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iPhone X Ditching my DSLR/Mirrorless and shooting strictly with the iPhone X? (HOBBYIST)

vengapat

vengapat

macrumors regular
Original poster
May 12, 2016
111
133
Hi guys,

I have been a big fan of photography for a few years now and have been jumping from camera to camera. I started with a Canon 6d a few years ago and scaled it down to a Fuji film xt1 and now x100f. I loved the images that I was getting with these cameras but I found myself to be obsessed with just buying cameras for the hype of owning a cool new piece of technology. I found myself shooting like crazy when I first got the camera but a few months later the camera would collect dust.

I purchased the iPhone X and am absolutely in love with this phone. So much so that I have been taking it out specifically to shoot to see what kind of images I am able to get. Super impressed and happy with the results. Pictures in the day time are clear and sharp as hell. The dynamic range is insane. At night the camera could be a bit better but still manages to capture great pictures with a bit of noise.

I have a big trip coming up in 2 weeks to Shanghai and Seoul. I typically travel solo and just wonder around taking pictures. I am highly considering getting rid of my x100f and going with only my iPhone X for pictures. The thought of being able to go out with nothing but my phone brings tears to my eyes. I don't plan on doing anything with these pictures other than posting them on my website and instagram. However, I am worried that I will regret not bringing an "actual" camera.

Here are some pictures that ive taken before with my x100f during my last trip - www.phaotos.com

What do you guys think? Should I ditch the camera or bring it along?

Has anyone here ditched their DSLR or Mirrorless to only shoot iPhone? How did that go?

Any suggestions and feedback would be super appreciated.

Thanks a bunch!
 
Canon EOS and Fuji mirrorless here with an 8+. You'll miss having your real camera. As good as these newer cameras on phones are, they just don't have the image quality or dynamic range of a camera like you mentioned. I've done two trips with my 8+ only, and i always find myself really missing my real cameras for that critical shot. Again, not a knock to the cameras on the iPhones themselves, but there are just some physics you can't overcome vs a dedicated camera.
 
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As much as I love my IPhone X camera and as good as it does it can’t replace my 6D. I ran into some Deere at work the other day, hit the 2x on my X and shot a few pics and not all that far away but the image is just unusable when cropped even a little. The DSLR has its place and always will. I always have my phone and take most of my pics with it but if I’m on a trip of a life time my 6D along with my 24-105L and my 70-200 f/2.8L will be by my side. An IPhone or for that matter not even most dslr’s can beat that combo. Good luck and have fun on your trip.
 
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I have not only a dslr (canon 30D), but also a mirrorless (Sony nex 6), but for serious work I would use my Sinar P (4x5 large format) and, more recently my Bronica SQ-B (120 6x6 medium format). Also have a Canon A2 still but haven’t used it in a long time.
Having said that, recently I’ve used mainly cell phones, currently 7 Plus.
Always make photos in raw though except for an occasional “snapshot”.

Basically with the phone miss the lenses selection choices.

If you’ve been using a dslr and/or mirrorless with a selection of lenses you may miss the lenses.
 
Really depends for me. I've had similar thoughts. I'm still waiting on my X, but my daughter has an 8 Plus. I'm a fairly avid photographer, Canon 30D, Sony NEX 6 and a Sony RX100M3. I LOVE all these cameras but recently started going smaller and smaller, hence the RX100, just due to convenience.

With all that said, I'm really really impressed with the quality of the photos the 8 Plus produces. I think the X will wind up being my go to camera for most daily pictures, and even the standard amusement park outing days. Problem is, for me, while the quality is very good, it's still not high end pocket camera good if I want to do something more than take good quality snapshots. No viewfinder. Not enough zoom and no manual controls. So while I see the X being used for 90% of my photos in the future, I still think having a "real camera" is a necessity.

My thoughts on it being a travel camera? Honestly, depending on what you expect to take pictures of and how, you would have to decide, as I would, if the convenience of carrying one device is a big enough positive. For me, I think I'm going to try it out next year during our annual Disney trip. It might be really nice to have just a phone in my pocket rather than either another small camera in a pocket or a big one around my neck, lol.
 
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The X100F is in a different league altogether. You'll miss having it with you. As tremendous as the iPhone X cameras are, even for social media sharing, the Fuji is better. The X100F can capture at lower light and has significantly more dynamic range. It makes real bokeh as well. At least half your shots in your gallery would not come out nearly as well with the iPhone.
 
