Toronto Photography Meetup Group

Sorry about the sensational post subject. Don't shoot the messenger.

City News did this test where 9 of 10 people preferred the Sony Xperia camera phone over the 40D, iPhone, and a Canon Powershot.
http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/life/money/article/75192--camera-face-off

Gotta love the comment at the end: "We could only get depth of field with our SLR"

Now I'm gonna head over to PopPhoto.com to get the latest Toronto news.

Idiots that set up a stupid test get stupid results.

It's a perfectly valid test of consumer's tastes/preferences. If you're "Joe/Jane Consumer", it really doesn't matter what you shoot with.

Also keep in mind that Blacks adjusts every photo.

I do not agree. If you use a pro's tool then you get a pro to use it. Otherwise the photo's not not come out right. She was shooting with an L and probably was shooting 2.8 and does not fully understand what she is doing.

The point and shoots decide everything. Where an SLR assumes there is some knowledge behind the shutter button.

I agree with both of you on the points given here and here is my breakdown:

Yes she is using a prosumer camera and no she probably does not know how to use it... but! you cannot assume that she is not shooting on auto on all the "cameras" which also puts all the power into the camera rather then the user. all the user was doing was pressing a shutter button on the 4 "cameras". As a comparative test for basic users who do not necessarily know anything about photography and use of any of the "cameras" it is a perfectly valid test... and one with strange but interesting results





"quotes" used as I do not consider 2 of them true cameras even with these results given.

I think the point here is not a comparison between a cellphone cam and the 40D.

The point here is that the cellphone cam is as good as a pocket cam, which is a big deal when you consider your typical pocket cam cannot make calls.

Sure, the 40D may not make any particularly spectacular pictures, but then, that's where the photographers' skills come in, no?

Sure, you may use a very expensive set of enameled cookware, but if you don't have good recipes and skill, the cookware is not going to count for much.

Conversely speaking, I really hate when people come up and say

+1

Now I'm thinking I should sell my 5D, 20D, GF1 and all my lenses and just get a camera phone ... NOT.

Lmao anyone know that Telus bought blacks? Trying to merge the "camera phone" into blacks ... thoughts? haha Im interested to see when I can dial my moms house from my slr

In the end, it's still the "consumer opinion" that they were testing. I think you'll have to go back and listen to some of the comments, especially of the family that commented on the sharpness and shadows.

I just remember when I was all shiny and new with my first SLR. I was really disapointed with the pictures. I looked at what other photographers were doing and I knew the camera was capable but I was not.

I do not begrudge the fact that a cell phone is "better". You miss my point. I am just saying that the point and shoots have a lot more software in them to clean up the pictures before writing them.

Meanwhile SLRs do not even in auto mode (so much). The manufacturers are much more hands off for a good reason.

So for that reason the test is not well thought out.

ya that test was useless

only an idiot would buy and SLR and use it on 'auto' as a point and shoot

I can see comparing the camera phone to other point and shoots, but not an SLR.. thats not it's intention. Nothing is spoken of the expanded capabilities of the SLR over the camera phone

and like noted above.. this smells like a paid news story.. which in my business we call an 'advertorial'

Telus sells this phone, and owns Blacks... wow.. too convenient

I'ld hardly call 10 people a good sample size. So just take it with a grain of salt. Although she did say that no special camera settings were used on any of them.

But for what it's worth, the Xperia X10 is capable of taking decent images if used within its capabilities (just like most p&s cameras). It's definitely not my weapon of choice for low-light situations.

Here are a couple of samples.

Finally someone gets the intent of the test. It wasn't to say that a camera phone is as good as a 40D. It does show that a good camera phone takes good enough pics for casual snapshooters to be happy with images taken in good light enlarged to 8 x 10. They could put a huge dent in low end P&S camera sales.

At one point the reporter refered to "our SLR" which makes me think the 40D belongs to CityNews and they just tossed it into the test to see how it compared.

You only have to go to a TPMG social to see people using SLRs without changing the settings off Auto. And that's not at all a poke at those users. They are having fun and most will learn to adjust the camera to take advantage of its creative possibilities.

I honestly didn't care for either photo in the test. They weren't take at the same angle, so the composition is slightly different. The 40D's DOF did make the plant stand out more.

I say forget about camera phones they need to come out with SLR phones. I'm sure there is a market for it. lol

And I think some of you guys do not understand what I said. The SLR is a pro's gear and is not meant to be in the hands of someone with a passing interest in photography.

If you are happy with a P+S so be it no problems. I personally took a point and shoot that i used to shoot with and tried to take a picture. The AI in the camera drove me nuts. I could not get the picture that I wanted because the camera kept guessing what I wanted to do.

The cameras are at odds with each other. One is meant for a person who starts in auto mode then progresses towards manual and the other is for those who do not care one whit for manual. Two different tools to a different end. You cannot compare them. The test was geared towards the auto end of things.

I heard that Annie Leibovitz unloaded all her camera gear and is now using a camera phone exclusively for all her paid gigs.

hrmmm, really?

i need to find a new place to print photos. (any suggestions?)

Exactly the point. The photos were taken in 'auto' mode and taken by someone, who in your assessment, has

You should put an ad and see how many people will take you up on providing wedding photos with a camera phone and still charge whatever your regular rate is.

Exactly the point. The photos were taken in 'auto' mode and taken by someone, who in your assessment, has

Exactly the point. The photos were taken in 'auto' mode and taken by someone, who in your assessment, has

Aww, I wanted to share my opinion!... meh, I will anyways

Anyone else ever have to deal with "My point & shoot takes 12megapixel photos! It's better than your dSLR! I could be a professional photographer too with this thing!" comments?

I take this article in the same way. "Yeah... sure..." and walking off rolling my eyes

I find some peoples reaction rather funny almost like they feel threatened and need to protect the honour of their DSLR over these new upstart camera phones.

I've seen colour reversal prints of flowers from a camera phone actually selling for $250. Flickr is ripe with well praised iphone shots using these canned "artistic" apps so what if they only work at postage size they still look good until the novelty wears off.

Lets face it the majority of the owners of DSLR are not professional camera users so I think this is a valid comparison. If you are an average Joe camera user don't expect a relativity expensive DSLR to take better pictures then the sony camera phone. The other take away piece of wisdom is if you take boring shots they will still be boring no matter what camera you use.

+1

[quote="mike"] I really hate when people come up and say