirrorless cameras are great for travel and casual shooting. Plus, you can take them into events without anybody noticing you’ve got a high-powered camera. This is also key for street photography, where you generally want to avoid attention.

Oh, and if you really want to take the small form factor to the next level, check out Micro Four Thirds cameras and lenses. Their compact size will blow you away.

Here’s an example of the size variation you can find with mirrorless bodies, from the large Olympus OM-D E-M1X, all the way down to the compact E-M10 Mark III:

3. You can see in black and white as you shoot

Another reason to use mirrorless in 2020 is black and white photography. If you’ve ever wanted to shoot in black and white, but you felt it’d be too hard a medium to master…

…get a mirrorless camera.

Because if you use a mirrorless body with a viewfinder, you’ll be able to program it to display in black and white.

And, as long as you’ve got the viewfinder to your eye, you’ll see in black and white.

This means that you have an immediate boost in your black and white potential. Instead of struggling to see in black and white (which is half the battle of the b&w genre), you’ll be able to understand the black and white medium straight out of the gate.

You’ll see how different colors are rendered in black and white. You’ll see how black and white photos change as the light changes.

And you’ll become a much better black and white photographer.

In fact, even if you switch back to a DSLR, you’ll retain your black and white skills. Because your understanding of black and white will exist on a much deeper level.

Cool, right?

4. Mirrorless cameras offer true silent shooting modes

If you’re a street photographer or an event photographer, then I’m guessing that you’d love the opportunity to shoot without making a sound.

It prevents you from disturbing the silence in a wedding ceremony. And it prevents people from noticing that you’re photographing them on the streets.

Now, DSLRs often offer silent shooting modes.

But if you’ve ever tried one of these, they’re just…bad.

Sure, they make things quieter than the “thunk, thunk, thunk” you get from normal shooting. But they still leave the shutter quite audible, and I certainly wouldn’t feel comfortable using them in a quiet room.

Enter mirrorless silent modes.

See, mirrorless cameras generally offer two broad types of shooting:
- Shooting with the mechanical shutter (which is what causes the loud noise you get from a DSLR).
- And shooting with the electronic shutter.
Fortunately, shooting with an electronic shutter is literally silent. You can hit the shutter button and no one (probably not even you) will hear it.

It’s perfect for street photography, and it’s amazing for event photography.

So that once you’ve used a true silent shutter, you’ll struggle to ever go back to a DSLR!

5. Mirrorless cameras come with all sorts of cool bonus features

When I got my first mirrorless camera, here’s one of the things I was most excited about:

The extra features that came with it. This is another reason to use mirrorless in 2020.

Sure, I was happy with the smaller size and the live preview, and those were the main reasons that I bought it in the first place.

But the extra features…

…well, I couldn’t wait to try them out.

I’m talking about things like focus peaking, which allows you to see, in advance, which areas of your shot are going to be in focus. It’s not perfect, but it gives you an approximation of the necessary depth of field, plus it’s just really cool.

I’m also talking about the manual focusing guide, which lets you select an autofocus point, then tells you when you’ve nailed it with manual focus.

This last feature has been a huge help for ensuring I get my point of focus right; it acts as a check on my manual focusing in landscape, architectural, and macro photography.

Now, not all mirrorless cameras offer these features. And there are some bonuses, such as Olympus’s Pro Capture option, that you’ll only find in a select few mirrorless bodies.

(Pro Capture, by the way, causes the camera to start firing at up to 60 frames per second when you press the shutter button halfway down, but then saves around a dozen shots from before you finally hit the shutter button, as well as dozens of frames after you hit the shutter.)

So before you buy a DSLR, check out the features hidden in different mirrorless camera menus. I bet there are some awesome ones that are worth a look.

5 Reasons You Should Use a Mirrorless in 2020: Conclusion

Now that you’ve finished this article, you should know all about mirrorless cameras, and whether you should think about purchasing one.

Because here’s the thing:

Mirrorless systems aren’t for everyone. There are reasons to use mirrorless in 2020, and there are reasons to shoot with DSLRs (and there are even reasons to shoot film!).

Now I’d like to know your opinion:

Why do you shoot mirrorless? Are there any reasons for shooting mirrorless that I missed? And if you shoot with a DSLR, why? Let us know in the comments!

