Sorry to revive an old thread, but I have been thinking about selling my Canon 80D and all my lenses to buy the iPhone 11 Pro Max. I rarely use my 80D. It just sits in my bag. I've had it for 3 years and probably only used it 4-5 times around the house. I never even had it outside. It just seems like a total waste. I could use the money for a new iPhone which I need and use daily. I do a lot of eBay photography and the DSLR is way overkill for that, not to mention heavy and inconvenient. Am I crazy for wanting to do this? Has anyone has actually sold their DSLR for a iPhone?
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPhone 11 Pro iPhone 11 pro vs DSLR
- Thread starter pookitoo
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
For everyday use the iPhone 11 Pro Max May be more useful for you. Canon 80D is the better camera if you actually use it though.
I have both a Sony mirrorless A7R IV and an iPhone 11 Pro. Sometimes I grab the iPhone and take a shot and it comes out pretty cool, just what I had in mind, and I'm happy with it; other times I shoot with it and realize that, nope, it isn't cutting the mustard this time, and so I reach for the mirrorless camera and appropriate lens. Today was one of those times -- I started out with the iPhone when something caught my eye and I had an idea for a neat image. For a while I experimented with the iPhone, not quite getting what I wanted and also while I was working, noticing problems with the high reflectivity of the subject as well. Switched to the A7R IV and my 90mm macro lens and experimented again, this time coming up with something, a fun image which satisfied the initial vision which started me shooting in the first place....
Yes, there is a place for both kinds of camera equipment (as well as a DSLR or a medium format camera or a drone, whatever suits one's fancy and budget). I would never sell my camera gear for an iPhone and I am thankful that I have never been in a situation where I felt that I needed to so so. Then again, I am someone who shoots photos several times a week, sometimes every day, actually, so to me, using a camera is almost as natural as breathing. I love my iPhone 11 Pro and I use it for shooting photos, for checking email and browsing the web and forums, for texting, and for, oh, yeah, phone calls, too. I wouldn't want to be without it any more than I would want to be without a real camera and lens(es), too.
Yes, there is a place for both kinds of camera equipment (as well as a DSLR or a medium format camera or a drone, whatever suits one's fancy and budget). I would never sell my camera gear for an iPhone and I am thankful that I have never been in a situation where I felt that I needed to so so. Then again, I am someone who shoots photos several times a week, sometimes every day, actually, so to me, using a camera is almost as natural as breathing. I love my iPhone 11 Pro and I use it for shooting photos, for checking email and browsing the web and forums, for texting, and for, oh, yeah, phone calls, too. I wouldn't want to be without it any more than I would want to be without a real camera and lens(es), too.
I have not sold a camera for a phone and use and enjoy my dslr cameras.
however, given your description and use case I would encourage you to do so. If you aren’t really using the canon buy something you will use.
I have one reason why I prefer iPhones compared to cameras and that is catching once in a life time moments. I’d rather buy the best Phones. it’s easier to catch moments on the phone than a big camera bc
For pros itd be hard to go iPhone only. I suppose you can edit it certainly but for paid gigs I’d go professional equipment only.
For pros itd be hard to go iPhone only. I suppose you can edit it certainly but for paid gigs I’d go professional equipment only.
Majority of content are seen on mobile devices now.. you don’t need high quality of a dslr for that. If your job requires it or it’s a hobby of yours then sure have both. No one is going to see quality on your IG or FB or any other social platform that compresses your content. Slap a filter and call a day like the many influencer wannabes.
That’s the thing I think, a phone produces some excellent looking pictures, but when you start zooming in you realise the quality compared to a DSLR is quite poor. Then again, most people are only posting to Facebook or Instagram and won’t care. I love photography and I would choose a DSLR every time. No amount of pixel replication and software will compensate for high quality glass and the skill/technique needed to take a proper photograph.
When you bring a DSLR and know how to shoot - you still get better photo from DSLR than X
When you bring only iPhone and know how to shoot - you get similar results from X and 11 Pro
When you bring a DSLR and don't know how to shoot - you still get better photo from X
When you bring only iPhone don't know how to shoot - you get better results from 11 Pro
When you bring only iPhone and know how to shoot - you get similar results from X and 11 Pro
When you bring a DSLR and don't know how to shoot - you still get better photo from X
When you bring only iPhone don't know how to shoot - you get better results from 11 Pro
I can take very good pictures on my Canon 1300D DSLR (portrait, landscape, wildlife, my nephew and niece running around, bokeh etc) but the one area I struggle with is exposure (sky too bright in images). I am working on improving this through bracketing, tutorials and practise. When taking pics on my 8+ however, exposure is always near perfect although overall image quality can never match my dslr (sharpness, background blur etc). When on holiday or going on outings I interchange between dslr (try to just take the 50mm to reduce bulk and weight) and iPhone for shots and this works well for me.
