Mobile photography: Three things to look out for in a smartphone camera

Thanks to social media sites like Instagram, smartphone photography has taken a big chunk of the camera market, and basic point-and-shoot compacts have become virtually obsolete. 

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And while the best smartphone camera in the market is still no match for a decent advanced DSLR, they have undoubtedly improved considerably in the past years. We’re now in the age of dual-rear cameras and portrait modes that mimic that of a DSLR. 

With so many smartphone cameras available in the market, here three things to look out for when you’re in the market for one. 

1. Sensors: Fortunately, people now realize that the number of megapixels doesn’t directly affect the image quality, but the sensor does. Generally, a larger sensor means better image quality. 

2. LensesBecause smartphones are designed to be slim, it’s all but impossible to fit their cameras with built-in optical zoom. Some smartphones like the iPhone 7+ are equipped with a secondary lens for 2x zoom, offering digital zoom. 

3. Software: Smartphone manufacturers can equip their smartphones with the best sensors and lenses, but these features will be useless without the software. And a lot of times, software is more important than the hardware. There are built-in camera modes that are designed to take advantage of the sensors and lenses to take the best image possible. Portrait, live photos, and other camera modes are what make the smartphone camera good. 

Image source: ytimg.com

Hi there! My name’s Mike Briese. I’m a photographer who likes to go hiking, kayaking, and fishing. Visit this page for more photography-related content.