Is digital dead now?

I use both film and digital, both have a place in my photographic life but there is no place in my photographic life for my phone camera. I never leave the house without a camera even if it is only my Fuji X100T so I never need to take a shot with my phone.

Since I only shoot up to Medium Format (6x6) on film and have digital Medium Format (Fuji GFX 50S) I can't say that the image quality of film is as good as digital but I like the way film renders my images and enjoy using it, however, if I were to shoot the same subject side by side on both film and digital MF the digital one would be much sharper, crisper, detailed have better dynamic range but I would most likely prefer the film shot.

I use my smartphone camera to snap things that I will later delete like oshopping lists, specific items I have to find when I am sent on errands etc never for a photograph I would want to keep.
 
Marc said:
As a wheelchair user, it fits niicely in my bum bag.
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Years ago I read an article in a Photo Magazine about a guy who was a wheelchair user who had a specially adapted mount for his chair that had a ball and socket with an Arca type plate and he clamped a Medium Format film camera to it, he showed some great photos from that rig form a different perspective (because he couldn't shoot at standing up eye level).
 
Phones are now far more effective at taking family snaps for social media and sharing than an other sort of camera.

However high quality cameras are still needed for evey field of specialised photography. Whether amateur or professional.

If all you want is something to record your memories, nothing comes near to a phone for convenience. But It has severe limitations.
 
Snaps being the operative word!
 
Long term any type of camera specifically for photography or video is a dead fish, but we aren't anywhere near there just yet.

It is isn't hard to imagine that in maybe 15-20 years time though that technology will have leaped forward again and mobile phones will have the tech needed to replace the need for a dedicated camera for 99.9% of people including those that shoot video and photo professionally.

There already videographers at weddings who predominantly use phones for capturing video. Content creators at weddings are becoming a bit of a thing and they only use phones and maybe long term will replace photographers and videographers. It cant be too long were the tech improves enough that cameras in phones will be capable of sports photography etc. and producing high quality images.
 
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f/2.8 said:
Long term any type of camera specifically for photography or video is a dead fish, but we aren't anywhere near there just yet.

It is isn't hard to imagine that in maybe 15-20 years time though that technology will have leaped forward again and mobile phones will have the tech needed to replace the need for a dedicated camera for 99.9% of people including those that shoot video and photo professionally.

There already videographers at weddings who predominantly use phones for capturing video. Content creators at weddings are becoming a bit of a thing and they only use phones and maybe long term will replace photographers and videographers. It cant be too long were the tech improves enough that cameras in phones will be capable of sports photography etc. and producing high quality images.
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Hmm... given that in the end physics comes into it; creating an A2 or larger print from an image captured by sensor that is say 3mm square, is always going to be something of a challenge. That said, 99% of people probably don't do that anyway...
 
GeeJay57 said:
Hmm... given that in the end physics comes into it; creating an A2 or larger print from an image captured by sensor that is say 3mm square, is always going to be something of a challenge. That said, 99% of people probably don't do that anyway...
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It’s likely that in 20 years time from now we will be using entirely different tech. Sensor size may will not be an issue.

If Musk has his way we will be using a sensor inside our brains and our eyes as lenses.
 
f/2.8 said:
It’s likely that in 20 years time from now we will be using entirely different tech. Sensor size may will not be an issue.

If Musk has his way we will be using a sensor inside our brains and our eyes as lenses.
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Hope I get 16-600mm f1.4 zoom eyes then.
 
Does it really matter?
Those of us, of whatever age, have or can obtain in coming years, all the kit we want for our hobby. If Pro, then as in all trades and professions, you have to move with the market, but as an amateur, you do what you enjoy with kit you like using.
In ham radio - itself arguably a dying hobby due to the advent of cellular phones and satellite systems - people use the kit they enjoy; so whilst I like big "boat-anchor" radios with valves and lots of knobs and buttons, and wire draped around the garden, there are many younger amateurs who just want to chat to people using a handheld transceiver that connects to a hotspot that is internet-linked to other hotspots all over the world - it's not really radio comms, but it's what floats their boat. Ditto with photography, it will be whatever the market wants it to be as it changes over time.
 
Phones will probably do for Instamatic cameras.

In fact I haven't seen one for quite a while.
 
woof woof said:
No matter how many times I hear and read this I've still seen no real evidence of this as whenever I look at a smartphone image on my pc they've never ever matched what I can get from any digital camera I own or have owned for quite some time... apart from a couple of ancient compacts I still have.

And then there's the negatives of smartphone photography. They have no ergonomics at all and I hate holding them at half arms length and jabbing at them with a finger. It is for me at least just a joyless awful experience. Good luck to those who like using them and to those who think the IQ is acceptable.
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They are not perfect but I guess you have not looked at some of the images from mobile phones?

I have an iPhone 15 which continues to impress me with what its camera can deliver. But I also have two mirrorless cameras which have much larger sensors. Until the tiny sensors in mobile phones catch up I will still use a dedicated camera. But times are a changing ... fast.
 
soupdragon said:
Seems to me that digital slrs and mirrorless cameras have reached peak sales now and are on the decline. Canon and Nikon revenue reports support this.
The iphone appears to have matched or even excelled (in some cases) ILC cameras and is certainly more portable. I'm not just talking apple, Samsung and whatever are all doing the same thing.
So, is there any future for slr/mirrorless cameras outside photo journalism?
I personally hope not. so as soon as the masses fall out of love with the latest, greatest and most megapixeled loaded digicam the better.
It'll give a film old timer like me hope that the materials for my art are available for years to come.

Digital sucks!

Hybrid is OK though.
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A trolling attempt?!

I couldn't care less about your films. If you like playing, go ahead there are enough supplies. It is a niche thing now so sorry you may have to dig deeper and pay more for it. It is not going back to the 1980s ever again. Get on it with it. But to throw toys off the pram and wishing demise of digital is so childish...

And besides, if the soccer moms finally give up and move back to iphones and AI, so be it. Couldn't care less about it too.
 
the quality of a mobile phone camera might be very good but for me it's all too automated - i prefer to manually focus, set the aperture & shutter speed which would all be quite difficult on a phone - also prefer an optical viewfinder to using a screen
 
Topsy said:
Years ago I read an article in a Photo Magazine about a guy who was a wheelchair user who had a specially adapted mount for his chair that had a ball and socket with an Arca type plate and he clamped a Medium Format film camera to it, he showed some great photos from that rig form a different perspective (because he couldn't shoot at standing up eye level).
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This illustrates the point that 'real photographers' should look for the 'best vantage point' and not merely put the camera at eye level while standing!
 
wornish said:
You lost me here. Please explain.
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Certainly.

I find the photographic quality of phone cameras (at least mine - Samsung A70) very poor when compared to my mirrorless camera.

Also I don't find anything worthwhile with pointing and shooting knowing I have little to no input with the settings.

If I had a newer phone I may think differently.
 
The problem with looking at ‘the decline in sales of interchangeable lens cameras’ and the ‘rise in the use of smartphones’ is that they’re 2 issues that are only vaguely connected.

In my lifetime there’s been 2 boom times for camera sales, and studying just the ‘end’ of the last boom is problematic.

The other salient point being that smartphones have changed the way we live, and have decimated the sales of:
Portable music devices
Laptops
Pocket calculators
Handheld gaming devices
Newspapers
Magazines
Compact cameras

For the historic population of ILC users, a smartphone is not a replacement any time soon.


As I’ve posted before:
You’re certain to die if you don’t know the difference between causation and correlation.
 
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I think it all depends on the intended end use of the image.
I confess to using my phone camera for a number of things.
ie the gas and electric meters before I upload the readings. Recording flip chart images on training courses. Sending someone an image of something is easier than trying to explain it. So basically to record information.
I dont print them or even bother backing them up but I find it useful.
I know people who do print pics of their kids for grandparents aunts etc who are quite happy with the quality (maybe due to cateracts). We also see people joining this forum who want to move on from their mobiles camera onto a dedicated camera.
I dont see digital dying anytime soon. Phone cameras have there place and are often a starting point for many people.
Think how many of us started with a ff ICL camera or the earlier equivilant. I know I didnt and I dont know anyone that did. I bought a kodak instamatic with pocket money in the late 60s. Then moved on to my dads Voiglander Vito B with a fixed f3.5 lens and a handheld light meter before buying my first SLR in the mid 70s.
Its horses for courses like in all areas of life.
 
GreenNinja67 said:
People don't buy a smartphone for the camera.

.....
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That is a sweeping and wildly inaccurate statement!

Whilst I understand the limitations of even the best 'phone hosted cameras, when I buy a 'phone my two primary considerations are whether it has physical dual (edited!) SIM slots and the quality of the camera.

I know I am far from alone in considering the camera when buying a phone - including professional photographers I have spent time with in Africa and SE Asia who, like me, recognise the value of camera phones in certain situations.
 
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GreenNinja67 said:
People don't buy a smartphone for the camera.

A phone will never match what you can do with a proper camera.

As for the technology in modern mirrorless cameras we've never had it so good. I can't see the major manufacturers going under quite yet.

Oh, and digital's great, as is film.
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this exactly as far as I can tell mirrorless has brought an upsurge in photography, I may be wrong Im just going on my own photography circle
 
Personally I don't think digital will die and I don't think phone cameras are a bad thing. Horses for courses. What will take the joy out out photography for me is AI. Not simple noise reduction and distraction removal but the full introduction of things that were never in the scene. I already find myself doubting the authenticity if images on line which is a real shame as I am probably doing some very talented people a disservice.
Progress is something we have to live and embrace though I suppose.
 
last week I was watching and photographing the Lions at the zoo, the lady stood next to me was trying to photograph them using her phone but the phone would only focus on the wire , I tried to help her but her phone just would not focus where she wanted, not saying it’s not possible but I couldn’t figure it out
 
Is digital dead now?

No. The technology is evolving and we're adapting. Smartphones are the preferred choice for everyday photos and video clips for almost everyone. It's so convenient and the results are great. Interchangeable lens camera systems continue to have the edge for image quality, versatility, and advanced features. The market is evolving in response to changing consumer preferences and technological innovation, as it always has done and will continue to do so.

PS I feel trolled....
 
Topsy said:
Years ago I read an article in a Photo Magazine about a guy who was a wheelchair user who had a specially adapted mount for his chair that had a ball and socket with an Arca type plate and he clamped a Medium Format film camera to it, he showed some great photos from that rig form a different perspective (because he couldn't shoot at standing up eye level).
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one of the photographers at the zoo has a setup like that , for digital camera though
 
GreenNinja67 said:
Certainly.

I find the photographic quality of phone cameras (at least mine - Samsung A70) very poor when compared to my mirrorless camera.

Also I don't find anything worthwhile with pointing and shooting knowing I have little to no input with the settings.

If I had a newer phone I may think differently.
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I don't think you will find many who would argue that photos from a modern mirrorless camera (with a competent operator pressing th buttons) in most situations will produce much better photographs than even the best camera 'phone.

However, and maybe it is just me, there have been situations where my camera phone was the better solution.

For example, Upper Antelope Canyon, Arizona. No tripods/monopods allowed, poor/difficult light and only a little available time available at each location to set-up, compose and take pictures.

I did take some photos with my SLR, but quickly realised (and confirmed when I got back to a computer to compare) that my 'phone was coping better than me and my Canon.

20221118_124407.jpg
 
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I have a 2 year old grandson, and quite simply, it's far easier getting candid shots of him on my iPhone 15 than it is with my camera, unless we set up a formal shoot. Not quite sure that even my iPhone 15 Pro Max will capture a decent image of the birds in the garden,
 
whyone said:
I don't think you will find many who would argue that photos from a modern mirrorless camera (with a competent operator pressing th buttons) in most situations will produce much better photographs than even the best camera 'phone.

However, and maybe it is just me, there have been situations where my camera phone was the better solution.

For example, Upper Antelope Canyon, Arizona. No tripods/monopods allowed, poor/difficult light and only a little available time available at each location to set-up, compose and take pictures.

I did take some photos with my SLR, but quickly realised (and confirmed when I got back to a computer to compare) that my 'phone was coping better than me and my Canon.

View attachment 416276
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That's where Olympus IBIS comes into its own.
 
whyone said:
That is a sweeping and wildly inaccurate statement!

Whilst I understand the limitations of even the best 'phone hosted cameras, when I buy a 'phone my two primary considerations are whether it has physical dual (edited!) SIM slots and the quality of the camera.

I know I am far from alone in considering the camera when buying a phone - including professional photographers I have spent time with in Africa and SE Asia who, like me, recognise the value of camera phones in certain situations.
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OK, the majority of phone buyers aren't looking at the specs of the camera when making the decision to purchase.

You do as you're a photographer.

Most look at the colour of the case or want to get a better one than their mate's just got.

Nothing sweeping about my statement, however I could have put "in my opinion" to remove the broom.
 
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