The post 5 Reasons You Should Use Mirrorless in 2020 appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

Digital Photography School
March 10, 2020
Nikon delays its D6 DSLR until May 2020, due to supplier issues caused by COVID-19

Nikon USA has announced it is delaying the release of its new D6 DSLR due to issues caused by COVID-19.

In a short announcement on its website, embedded below, Nikon USA says the D6 has been delayed ‘As a result of delays in the procurement of parts and components from a third-party cooperating company due to measures implemented in response to the spread of COVID-19.’ Nikon says the new release timeframe is May 2020 and notes it ‘announce the new release date once it has been determined.’

This delay will further push the release date closer to the 2020 Olympics, which is set to take place in Tokyo from July 24 through August 9. However, as coronavirus cases and mortalities due to the virus ramp up, the likelihood of the Olympics being delayed or downright canceled increases as well.

Apology and Notice of Delay in the Release of the Nikon D6 Digital SLR Camera

MELVILLE, NY – Thank you for choosing Nikon for your photographic needs.

As a result of delays in the procurement of parts and components from a third-party cooperating company due to measures implemented in response to the spread of COVID-19, the release of the new Nikon D6 digital SLR camera, originally planned for March 2020, will be delayed. We sincerely apologize to our customers and all those concerned for any inconvenience this may cause.

We are now planning to release the Nikon D6 in May 2020 and will announce the new release date once it has been determined.

We will continue to closely monitor the situation and do our utmost to deliver this new camera as soon as possible. Thank you for your understanding and patience in this matter.

About Nikon?

Nikon Inc. is a world leader in digital imaging, precision optics and photo and video capture technologies; globally recognized for setting new standards in product design and performance for an award-winning array of equipment that enable visual storytelling and content creation. Nikon Inc. distributes consumer and professional digital SLR cameras, NIKKOR optics, Speedlights and system accessories, Nikon COOLPIX® compact digital cameras and Nikon software products, as well as the revolutionary Nikon Z series of mirrorless cameras and NIKKOR Z lenses, which achieve a new dimension in optical performance. In 2018, Nikon Corporation, the parent company of Nikon Inc., announced the production of 110 million NIKKOR lenses, creating a new milestone in Nikon’s heritage of superior optics. For more information, dial (800) NIKON-US or visit www.nikonusa.com, which links all levels of photographers and visual storytellers to the Web’s most comprehensive learning and sharing communities. Connect with Nikon on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Vimeo and Flickr.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

March 10, 2020
Adobe joins Nikon in withdrawing from this year’s NAB Show in Las Vegas due to COVID-19

Adobe has announced it’s withdrawing from this year’s NAB Show in Las Vegas due to concerns surrounding COVID-19 (the coronavirus). In the brief statement, embedded below, Adobe says it is disappointed it has to make this decision but says ‘the health and safety of our employees, customers and partners are always our priority.’

This announcement comes just days after both AJA and Nikon confirmed the companies wouldn’t be attending NAB 2020. With respect to this year’s NAB Show, the organizers have a webpage dedicated to information about COVID-19 and how the show will be different this year. NAB is still scheduled to take place April 18-22. We have contacted the organizers of the NAB Show for comment regarding the departure of Adobe, AJA and Nikon. We will update this article accordingly if we receive a response.

Adobe Withdraws from NAB Show 2020

Each year, we look forward to seeing our video community at NAB to talk about the latest trends and our product innovations. Over the past few weeks, we have been closely monitoring and evaluating the situation around COVID-19 and have made the difficult but important decision to cancel our presence at the show this year.

While we are disappointed, the health and safety of our employees, customers and partners are always our priority. We look forward to engaging with our NAB community through a digital experience in the near future.

Adobe and Nikon withdrawing from the NAB Show follow on the heels of the annual CP+2020 show in Japan being canceled at the end of February. The impact of COVID-19 has been felt outside of the realm of tradeshows as well, with the virus affecting the supply chains for camera manufacturers. Nikon has just announced that the release of the Nikon D6 flagship DSLR camera has been delayed from this month until May. Canon has proactively suspended production at three of its plants in Japan.

