The camera is not important, a good photograph has everything to do with the person behind the camera. It amazes me that photos by Ansel 70 years ago are still unmatched by today's photographers, even with all the advances in technology.
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What Camera to Buy? Annie Leibovitz Recommends the iPhone
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fitshaced
macrumors 68000
I think people know that. But Tiger Woods doesnt play with cheap clubs just because he is the most naturally gifted golfer in the world. I'm not suggesting that photography should be competitive. But, I think there is nothing wrong with wanting to use a better camera that offers more flexibility.
Ansel Adams work is awesome. But, I think its incorrect to say that its still unmatched.
Will do good
macrumors 6502a
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I worked as a global creative director for 20+ years, I've seen may top shooters and directors use the most basic camera when they are not working. It's the skill of the photographer more than just the tool.
No, those shoot will not be good enough to sell, but more than better than your shots with the best camera. 😉
You're probably right about the unmatched comment, that was a little hyperbole, but not entirely untrue.
But tiger woods would play better than me if he was using crap clubs and I was using his.
Also, just checked out some of your photos. Very impressive, keep up the good work!
fitshaced
macrumors 68000
It's the same debate as blu-ray versus streaming. It doesn't matter which is better. It matters which is readily available/convenient.
That's exactly the point of her answer. She's talking about what she recommends to people who aren't serious about photography.
Professionals need and use professional tools. If one were a professional bicyclist they would likely make use of the various features that a $10,000 custom built bicycle has, while the average joe who might want something to take out for a short ride on weekends will do fine with something he finds at Target for a few hundred bucks.
Most people are not professional photographers, nor do they have any desire to be. They simply want a camera that will take photos of memorable moments with friends and family that aren't all pixelated and weird looking (which was the result with many previous camera phones).
Leibowitz wasn't suggesting that professional photographers should dump their gear and grab an iPhone. She was commenting on how the iPhone camera is the best of the modern casual cameras. At one time people used Polaroids, later disposable cameras became quite popular. Today, it's the camera in your phone, and Leibowitz thinks the iPhone's camera is the best.
I think some people are missreading her statement. There are times when you know you'd want to bring your camera, and there are times where you don't know it. I think her point it, if your seriuos about capturing nice moments, your loved ones, your children, your dog, etc on pictures, you probably should get an iphone because you'll have it on you all the time and thus it'll always be avaible when there's something worth beeing photographed.
E.g: i took the attached picture with my iPhone 4 (picture quality slightly reduced for upload on macrumors), without my iphone i wouldn't have been able to caputure this moment.
I don't want to always carry a p&s camera with me, as i already have a phone, an ipad and other various things on me. I don't want to permanently add a camera (which i would need to charge and have the pictures transfered to my mac). The iPhone with Photostream is a nice and practical solution which no p&s can compete with. And for times you know you'll need a camera, bring your decent camera.
E.g: i took the attached picture with my iPhone 4 (picture quality slightly reduced for upload on macrumors), without my iphone i wouldn't have been able to caputure this moment.
I don't want to always carry a p&s camera with me, as i already have a phone, an ipad and other various things on me. I don't want to permanently add a camera (which i would need to charge and have the pictures transfered to my mac). The iPhone with Photostream is a nice and practical solution which no p&s can compete with. And for times you know you'll need a camera, bring your decent camera.
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People are doing amazing photographic things today that were unheard of during Ansel's days.
If you are a professional who loves creating images then you will use whatever is available at the time.
Its not the camera, its the photographer. Pictures 150 years ago were essentially taken with a box with a hole in it. And those guys got some amazing photographs. If you find your iphone photos lacking, its you, not the equipment.
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Really? The basic concepts of composition, lighting, and focus control are the same now as they were then. I've seen some great modern landscape work, but it could have been captured with any camera.
If the "unheard of" stuff you're talking about is done in post-production, then that's more digital design, not photography. Even Ansel did a lot in the darkroom, but it was still only altering the lighting of the scene.
ThunderSkunk
macrumors 601
Ancient Chinese proverb say: the best camera is the one you have with you.
I picked up a Leica S2 for work. On occasion, I take it out for some personal shooting. But really, when you're not shooting art, an iPhone is more than sufficient, & certainly a lot handier & less risky to walk around with.
I picked up a Leica S2 for work. On occasion, I take it out for some personal shooting. But really, when you're not shooting art, an iPhone is more than sufficient, & certainly a lot handier & less risky to walk around with.
toddybody
Guest
Yeesh folks, its just a dissenting opinion.
I totally dig my 4S for quick shots, but they dont hold a candle to my 5100's (Obviously Im no professional). That said, not the end of the world if some people dont see the value of a secondary point and shoot/equivalent.
I personally enjoy hotdogs as well as filets, just gotta appreciate them for what they are.
thekev
macrumors 604
Photographers at that level are basically all Apple users at that level. If there are any PC guys in that crowd, I haven't met them (not that I've met the photographer mentioned here). My point being that the proliferation of the mac among photographers probably makes them even more likely to adopt the iphone.
Anyway consumer technology is always about consolidation. I still like slrs though for the control 🙂.
Anyway consumer technology is always about consolidation. I still like slrs though for the control 🙂.
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Ignoring the technical for a moment, conceptually photographers are pushing boundaries that no one even tepidly approached during Ansel's days. Sure Ansel made nice looking landscape photographs, but at the core they were more documentations of something currently existing, rather than an exploration of dialogue through the camera.
