Nowadays it seems like everyone’s camera is his or her smartphone. Smartphones have combined convenience with good quality photography. With countless of smartphones on the market, the iPhone is consistently ranked highly for image quality.
In light of the launch of the new iPhone 6, do we still need compact cameras? We have listed four important barometers to consider before you commit.
Consistently faster auto-focus or zoom capability? The auto-focusing technology known as “Focus Pixel” on the iPhone 6 gives rise to a faster and more consistent photo shot because the camera can focus twice as fast than its predecessor, allowing you to easily snap a moving object.
However, the iPhone lacks an optical zoom, and the only way to get a close-up is to move closer to your subject. This isn’t a problem with the majority of compact cameras, and the Samsung WB850F camera is no exception – it packs a whopping 21x optical zoom on a 23 mm wide-angle lens.
Front camera improvement or manual settings? Millennials are obsessed with taking “selfies” so Apple has made major improvements to its front camera. The 1.2-megapixel camera is sharper than ever, and the FaceTime display is now positioned to the left of the speaker, from which you can control the light temperature of the FaceTime camera.
While there are all sorts of iPhone accessories for turning it into a serious photographic tool, it still lacks manual settings. However, the Panasonic Lumix LX7 camera offers full manual controls including an aperture ring, rear focus control and a rear click-wheel for scrolling through other options.
Time lapse or raw photo format? It is safe to say that this feature is one of the iPhone’s best features. Although it doesn’t allow for much granular control, it automatically takes multiple photos in one second and then assembles them into a time-lapse sequence.
Of course, a photo from an iPhone looks great on the small screen, but when you try to produce a larger print you might notice that the image quality isn’t as good as you expected. Compact cameras such as the Canon Powershot G1X can store DSLR-rivaling images in 14-bit RAW format, which makes them more adaptable during post-production when you want to recover highlights or adjust the white balance.
Additional apps to enhance photo result or tough body? The app store has tons of options for photo editing. Even if you’ve taken an extraordinary photo, you can add effects to make it more artsy before you post it on social media. This is an easy way to make yourself look like a photography pro in the public eye.
However, there’s a reason there are so many protective cases available for the iPhone. The iPhone is like a fragile little infant compared to the Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS. This camera is waterproof up to 12 meters, shockproof when falling from heights of up to two meters and can operate in temperatures as low as -10° C and withstand a crushing weight of up to 100 kilograms.
Conclusion Although the iPhone camera has been improved, there’s still a market for those who want something better – be it better performance, flexibility, or just something a bit sturdier. Just like the iPhone, the compact camera will continue to evolve and offers an option for those with a more discerning eye.
