Let’s get into the benefits and drawbacks of using a smartphone for photography, especially in a scenario like this one.
Check out the related video with visual examples and more information!
I've also got a video where I feature the Sony a7R V camera at the same event.
The Good: Phone Photography Benefits
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| The size of bag I tend to bring with to an event like this. Using a backpack instead would mean a very sweaty back and more to carry... |
First off, having a phone with you means you’ve got a camera in your pocket. It’s easy and convenient, especially since most of us use our phones for communication anyway. No need to carry around extra electronics if you don’t want to. I personally don’t like carrying a camera bag when I don’t have to, but for an event like the Renaissance Faire, having a small bag for water and other essentials like sunscreen makes sense. It's extremely hot and humid, so I feel like there needs to be a balance. I also don't want to take time away from enjoying the time with my friends. Sometimes going too try-hard with photography can do that.
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| My phone doesn't have an optical telephoto module. The digital zoom is terrible... |
Even though I had a dedicated camera available, I still enjoyed using my phone for photography. Most phones today, including mine, have multiple camera modules. Mine has a normal lens, a wide-angle, and a macro. That macro lens isn’t particularly useful, but many phones now come with optical telephoto, which can be a nice feature if you’re willing to spend more on a phone.
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| Using a phone at the busy Renfaire. |
One great thing about using a phone is how casual it is to use out in public. People are so used to seeing phones that it’s easier to blend in when taking photos. With a big camera, people sometimes feel uncomfortable or might stare you down. Sadly that's how society treats photography at times, but it's a large topic I can't cover here.
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| Double tapping the power button to open the camera app. |
Phones also offer some useful ergonomic features for photography. On my phone, I can double-tap the power button to quickly launch the camera app, even when it’s locked. I’ve also set the volume button to act as a shutter release, which can be more convenient sometimes.
Editing and sharing photos on a phone is also simple. If you’re aiming to do a complete workflow on your phone, from taking the photo to editing and posting it, you can do it all in one device. There are even third-party apps that give you more control, like shooting in RAW or manual focusing, which makes phones even more versatile for photography these days.
The Bad: Drawbacks of Phone Photography
Of course, using a phone for photography has its downsides. The biggest issue is that using one device could have battery considerations. If you’re taking a lot of photos, your phone is obviously going to drain its battery faster. You could end up in a situation where you need to make a call or text, but your phone is out of power because you used it all up on photos. Sure, you can bring a battery bank, but that adds more bulk to carry, so the convenience of just using a phone gets diminished a bit.
Another drawback is ergonomics. Phones aren’t really designed to be cameras, so you have to be careful not to get your fingers in the shot. My phone has the camera modules in the corner, and I’ve accidentally had my fingers show up in photos. It’s also easy to get blurry shots with a phone, especially in low light. Phones have improved a lot with software-based solutions, but they’re still not on the same level as a dedicated camera when it comes to image quality. They probably will never be.
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| Depending on the location of the camera modules, it can be pretty easy to accidently get your fingers in the photo. |
There’s also the issue of constant distractions. Phones are prone to notifications, accidental screen touches, and other disruptions. It’s not the same smooth experience you’d get with a dedicated camera, where you can focus entirely on the photography without being interrupted.
Comparing the Phone to the Sony a7R V
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| The Sony a7R V mirrorless camera. |
When you compare a phone to a high-end camera like the Sony a7R V, which I also used at the event, there’s a clear difference in quality. The a7R V has an especially large amount of resolution, which gives you a lot of flexibility in post-processing, like cropping images while retaining quality.
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| The Sony with a 28mm prime lens. |
My friend brought along two prime lenses for the Sony, a 28mm and an 85mm. A downside of prime lenses is that I had to keep swapping them to get what I wanted at the time. It's also bad because with a dusty outdoor environment it's very possible to dirty up the sensor. With that and the bright conditions veering you toward smaller apertures, you could have visible blemishes in the photos that need corrected in post processing. With my phone, switching lenses is as simple as tapping the screen to switch between camera modules. There’s no need to physically change lenses on the phone. A zoom lens for the dedicated camera alleviates that issue, but they tend to be larger than primes.
Using the a7R V was a learning experience for me. Sometimes, the autofocus didn’t lock on where I wanted based on the default focusing mode, and when I used aperture priority mode, the shutter speed wasn’t fast enough, leading to some blurry photos. These are things you have to learn when working with a high-end camera like this, whereas phones are more point-and-shoot and often give you decent results with a lot less effort when lighting conditions are bright enough.
Finding a Balance: Alternatives to Phone and Full-Frame Cameras
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| The Sony RX100 VA and Ricoh GR III. |
There’s definitely a middle ground between phone photography and using a full-frame ILC camera like the Sony a7R V. I’m personally interested in compact options like the Ricoh GR and the Sony RX100 series of cameras. Both of these cameras are pocketable and offer larger sensors than phones, but they also come with trade-offs. The Ricoh GR has a prime lens, so you lose the versatility of a zoom, while the Sony RX100 has a zoom but a smaller sensor. Both cameras are also expensive.
I also think it’s interesting to consider instant cameras like the Instax Mini EVO, which combines digital and instant photography. You also have film options like the Pentax 17 half-frame camera, which is another unique way to approach photography.
Final Thoughts
In the end, it really depends on what you want to get out of your photography. Phones are convenient and easy to use, but they come with limitations in terms of being a multi-use device like image quality and ergonomics. On the other hand, a dedicated camera like the Sony a7R V offers very high quality but requires more effort and comes with more bulk.
If you’re heading to an event like the Renaissance Faire, a phone might be all you need to capture great memories. But if you’re after the highest quality images, a dedicated camera is it. Either way, it’s all about finding what works best for you.