The news of a rumored Facebook photo sharing app got me thinking this morning. How often do you use your mobile phone to take photographs? I find that I use my phone daily. Granted, it's not going to take award winning photography (just kidding -- it's possible: lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/11/through-my-eye-n... ), but it's easily accessible, and I find myself wanting to take and share photos constantly.
It's the main thing I love about Instagram. It's super easy to share photos with friends and strangers, and push your photos to other services. There are still some legit criticisms though (the 1 x 1 format, the cheesy, over-used filters) that former Engadget editor Chris Zeigler nicely sums up here: blog.zieglerc.net/post/6360587369/instagram-is-rui...
So, how often do you use your phone for taking pictures? Has it replaced your point and shoot yet? Do you think it will in the very near future?
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How often do you take photos with your mobile phone?
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I can remember a time about 6 or 7 years ago when everyone was buying nice point and shoots and DSLRs. IMO two things happened in 2004 that changed the game:
First, Flickr – and others to a lesser extent – which essentially allowed us to share our life stream without the hassle of maintaining our own photoblogs (remember photoblogs?). At the time phonecams were still subpar and transferring photos off of them was a hassle.
At around the same time the T-Mobile/Danger Sidekick II was released in the US and although the built-in camera was terrible, it allowed you to snap a pic and use its email client to upload to your Flickr stream. I think it's safe to say that the Sidekick II was a revolutionary device as well as a cultural phenomenon, and it really helped foster the concept of life streaming.
Today, with life streaming/social sharing so pervasive, phone cameras being of comparable quality to decent point-and-shoots, and wireless broadband being readily available, casual users are satisfied with what they carry in their in their pocket.
First, Flickr – and others to a lesser extent – which essentially allowed us to share our life stream without the hassle of maintaining our own photoblogs (remember photoblogs?). At the time phonecams were still subpar and transferring photos off of them was a hassle.
At around the same time the T-Mobile/Danger Sidekick II was released in the US and although the built-in camera was terrible, it allowed you to snap a pic and use its email client to upload to your Flickr stream. I think it's safe to say that the Sidekick II was a revolutionary device as well as a cultural phenomenon, and it really helped foster the concept of life streaming.
Today, with life streaming/social sharing so pervasive, phone cameras being of comparable quality to decent point-and-shoots, and wireless broadband being readily available, casual users are satisfied with what they carry in their in their pocket.
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Sad to say, I almost exclusively use my iPhone for photography now, and that's mainly because of the social features like Instagram. I have a wonderful Canon S90 and a Nikon D40 that sit sadly on my shelf just begging to be used.
I guess I'd rather just capture the moment and share it, instead of making it the best looking photo on the planet.
I guess I'd rather just capture the moment and share it, instead of making it the best looking photo on the planet.
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I use my camera a couple times a week, definitely not daily, which is why I don't use my point and shoot. I don't really want to have to carry around another device even though the quality is much better.
I'm actually sort of in a weird position when it comes to photo sharing. A lot of the pictures I do take, I don't share because I have little trust in these photo services. With the whole photo rights debacle that twitpic started ( www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/faster-forward/post/t... ), I'm hesitant to upload some personal stuff that I would like to share, but not be exploited for other companies gain. Right now, I'm trying to find a service that I think is trustworthy enough for my nonsense photos.
As for this new photo app, I'm a Facebook user, but as of year or so ago I refused to add any more of my personal info, photos, or videos to the service. I just don't trust them with that content. So if this Facebook photo sharing app comes out, I probably won't use it outside of just testing it out to see what it's capable of.
I'm actually sort of in a weird position when it comes to photo sharing. A lot of the pictures I do take, I don't share because I have little trust in these photo services. With the whole photo rights debacle that twitpic started ( www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/faster-forward/post/t... ), I'm hesitant to upload some personal stuff that I would like to share, but not be exploited for other companies gain. Right now, I'm trying to find a service that I think is trustworthy enough for my nonsense photos.
As for this new photo app, I'm a Facebook user, but as of year or so ago I refused to add any more of my personal info, photos, or videos to the service. I just don't trust them with that content. So if this Facebook photo sharing app comes out, I probably won't use it outside of just testing it out to see what it's capable of.
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Ever since getting my Nexus S, the amount of cell phone photos that I have taken has increased exponentially. I have replaced my point and shoot with it. The quality -- or lack thereof -- in low light is the only thing keeping me from using it even more than I do now. The camera on the iPhone 4 is even better than that of the Nexus S so if I had one of those, I would be using it all the time as a camera.
Once low light performance increases on these cameras and they stop shooting for absurd megapixel numbers by reigning things in a bit, I think cell phones will be the best point and shoots. It's all about that added value. Better quality lenses would help as well because sharpness is lacking a bit in most mobile cameras.
Once low light performance increases on these cameras and they stop shooting for absurd megapixel numbers by reigning things in a bit, I think cell phones will be the best point and shoots. It's all about that added value. Better quality lenses would help as well because sharpness is lacking a bit in most mobile cameras.
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I only use my camera to take photos of something novel or something that I want to remind myself of later.
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They say that the best camera is the one you have with you. And I find this holds true for me, and it seems to for others as well.
I have a small point and shoot that I basically never use. My camera of choice is my iPhone. Perhaps not the best platform for taking revolutionary shots, but it is always with me, and it definitely gets the job done.
I have a small point and shoot that I basically never use. My camera of choice is my iPhone. Perhaps not the best platform for taking revolutionary shots, but it is always with me, and it definitely gets the job done.
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I also seem to use my phone a lot more than any other camera. I have a nice canon DSLR and I really should get it out more, especially for pics of my kids. The phone is so convenient though.
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I haven't in the past but im trying to get more in the habit of doing it now that I have a phone with a halfway decent camera. I agree about the filters formatting as I tend to find them overdone and incredibly cheesy. I think people need to think about where they fit into the picture they're taking. It's almost as if we're going through the "Everyone is a photographer" stage again that happened once digital cameras became incredibly affordable.
On a side note, Android users should check out Lightbox. Just launched today and it's the most minimalistic photo sharing app I've seen that is somewhat on par with Instagram.
On a side note, Android users should check out Lightbox. Just launched today and it's the most minimalistic photo sharing app I've seen that is somewhat on par with Instagram.
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Now that I've upgraded from the iPhone 3G to an iPhone 4, ALL THE TIME. The quality is amazing for a phone, and using Instagram is super easy.
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I've replaced my point and shoot with my iPhone 4 and Samsung Focus. I take photos all the time with them. I want a DSLR, but the cameras in phones are perfect with quick sharing and fun shots.
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I used to take a lot of photos with my mobile phone until I got my DSLR. In fact, it was because I WANTED to take a lot of photos and have actual optical zoom that I got the DSLR. I rarely use my mobile phone now for pictures and my phones battery thanks me for it.
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I primarily take pictures of things I want to learn more about so I can research them later. I was at a restaurant the other day where they had a vintage board game decorating the wall. I took a picture of it to quickly capture it so I could learn more about later.
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I will use it more as the camera gets better. I know you guys on iphone have a better camera, not better MP, just better... but android is getting better and my next one will/should have a good 8mp camera. I will take more as cameras get better
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I believe most cellphone cameras are good enough for daily use. Sure the purist photographer will use their trusty "old school" cameras, but your average user an iphone or android camera is more than enough. I personally no longer own a stand alone camera since I bought my EVO last year.
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Mt iPhone 4's camera has replaced my point-and-shoot unless I'm going on vacation.
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my htc evo 4g takes better pictures in my canon camera. I now take at least 90 percent of my photos with my phone. I'm using dictate to type while I drive. this phone truly rocks
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I take all of my photos with my Blackberry 9650, but that's mainly because I don't have a decent camera.
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I use my phone almost daily to take photos, most of the time uploaded right to Facebook. I was using flickr for a while but now just share the phone pics on Facebook. Like ryansinger, I have an EVO 4g. It takes pretty great pics. I have an Olympus stylus tough 8020 Ill take with me fishing or hiking or something like that so I don't ruin my phone or when I want to take a lot of pics. It's amazing how great cameras in phones are these days.
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never,,, i use the camera....:D
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If I ever feel the need to take a picture when out and about (rarely) then I use my desire HD, but if I go on holiday, I definitely use a DSLR...
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Camera (and camera quality) is the most important thing about phone selection anymore for me. Why record info when I can take a 5+ mpix picture instead?
With panorama in my newest device, I can take some awesome pics, and it should only get better with time.
With panorama in my newest device, I can take some awesome pics, and it should only get better with time.
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