The OP has probably already made his/her decision, and there have been several great comments here, on both sides of the argument. As someone who owns a Canon M50 with several lenses and has owned several iPhones, I'll just throw out some random thoughts...
- I think that the quality level between the two has certainly narrowed, to the point where a skilled photographer can probably take photos of better quality with a modern iPhone than the average person could take with a dedicated camera and great lens.
- In certain conditions, that skilled photographer can also probably take photos with that iPhone that are difficult to discern* from photos that same skilled photographer would take with the more expensive rig. My asterisk is to point out that I'm talking here about whether a non-pro photographer viewing those photos via a typical delivery mechanism (their own iPhone, iPad, or computer) will be able to discern the difference. I'm not talking about taking those photos, printing them out professionally at super-high resolution and large format and displaying in a gallery, or "pixel-peeping" on a monitor. I'm talking about what matters most, IMO, which is a casual observer looking at the photo and saying, "Wow, that's a great photo!"
- There are absolutely going to be some conditions where an iPhone simply can't compete, such as when a high-speed long-range telephoto lens is needed (e.g., taking a photo of an eagle in flight). Keep in mind that the lens needed for these kinds of shots may be quite expensive.
- On the other hand, there are some scenarios where a dedicated camera can't compete with the iPhone (unless you're talking about some *really* expensive camera gear). Most notably: 4K/60fps or 1080p/240fps slow-mo video.
- Unless photography is a primary focus in your life, it can be difficult to master the equipment you're using, and memorize how the UI works. I'm talking here about both an iPhone using something like the Filmic app, or my Canon M50 and it's slew of features and UI screens. Unless you want to take on mastering/memorizing both, I think a good argument could be made for mastering one of the better 3rd party photo/video apps for the iPhone, since you'll have that with you more often.
- Along the lines of that last point, some of the money you save on the dedicated camera could be put to use on things like lighting, microphones, or a gimbal for your iPhone.
After re-reading my list, I think I'd probably say that the right answer probably depends most on the types of photos that you want to take, and whether the lens on the iPhone will be suitable for it. If you want to take portrait shots with great bokeh, the latest iPhones can take some very impressive shots, but they're doing a lot of that with software, that can sometimes have obvious defects compared to a dedicated camera with a lens optimized for portrait shots. Or, per the example I gave farther above, if you want to take photos/video of wildlife from very far distances away, the iPhone isn't going to be very good for that, and the add-on lenses available are not that great, from what I've seen.
I think it would be really cool to see Apple offer something like an iPhone with a screw-on lens attachment. There are some 3rd parties that offer iPhone cases with threaded lens attachments, but you're putting a lens on top of the existing lens, which degrades quality. I'm talking about the ability to remove the iPhone lens completely, and replace it with other types of lenses.
A while back Sony came out with the DSC-QX10 and DSC-QX100 lenses, which were larger lenses (more glass) which could mount onto an iPhone or just be used standalone. They had some issues, and there wasn't enough of a market for the idea at the time, but maybe we'll see something like that reappear in the future.
- I think that the quality level between the two has certainly narrowed, to the point where a skilled photographer can probably take photos of better quality with a modern iPhone than the average person could take with a dedicated camera and great lens.
- In certain conditions, that skilled photographer can also probably take photos with that iPhone that are difficult to discern* from photos that same skilled photographer would take with the more expensive rig. My asterisk is to point out that I'm talking here about whether a non-pro photographer viewing those photos via a typical delivery mechanism (their own iPhone, iPad, or computer) will be able to discern the difference. I'm not talking about taking those photos, printing them out professionally at super-high resolution and large format and displaying in a gallery, or "pixel-peeping" on a monitor. I'm talking about what matters most, IMO, which is a casual observer looking at the photo and saying, "Wow, that's a great photo!"
- There are absolutely going to be some conditions where an iPhone simply can't compete, such as when a high-speed long-range telephoto lens is needed (e.g., taking a photo of an eagle in flight). Keep in mind that the lens needed for these kinds of shots may be quite expensive.
- On the other hand, there are some scenarios where a dedicated camera can't compete with the iPhone (unless you're talking about some *really* expensive camera gear). Most notably: 4K/60fps or 1080p/240fps slow-mo video.
- Unless photography is a primary focus in your life, it can be difficult to master the equipment you're using, and memorize how the UI works. I'm talking here about both an iPhone using something like the Filmic app, or my Canon M50 and it's slew of features and UI screens. Unless you want to take on mastering/memorizing both, I think a good argument could be made for mastering one of the better 3rd party photo/video apps for the iPhone, since you'll have that with you more often.
- Along the lines of that last point, some of the money you save on the dedicated camera could be put to use on things like lighting, microphones, or a gimbal for your iPhone.