Now technically speaking, you can't consider digital post-production "digital design" while still maintaining that darkroom manipulation isn't it's own version of... "analog design," perhaps. They are both post-production techniques, with digital post standing on the shoulders of darkroom post and going much further than the darkroom can technically allow. Honestly, digital is a much more refined post approach than the crude methods used in the darkroom, even though BOTH aspects are only altering the lighting of the scene.
chrono1081
macrumors G3
This.
I don't think a lot of the people who say "better gear takes better pictures" know much about photography. Sure they may know the technical things (f-stops, ISO (or ASA if you are old school 😉 ), shutter speed, etc, but they don't have the artistic eye to get a great shot regardless of the camera being used.
I've been shooting for a very long time and a few years ago I had to take a photography course in college and the professor took away pretty much anything digital (photoshop, digital cameras, etc) and made us shoot (or should I say expose with) pinhole cameras. It was amazing how many students couldn't get a good picture composition wise. They were too reliant on digital tinkering.
I can't say I am a huge Annie L fan but she knows her stuff and she's right on the money with the remark that the best camera you have is the one you have with you. Like a real pro, I'm sure she can get a great shot regardless of the camera / medium she has. (Although I have seen pictures of her with a Canon 5D 2 instead of an iPhone 😛 )
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Eh, I like having my iPhone around, but principally for video. For stills I carry a DSLR in a backpack pretty much constantly. I've never agreed that they are bulky. With a standard 50mm or something a little wider - say 35mm - my 7D fits well and takes far better pics than any phone. It's really not that hard to schlep around.
I also carry an old Nikon SLR loaded with high ISO monochrome film.
I don't always carry my Mamiya RB 67 though - it *is* a little bulky! I use it with 120 film or a Polaroid back. The Mamiya and Nikon were very cheap - less than a decent point and shoot.
So I can't say that I agree with Ms. Leibovitz.
Eh, I like having my iPhone around, but principally for video. For stills I carry a DSLR in a backpack pretty much constantly. I've never agreed that they are bulky. With a standard 50mm or something a little wider - say 35mm - my 7D fits well and takes far better pics than any phone. It's really not that hard to schlep around.
I also carry an old Nikon SLR loaded with high ISO monochrome film.
I don't always carry my Mamiya RB 67 though - it *is* a little bulky! I use it with 120 film or a Polaroid back. The Mamiya and Nikon were very cheap - less than a decent point and shoot.
So I can't say that I agree with Ms. Leibovitz.
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I don't mean to be pedantic, but the iPhone is a smartphone not a camera. It's £500 and for that price you could get a great camera.
I don't mean to be pedantic, but the iPhone is a smartphone not a camera. It's £500 and for that price you could get a great camera.
kycophpd
macrumors 6502a
notjustjay
macrumors 603
This is absolutely the case. I've owned a number of "really nice" P&S cameras over the years, most of them Canon Powershot and ELPH series. But the camera's not always with me. I've only had my iPhone 4 for a few months and the picture quality is pretty laughable in all but the most optimistic of circumstances -- but the thing is in my pocket every time I'm out. So which camera do I now find myself shooting with more? When I plan an outing, sure, my Canon. When I'm really serious, out comes my Nikon D70s. But if I'm posting an impromptu photo onto Facebook, or taking a quick note of something -- out comes the iPhone.
It's also a cost thing, I think. I spent thousands of dollars on my specialized equipment and so it MUST be better than that thing you got for so little!
A number of years ago I did video editing as a hobby, and I started with a regular 8mm camcorder and worked my way up to a Sony VX2000 miniDV camcorder. This was a prosumer, 3-CCD camera that cost me about $4500 Cdn ($2300 USD at the time) and took video that was night-and-day better than any consumer camcorder out there. I was very pleased with the quality of video, especially its ability in low light.
Last year I bought a tiny little Canon HF100 camcorder that records 1080p video onto memory cards, for $400. While many aspects of its picture quality do not beat the VX2000, 1080p easily trumps 480i. And nowadays many cameras have built-in 1080p video recording ability. Looking back, I've been pretty slow to accept that any of these tiny cameras could even come close to being as usable as the video from my expensive camera, let alone be more useful because of how accessible they are.
This seems to be a general trend. Streaming video isn't as high quality as 1080p Blu-Ray, but it is taking off because it's more accessible. (Edit: yep, several people beat me to this point already.)
You absolutely can. And then you end up leaving that great camera at home or in the car during that one moment that a cool or funny photo moment comes along. But your smartphone is in your pocket. Which will you reach for?
Reminds me of the time I eschewed P&S's completely when I first got my Nikon D70. Then my family went to an amusement park and I wanted to do some rides. Uh, where do I put this D70 while I ride the roller coaster? Hmm... suddenly I saw the use of having a pocketable handheld camera.
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Gemütlichkeit
macrumors 65816
I can't believe you think she's recommending this camera to professional photographers lol.
Are you really making that stretch? [in my best Penn Jillette impression] OF COURSE SHE'S NOT YOU DOLT!
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My take on this is if you're planning on going somewhere memorable, take your P&S. If you're out n about, of course the best camera is the one on you, in this case the iPhone. The smartphone is a long ways away from replacing the P&S.
Recently returned to Europe with a friend and he took iPhone pictures, I took Elph 300 pictures. Which ones turned out better? 😀 And lugging around such a small P&S is not a burden at all.
notjustjay
macrumors 603
Agreed. I'm still looking for a "really nice" P&S (maybe the Canon S100?) for such purposes. But it's mighty convenient having the iPhone on me all the time. I didn't think I would use the camera as much as I actually am, especially for things where the software is integrated with it. For example posting photos onto Facebook is dead-easy with the Facebook app, where before I would have to take the picture on my Canon, copy the memory card onto my Mac, find the photo, resize it, upload it, ...