The COVID-19 coronavirus has already had a large impact on industries around the world, including the photo industry, and companies are working hard to mitigate the risk for their employees. As governments and health agencies around the world work to better understand and contain COVID-19, it is difficult to predict the extent of the impact that the virus will have on the photo industry, but it’s safe to expect today’s announcement from Adobe is not the last of its kind we will hear in the coming weeks and months. For more information on how COVID-19 is affecting the photo industry, click here.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

March 10, 2020
UK’s ‘The Photography Show’ has been postponed due to COVID-19, is still on course for a 2020 show

The organizers behind The Photography Show and The Video Show, have announced the event is being postponed due to ongoing concerns regarding COVID-19 (the coronavirus). Originally set to take place from March 14 through March 17 at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, England, the event will now take place at a later time in 2020, if all goes according to plan.

In the statement shared on The Photography Show website, organizers say they have ‘taken the extremely difficult decision to postpone The Photography Show & The Video Show until later in the year, when we will be able to deliver the show you deserve.’

The organizers note any current ticket-holders will be able to use their tickets for the future event, whenever the dates are established. In the event attendees aren’t able to attend at the future date, they will have the option to receive a refund, including any ‘Extras’ purchased alongside the main ticket.

According to The Photography Show website, over 300 brands and 32,000 visitors show up annually to see the latest products and attend over 270 talks, demos and galleries over the course of the four-day show. Canon, Epson, Fujifilm, Nikon, Panasonic, Rode, Sony, and Westcott are just a few of the featured exhibitors who are planning to attend the event. The organizers say they will ‘aim to keep the programme the same where possible, subject to speakers being available for the new dates [and] hope that the exhibitor list will remain much the same.’

You can visit The Photography Show’s website to view more details.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

March 10, 2020
NASA Curiosity rover breaks its own record with new 1.8-billion-pixel Mars panorama

On March 4, NASA shared the highest-resolution panoramic Mars image ever captured by its Curiosity rover. The panorama features 1.8 billion pixels and is comprised of more than 1,000 individual images captured by the rover over the Thanksgiving 2019 holiday break in the US.

NASA explains that Curiosity captured two different panoramas using two different lenses: the record-breaking 1.8-billion-pixel panorama using the Mast Camera (‘Mastcam’) with a telephoto lens and a smaller 650-million-pixel panorama using a medium-angle lens. The larger panorama captured with the telephoto lens was not able to include most of the rover in the final image, but the lower-resolution panorama does include Curiosity amid the landscape.

Curiosity’s smaller 650-million-pixel panorama. Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

The Mastcam is mounted at a height of 2m (6.5ft) on Curiosity; it supports capturing color images and videos using ‘left eye’ and ‘right eye’ lenses featuring 34mm and 100mm focal lengths. The camera has a resolution of 2MP, which produces images with a 1600 x 1200 resolution. When recording video, Curiosity’s Mastcam can capture 10 frames per second. According to NASA, the rover’s 8GB storage can hold 5,500 or more Raw frames.

While the mission team was away on holiday leave from November 24 to December 1, Curiosity worked to snap images using Mastcam over a six-and-a-half-hour period of time spread across four days. The camera was programmed to take the images from between noon and 2 PM local time to ensure that the lighting was consistent for the eventual panorama.

The new record 1.8-billion-pixel image. Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

NASA explains this holiday break provided a rare moment of downtime for the rover, which typically does not stay in one place long enough to capture so many images from the same vantage point. The resulting 1.8-billion-pixel panorama, which exceeds the rover’s previous record 1.3-billion-pixel image, took ‘months’ to assemble.

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Curiosity project scientist Ashwin Vasavada said:

While many on our team were at home enjoying turkey, Curiosity produced this feast for the eyes. This is the first time during the mission we’ve dedicated our operations to a stereo 360-degree panorama.

The public can download a full-resolution version of the 1.8-billion-pixel panorama in JPEG and TIFF formats from NASA JPL’s website here, as well as the 650-million-pixel version from the same link. At its highest resolution, the panorama has a massive 2.43GB file size. The space agency offers lower quality versions with file sizes ranging from 82MB all the way down to 350KB.

In addition, NASA has an online 360-degree viewer to present the panorama in full screen with a zoom tool.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

March 9, 2020
Irix announces its long-awaited 45mm F1.4 still lens for Canon EF, Nikon F and Pentax K mounts

Irix has announced the details of its new 45mm F1.4 manual lens for full-frame camera systems.

The lens was originally teased as a prototype way back in 2017 at The Photography Show. Last year, a cine version of the lens was released, but the still photography version remained to be seen, until today.

The 45mm F1.4 lens is based around Irix’s Dragonfly design technology, which uses an aluminum-magnesium alloy and composite elements to create a lightweight, but sturdy design that’s weather-resistant thanks to multiple gaskets throughout the lens. The focus ring has a 140-degree throw, a focus-lock feature and offers laser-engraved markings with luminescent paint for easier viewing in low-light environments.

No launch date or pricing information is available at this time. When the 45mmm F1.4 lens does launch, it will be available for Canon EF, Nikon F and Pentax K camera systems. We have contacted Irix to request more information and will update this article accordingly if and when we receive a response.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

March 9, 2020
Camera Industry Hit Hard by Coronavirus, Causing Production Delays

The post Camera Industry Hit Hard by Coronavirus, Causing Production Delays appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

Over the past month, the coronavirus outbreak has rocked the world.

And now it’s making its way into the camera industry.

The three biggest imaging companies, Canon, Nikon, and Sony, have found themselves affected by coronavirus outbreaks.

First, Sony Alpha Rumors published a tip from an unnamed source, which said:

“We can expect product [launches] to be very delayed along with much lower capacity in production volumes for many of [Sony’s] current imaging products.”

While we can’t know exactly what product launches Sony Alpha is referring to, fans have been eagerly anticipating the announcement of the Sony a7s III, as well as the Sony a7 IV.

Around the same time, the CP+2020 expo, which was due to be hosted in Japan, was canceled, with the organizers citing “no effective treatment or containment measures to deal with the novel coronavirus.” Organizers went on to explain that the “event attracts around 70,000 unspecified visitors and therefore we cannot completely eliminate the risk of infection.”

Then, only weeks later, Canon Rumors says this:

“Canon…will suspend operations at its five offices in Kyushu, which produce cameras and related products, for about two weeks from March 2 to 13. The supply of parts from China may become unstable due to the effects of the new coronavirus.”

While Canon Rumors goes on to say that, “At the moment, no employees have been infected,” the message is clear: Coronavirus, directly or indirectly, is taking its toll on Canon’s camera business.

And finally, a report by Nikon Rumors, and further corroborated by PetaPixel, indicates that Nikon’s new AF-S 120-300mm f/2.8 lens would not ship as initially announced. Instead, you can expect the lens in late March, at least according to Amazon’s shipping date.

As explained in a statement from Nikon, “The U.S. availability for the AF-S NIKKOR 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED SR VR will be announced at a later date as we determine the global impact of the novel coronavirus outbreak. We will communicate updates on timing as they become available.”

At present, it’s difficult to say what all this means; will Canon, Sony, and Nikon recover swiftly from the effects of the coronavirus? Or will the virus’s impact be more long-lasting? These closures may be just the beginning.

Here’s one concern: Nikon hasn’t reported good financial numbers in recent months. If the coronavirus continues to affect production, Nikon may see a significant drop in sales, something that could further impact the imaging company over the next year (and beyond).

And similar worries are undoubtedly plaguing companies such as Olympus, which recently weathered rumors of a camera division shutdown.

What do you think? How will things play out regarding the coronavirus and the camera industry? Is this as bad as it will get, or will things become worse?

Let me know in the comments!

The post Camera Industry Hit Hard by Coronavirus, Causing Production Delays appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

Digital Photography School

March 9, 2020
Shooting RC jets with the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III

The Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III is capable of shooting at up to 60 fps and tough enough to withstand use in harsh environments in every corner of the world. What better environment to put such a small, powerful and fast camera to the test than a remote control jet airplane convention?

Join action photographer Scott Rinckenberger as he takes the OM-D E-M1 Mark III to shoot the fascinating world of remote control jet planes at Jet Jam 2020 – held annually near Coachella, California.

Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III at Jet Jam 2020

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This is sponsored content, created with the support of Amazon and Olympus. What does this mean?