After re-reading my list, I think I'd probably say that the right answer probably depends most on the types of photos that you want to take, and whether the lens on the iPhone will be suitable for it. If you want to take portrait shots with great bokeh, the latest iPhones can take some very impressive shots, but they're doing a lot of that with software, that can sometimes have obvious defects compared to a dedicated camera with a lens optimized for portrait shots. Or, per the example I gave farther above, if you want to take photos/video of wildlife from very far distances away, the iPhone isn't going to be very good for that, and the add-on lenses available are not that great, from what I've seen.
I think it would be really cool to see Apple offer something like an iPhone with a screw-on lens attachment. There are some 3rd parties that offer iPhone cases with threaded lens attachments, but you're putting a lens on top of the existing lens, which degrades quality. I'm talking about the ability to remove the iPhone lens completely, and replace it with other types of lenses.
A while back Sony came out with the DSC-QX10 and DSC-QX100 lenses, which were larger lenses (more glass) which could mount onto an iPhone or just be used standalone. They had some issues, and there wasn't enough of a market for the idea at the time, but maybe we'll see something like that reappear in the future.
That’s the beauty of smartphone software. It effectively cheats and takes all the skill out of taking a photograph. Exposure, white balance, you name it, the photo app often adjusts the camera for you to get a decent result. You even have filters that now turn a bland photo into something better lol. As you say though, overall you’ll always get better results with a DSLR.
It’s the funny saying:
‘Instagram - Giving people the impression they are as good as professional photographers since 2010’...
If you never use the camera might as well sell it and use the money for something else. I'm not sure what ebay photography entails, but I assume you never need to print the photos out so in that case you should be okay. I deal with a lot of prints in my work and often I get people sending me photos taken with their phones asking if it's good enough to be included in the publications, and most of the times my answer is no, no matter if they have the latest phone.
Otherwise, you can probably invest in a small mirrorless camera instead. They're much cheaper and with the right lenses can take really nice photos too.
Thanks for the replies. I never print anything out. I take a photo for the ebay listing and once it's uploaded to ebay I delete it. I always wanted to start a youtube channel too and I figured the 80D would be a good camera for video, but never got around to it. Working a full time job, plus doing eBay on the side pretty much sucks up all of my life. Another reason I never use my 80D is because I feel it's too big and inconvenient to haul around, plus I never even think of it. I forget I even have it most times. I went to the shore on holiday a couple years ago and still took all my pics on my iPhone leaving the 80D behind.
Whether you buy a phone or not, based on your statements you should sell your camera immediately.
Since my iPhone 11 Pro, I have taken lots of photos, and heaps and heaps of videos. My Sony A7RII - I have not taken many at all.
If one has got time to spend, a flexible camera and various lenses, and time editing and composing - yeah that makes sense.
But if not, use the phone. If travelling, the video on the phone is surprisingly good.
The worst thing about phone cameras though, is that they will be superseded. While a camera's lens will last for years if its not dropped or scratched.
As for the DSLR fans out there - DSRLs are fine because they are cheap. And DSLR people defend them because they have invested in a bunch of lenses. If they were starting out they'd be buying mirrorless I reckon. Except if, like my son, whose just gone into business and is buying Nikon 7500 cameras . Because bang for buck they are much cheaper than mirrorless. So you pay a premium for a mirrorless IMO.
And I can't believe people who say you need a big camera to impress customers. Sheesh ... just put a Lecia label on it if you want to impress, those have cost the earth and been small forever.
Only way to find out if a phone with a heavily marketed lens/photo capability is worth it, is to buy one and see how much it's used ... and oh, mine iPhone 11 Pro is weak in marginal light for landscape etc. A camera kills it. Inside its low light is great. But with a sunset etc., a full frame sensor destroys a phone. But ... you still do get an instant photo that you'd miss out on with a big sensor camera.
If one has got time to spend, a flexible camera and various lenses, and time editing and composing - yeah that makes sense.
But if not, use the phone. If travelling, the video on the phone is surprisingly good.
The worst thing about phone cameras though, is that they will be superseded. While a camera's lens will last for years if its not dropped or scratched.
As for the DSLR fans out there - DSRLs are fine because they are cheap. And DSLR people defend them because they have invested in a bunch of lenses. If they were starting out they'd be buying mirrorless I reckon. Except if, like my son, whose just gone into business and is buying Nikon 7500 cameras . Because bang for buck they are much cheaper than mirrorless. So you pay a premium for a mirrorless IMO.
And I can't believe people who say you need a big camera to impress customers. Sheesh ... just put a Lecia label on it if you want to impress, those have cost the earth and been small forever.
Only way to find out if a phone with a heavily marketed lens/photo capability is worth it, is to buy one and see how much it's used ... and oh, mine iPhone 11 Pro is weak in marginal light for landscape etc. A camera kills it. Inside its low light is great. But with a sunset etc., a full frame sensor destroys a phone. But ... you still do get an instant photo that you'd miss out on with a big sensor camera.
Last edited: