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I have a DSLR and use that for the majority of my photography.

However there are times it's more convenient to dig my iPhone out.

The Ollo Clips Lens accessory allows me to use things like Macro/Fish Eye without any loss in quality (excessive noise reduction aside!)
 
The editing tools in apps like Instagram and VSCO can go a long way in helping your pictures to shine even more.
 

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KRYTEN: Now then, uh, my optical system doesn't appear to have a zoom function.
LISTER: No, human eyes don't have a zoom.
KRYTEN: Well then, how do you bring a small object into sharp focus?
LISTER: Well, you just move your head closer to the object.
KRYTEN: I see. Move your head ... closer, hmm, to the object.
 
I've seen countless bad photos taken with DSLRs (and SLRs). They're not magical picture-making machines. They simply have more controls and can deliver higher technical quality in the hands of those who know how to use them. The "secrets" to great photos (images that communicate) are contained in the kind of tips we have here - how to use the tool effectively, how to approach the art in a more mindful manner, etc.

I'd even wager that a tripod could do far more than a DSLR (and at a much lower price) to improve a beginner's technical quality. Camera shake is probably a far more common cause of un-showable images than noise.

Any experienced photographer may quibble over rules (and of course, once mastered, rules must also be broken)... Mine, here, has to do with flash. I'd have simply said that leaving the flash on Auto can lead to unintended/poor results (this is true for any camera with built-in flash, not just iPhone). Often, it doesn't flash when I'd have found some fill-flash to be useful, or flashes for no good purpose (like while in the stands at a nighttime sporting event). Knowing when to use/disable flash is too advanced a topic for a 4-minute beginner tips video, but I'd put it on the list of topics for a series of "advanced beginner" videos.
 
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I shoot with a 1Dx and 7DII. I picked up a second hand EOS M and love it. I really hope Canon pushes the M4 to be a small, high quality mirrorless camera with the 80Ds sensor and AF.
I'm really loving what Sony has been doing lately. They finally expanded to some higher-end lenses the other week (although they're pretty big which kinda negates the benefit). I'm trying to decide between the new A6300 and A7rII for personal use. I really want the low-light performance of the A7rII but a smaller file size so I won't likely have to upgrade my Mac, lol. And I need more resolution than the A7sII offers. It's just a bit pricey to go full A7rII plus some solid glass. Might just get some adapters for my Canon glass in the interim. I have a 7D at home with 24-105L, 100-400L and 100mm f/2.8 macro. So I'm overdo for an upgrade and want faster glass anyway. Sigma actually makes some decent primes for Sony that are fairly fast and cheap.
 
"Apple has fully embraced the iPhone's position as a serious photography device, and over the years, the camera has steadily improved, but getting a great picture is about more than just the camera it's shot with -- factors like lighting and positioning can have a huge impact on the outcome."

As Tim adequately demonstrated at the Super Bowl. ;)

But seriously, I love my iPhone's camera.
 
For those who do not know, your local Apple Store has classes on numerous topics. It does a class on basic photo taking with an iPhone. Great for beginners for not much good for anything beyond that.
They are all free. Just register and go.
 
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The iPhone is another tool I can use to take photos but considering my photography background and career, I'll be sticking to my DSLR.
 
I use tap to focus.

all of this user interaction brightness etc is all good, but isn't this basically trying to "fix" whats iOS can't actually do automatically in all areas ? or at least that well enough

Similar to tweaking...... there's always gonna be a spot where iOS can do much better job handling lightening, but u must resort to "second best" manual approach, which won't turn out as good as if it was done by software automatically..

Then again, in both cases, u'r trusting either the user knows the perfect settings, or the software knows the perfect setting for the scene. At one stage i guess u gotta increase the hardware anyway.

Still a great device.
 
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Flash can indeed be awful and unflattering on people... My tip is, assuming there's someone else with you when taking pics, is to get them to use their camera flash as a torch and light your subject from a different angle - lower, to the side, further away, etc.
Works much better that a face-on flash.
 
Can any one explain to me what is the psychology/science behind the rule of thirds?
Why does it look better if not in the middle?

its interesting...
 
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"You're holding it wrong."

Here's a tip: Not everyone knows how to handle a dSLR, nor the time to take to learn it, nor the capability to buy a $600+ device in addition to their expensive phone, nor the want (or extra attention) of carrying a bulky device around their neck everywhere they go.

Source: I'm sitting here at work with my 5D MkIII 24-70mm f/2.8L. I'm also considering a move to mirrorless to minimize size and weight. I know other pros who have already made the switch. For instance the Sony A7rII is a beast. If you can't get people like us to still use dSLRs, then there is no hope for regular consumers. dSLRs are still useful (mostly for sports), but they're in decline.
 
Can any one explain to me what is the psychology/science behind the rule of thirds?
Why does it look better if not in the middle?

its interesting...
I was taught in art classes that it's to do with making the subject seem like a natural part of the surroundings that just so happened to be in the image, rather than being forced into focus by the photographer. The idea that a person catches something on first glance because it stands out in its own environment rather than being drawn to the centre is more appealing. They neglected to tell us much beyond that.

Now, if only good tips compensated for tremors.
 
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