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Bring the DSLR/mirrorless along. Better to have it and not need it than want it and not have access. I am looking to do similar.
 
A smartphone is not a full replacement for a mirrorless/DSLR, at all. You are limited to just point and shoot captures.

Sony a7R II:
DSC02715.jpg


iPhone X:
IMG_0027.HEIC.jpg
 
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As a photographer myself, the x100f will still massacre the iPhone, I would have expected you to know that.

Also fake bokeh is massively slow and unreliable compared to real bokeh.
 
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I recently listed all of my DSLR gear for sale and picked up the X100F. I brought along both the Fuji and my X to San Fran last week and used my Fuji 95% of the time over my X. Granted the pictures taken on the X are great, but they can't beat the Fuji.
[doublepost=1510596320][/doublepost]
1096bimu said:
Also fake bokeh is massively slow and unreliable compared to real bokeh.
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree more here. You can't beat real bokeh.
 
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If you could get an easily interchangeable set of lenses I might be tempted. The 2x on X is ok but still way too wide for many types of shots. If you shoot mainly urban stuff you might be ok but I like longer lenses personally and how they compress perspective etc

The 2x and photos with depth are interesting though - try ‘fotos’ as an app which lets you manipulate the focus etc on depth photos really well
 
a phone camera is a phone camera, while a DSLR will always be a DSLR ...this doesn't make sense lol
What i meant is, no matter what advancement any phone manifucturer reach, these advances will never EVER reach the quality of the DSLR, knowing the fact that DSLR are advancing as well, maybe not as fast as the phones do, but still cameras are suitable for professional photographer.

So my advice, if you want professional photos stick to your DSLR, the mobile is a fast light weighted. to-go camera.
 
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Is the x100 better? Yes, but that is not the question. Is the x100 so much better that you will bother to take it with you all (or most of) the time? That is the question, and only you can answer it.
 
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Here’s my opinion:
If you know what you’re doing, the dslr will win. If you don’t, it probably doesn’t matter.

This is the one reason a dslr hasn’t really ever been on my list of things to buy. I just wouldn’t get good use out of the investment namely because I’m not going out and learning to be a photographer. Smartphone cameras are good enough now that a dslr is only better in the hands of a skilled user.
 
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vengapat said:
The iphone looks significantly better imo lol
Click to expand...

i hope you're kidding right??
the Sony picture have so much DR you can easily achieve any result you want if you tweak it.
the X is all overblown with no ability to handle the snow & trees together,
OR he overexposed it a bit? if that is the best exposure here it's not very good.
 
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I went to Europe this summer with my Oly M1 II and iPhone 6S+. I took a ton of photos with both. I would guess that 90 percent of the time I would have been perfectly happy without the Olympus. Night time was the only time I would really miss it. On my next trip I plan on trying to go iPhone only with an iPhone X and a couple of Moment lenses
 
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There is no one right answer. It all depends on what kind of photography you want to do.

IMO a modern smartphone absolutely CAN be your sole camera, even if you consider yourself an artistic and serious photographer. You can really take advantage of its speed and small size to take amazing photos and if desired apply stunning effects.

But there are still limitations that only a DSLR can overcome, IF your shooting style bumps up against those limitations. These are:
  • Narrow depth of field
  • Very low light photography
  • Sharpness at larger print sizes
  • Fine detail
These may or may not matter to you. Only you can be the judge. Don't let anyone tell you an iPhone is not a legit camera.
 
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geoff5093 said:
A smartphone is not a full replacement for a mirrorless/DSLR, at all. You are limited to just point and shoot captures.
Click to expand...

Uhhhh yeah. You didn't use HDR mode and you didn't meter the photo properly. Unfair comparison. In order to replace a DSLR with an iPhone you have to account for the features that let the iPhone at least try to keep up.

—

Related: If using an iPhone X in place of a video camera, there's a problem with the autofocus. See here.
 
ardo111 said:
Uhhhh yeah. You didn't use HDR mode and you didn't meter the photo properly. Unfair comparison. In order to replace a DSLR with an iPhone you have to account for the features that let the iPhone at least try to keep up.

—

Related: If using an iPhone X in place of a video camera, there's a problem with the autofocus. See here.
Click to expand...

Lol what? HDR was on, and I tapped on the ice to expose. Not sure what your argument is, but smartphones are good for snapshots and that’s it. Nothing with long exposure, low light, action, anything that needs medium or long zooms, and so on
 
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