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

March 9, 2020
6 Reasons Why Dedicated Cameras are Better than Smartphones for Photography

The post 6 Reasons Why Dedicated Cameras are Better than Smartphones for Photography appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Simon Ringsmuth.

Modern smartphone cameras are amazing! They have facilitated an explosion in photography that shows no signs of stopping. Mobile phone cameras, apps, editing, and sharing have given people access to creative outlets that were unthinkable a mere 15 years ago. If the best camera is the one you have with you, then 9 times out of 10, the best camera is right in your pocket! Despite the advances in smartphone cameras, there are still few things smartphone cameras lack. So, in this article, we’ll explore why dedicated cameras are better than smartphones for photography. In other words, there are some photos you just can’t get with a smartphone.

Reasons why dedicated cameras are better than smartphones for photography

Nikon D7100, 85mm, f/2.8, 1/1000 second, ISO 100

1. Software vs. Physics

The first of the 5 reasons why dedicated cameras are better than smartphones for photography, is software vs physics.

I don’t want to sound like an old man yelling at clouds, decrying all modern technologies that might make my life better. Smartphone cameras and computational photography are incredible! They can use software and artificial intelligence to capture incredible images of night skies and portrait-style images with blurry backgrounds.

But digital trickery and software manipulations are no match for a mastery of light and physics, and this is where dedicated cameras still have an edge.

Most smartphones have lenses that approximate roughly a 28mm field of view on a full-frame camera. Some have second lenses that go a bit wider, usually about 15mm. It’s also not uncommon for higher-end phones to have a telephoto lens as well, which is roughly equivalent to a 50mm lens.

Nearly all smartphone cameras are stuck at a single aperture value as well, which gives you limited control over a key element of exposure. While there is much that can be done in software to overcome the inherent limitations of these lenses and focal lengths, sometimes you just need a separate camera to get the shot.

2. Foreground Blur

Nikon D7100, 50mm, f/1.8, 1/2000 second, ISO 100

Any smartphone can take pictures of flowers. This particular image shows a backlit flower whose petals are glowing with sunlight streaking in from above and behind, and a mobile phone could capture that just fine. However, there is one key element of this image that’s impossible on a smartphone – the foreground blur.

Smartphones have come a long way with so-called portrait-style photography. Portrait mode involves software combined with depth data that allows a smartphone to blur the background.

But not the foreground.

This is one of the things smartphone cameras lack. Try it for yourself!

Take a portrait-style photo with your smartphone but include objects in the foreground that you would like to blur. The background will get blurry, but the foreground will remain in focus.

Blurring both the foreground and background is a time-honored technique to add a sense of depth and perspective to your photos. Perhaps one day the software and AI techniques used on mobile phones will be able to replicate this. But, for now, if you’re using a smartphone, you’re stuck with just background blur.

3. Telephoto Zoom

Nikon D500, 200mm, f/8, 1/400 second, ISO 900

While smartphone cameras have had pinch-to-zoom capabilities for over a decade, it amounts to little more than just cropping your pictures. Modern smartphones do a better job of interpolating data between pixels and adjusting exposure values on the fly, but at the end of the day, you’re still just cropping.

In the process, you lose a lot of detail. And even then, you just can’t zoom in very far. It’s definitely one of the things smartphone cameras lack, despite some recent advances.

One classic example of this is a picture of the moon.

Smartphone lenses, and the laws of physics, make pictures like this impossible. You have probably noticed if you have ever tried to do a pinch-and-zoom photo of our nearest celestial neighbor.

You’ll need a dedicated camera if you want to get crisp, detailed photos of faraway objects. And this is just another reason dedicated cameras are better than smartphones.

Nikon D500, 200mm, f/2.8, 1/3000 second, ISO 100

Smartphones aren’t great for most long-distance shooting scenarios, such as this picture of a horse in the pasture.

While pinch-and-zoom can make it seem like you’re getting closer, you won’t get a tack-sharp, high-resolution image suitable for printing and framing.

Like everything tech-related, this is getting better and will improve with time. Some phones now are using stacked periscope-style lenses combined with software and AI processing to mimic 10x or even 100x zoom lenses. Right now, these make interesting tech demos, but the results don’t have the same level of clarity, color, and fidelity as you would get from a DSLR or mirrorless camera with a zoom lens attached.

4. Background compression

Nikon D7100, 200mm, f/2.8, 1/1500 second, ISO 100

Another reason dedicated cameras are better than smartphones is background compression.

Something interesting happens when you shoot photos with a telephoto zoom: the background appears to move closer to your subject.

It’s called background compression and is a time-honored compositional technique to make your subjects stand out and take your images up to another level. It’s also impossible to do on a smartphone.

In the picture above, the building is very far away from the woman walking in the foreground. Shooting with a telephoto lens compresses the background and makes it seem much closer.

Nikon D750, 200mm, f/4, 1/400 second, ISO 3200

In this family photo, you can see the trees and leaves in the background, which are very far away. However, they appear closer as a result of background compression.

While some smartphone cameras do have some limited zoom capability, their smaller lenses and image sensors simply do not allow for these types of pictures.

5. Fast action

Before I get too far in this section, I want to point out that smartphones are good at capturing some types of fast action. These conditions are fairly limited, though.

You have to be close to your subject, which isn’t possible in a lot of action situations. It also helps if you can lock focus on a specific area where you know the subject will be, or else have a smartphone with amazing autofocus capabilities. And if you can meet those challenges, then your phone could produce some good results.

For a lot of fast action, though, you need a DSLR or mirrorless camera. It helps to have a good lens attached too.

This will let you stand on the sidelines while getting up close and personal with your subjects. It helps to shoot with a wide aperture too, which will let you get a fast shutter speed and freeze the action.

Nikon D750, 185mm, f/4, 1/500 second, ISO 100

These types of action shots are impossible on smartphones because pinch-to-zoom just can’t get the job done. You’ll get pictures that are pixellated, blurry, or out of focus because smartphones are not able to match the speed and capability of a dedicated camera.

In the picture below, I was sitting in the stern of a boat zoomed in to 200mm. I had to use tracking autofocus to keep the picture sharp. My brother was also in the boat with his smartphone, and he didn’t like any of the shots he got.

Nikon D7100, 200mm, f/2.8, 1/2000 second, ISO 100

6. Portraits

The last of my reasons that dedicated cameras are better than smartphones relates to portrait photography.

This one might ruffle some feathers because phones have gotten so much better at portraits in recent years. In fact, some people can’t even tell the difference between portrait-style images shot on mobile phones and actual portraits taken with a dedicated camera. I have trouble sometimes too. In the coming years, mobile phones are going to keep getting better and better.

For now, and into the foreseeable future, dedicated cameras still have a significant advantage.

Software and AI, and computational horsepower can do a lot, but they can’t keep up with a good lens and physics.

In the picture below, the girl’s eyes are tack sharp but there is a subtle falloff as you look towards the edge of her face. Her hair goes from sharp to blurry in a smooth, even fashion.

The background isn’t just blurry – it’s obliterated. Mobile phones can’t do that.

Nikon D750, 170mm, f/2.8, 1/180 second, ISO 100

You don’t need expensive gear to take great portraits either.

In fact, you can spend far less on a used DSLR or Mirrorless camera than you would on a mobile phone with portrait mode.

The shot below was taken on a Nikon D200, which came out in 2006, and can be found today for about $ 150.

The lens is a cheap 50mm f/1.8. And the results blow away anything you can get from a mobile phone.

All the subtle details, like the way her eye is in focus but her ears are slightly blurry, to her hair slowly fading away, to the bokeh in the background, make this image a cut above what you could get from a smartphone. Just another reason that dedicated cameras are better than smartphones for photography.

Nikon D200, 50mm, f/1.8, 1/250 second, ISO 400

Conclusion

Before anyone gets out a bucket of tar and some feathers, please understand that I think smartphone cameras are amazing!

Despite the things smartphone cameras lack, they can take incredible pictures and technology will only make them better with time. I just think it’s important to understand their limitations and have a sense of some of the pictures they can’t yet achieve.

What about you?

I’m curious what your experience has been with smartphone pictures. Does your smartphone take the kinds of shots you want, or have you found that it can’t yet replace your DSLR or mirrorless camera?

I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to share your thoughts and example images in the comments below.

The post 6 Reasons Why Dedicated Cameras are Better than Smartphones for Photography appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Simon Ringsmuth.

Digital Photography School

March 9, 2020