Does the new smartphone cameras signal the end of pocket cameras ?

[IM469]

I was reading the camera specs of the new Galaxy S5 and while there is not any 'unheard of' features, it is reflective of a growing trend to have very high quality cameras built into smartphones. The Galaxy S5 16 meg pixal camera now has "phase-detect" autofocus a feature found in high end digital cameras and selective focus that allow you to fuzzy up the background for portraits. Smartphones already include exposure compensation, exposure bracketing, scene selection, etc.

All the smartphones seem to follow a similar trend of similar feature rich cameras - does this spell the end of the Nikon, Canon, etc pocket cameras ? My $300 pocket camera sits virtually untouched now because of the convenience of the smart phone but with similar features why would people pay half the cost of a smart phone on a new pocket camera ?

 

[SkyRider]

Are there currently any camera phones that have optical zoom?

 

[IM469]

Are there currently any camera phones that have optical zoom?

Great point, there is only one that I know of to date but I'd debate that it isn't a true smartphone: Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom
The picture is below:

Many enthusiasts suggest that the megapixal count is so high with the smartphone cameras that the loss from pseudo zoom (eg: cropping) still provides a great photos. A test based on a Nokia claim to this effect proves that they aren't quite there yet:

http://connect.dpreview.com/post/49...ia-1020-smartphone-versus-canon-powershots120

 

[onthebottom]

I think the title is correct. Pocket cameras are a nod to the truism that the best camera is the one you have with you.

A smartphone and DSLR are the surviving digital camera segments.

 

[danmand]

If you do not want all your pictures to go into some kind of cloud, a small, cheap snapshot camera with zoom, like a Nikon, takes great pictuires, and an SD cardis a very convenient media.

 

[onthebottom]

If you do not want all your pictures to go into some kind of cloud, a small, cheap snapshot camera with zoom, like a Nikon, takes great pictuires, and an SD cardis a very convenient media.

It's just another device to carry - cloud storage is simply a feature that is optional.

 

[danmand]

It's just another device to carry - cloud storage is simply a feature that is optional.

I know, phones are good for the occasional picture, but when you go on a trip to exiting places, and you want to take hundreds of pictures (and throw most of them away later) I see people using their phone as a camera, and it does not look as convenient as a little snapshot camera.

Your opinion may wary

 

[blackrock13]

To compare the picture capacities of the camera phone to even to the low end dedicated cameras is ludicrous, The camera phomne is so limited and it quality is nowhere near that of a dedicated camera. to answer he question, no.

 

[shakenbake]

To compare the picture capacities of the camera phone to even to the low end dedicated cameras is ludicrous, The camera phomne is so limited and it quality is nowhere near that of a dedicated camera. to answer he question, no.

Exactly. There will always be a market for dedicated cameras.

 

[GameBoy27]

To compare the picture capacities of the camera phone to even to the low end dedicated cameras is ludicrous, The camera phomne is so limited and it quality is nowhere near that of a dedicated camera. to answer he question, no.

I disagree, since I got my BlackBerry Z30 I haven't had much use to carry my Canon point and shoot camera around anymore. For the most part the Z30 takes excellent pictures and I can easily share them via text, email or Facebook. It has 80 GB of storage so I can take a ton of photos. Besides being able to take stills and 1080p video, the Z30 has a cool little feature called Time Shift mode.

So my answer to IM469's question is, yes. My smartphone is excellent for taking everyday pics and vids and has replaced my pocket camera. If I want to take super hi-res shots, I'll use my Canon T4i. I also have macro and telephoto lenses but really don't get around to using it very much.

 

[onthebottom]

It's my view that the space between a smartphone camer and a DSLR (the point and shoot market space) has shrunk dramatically.

The best camera is the one you have with you.

 

[IM469]

It's my view that the space between a smartphone camer and a DSLR (the point and shoot market space) has shrunk dramatically.

The best camera is the one you have with you.

I agree on both points. In the film days I had a DSLR with various focal length lenses but with digital on the horizon, I sold the set and never replaced it. I decided on a good pocket camera just because I was too impatient for setting up, didn't like the burden of carrying the camera case and figured I was missing a lot of spontaneous shots that can be captured with the pocket camera.

Now with the smartphone cameras having so much detail and digital effects, I seldom carry the pocket camera. It actually feels great to never worry about taking a camera because it is on your smart phone.