Smartphone camera vs Canon 650D with shocking result

Yes, it is much easier to get nice looking shots from a heavily in-camera processed smartphone camera than it is from any DSLR that requires user involvement in the photographic process. But, especially on a photography enthusiast forum, to claim that a smartphone outperforms a DSLR is just asking for trouble.

With someone behind the camera, who has a knowledge of how to use the camera and how to compose a decent picture, there really is no comparison. Smartphone cameras are currently decent small sensor cameras, with excellent jpeg processing so that the results can be really good. That does not mean that they outperform DSLR cameras, or even advanced point and shoot cameras. It just means that they can produce nice images with less user knowledge ... in fact they have become the ultimate point and shoot device. But, if you put the average smartphone user behind the lens of any DSLR they will be totally lost and unable to get anything that looks as good as what they expect.

I have taken a few photo courses over the years, and am always surprised at how many "photographers" have no idea how to get the most out of their cameras ... regardless of what that camera may be. So yes, a smartphone can outperform a higher level camera ... particularly when in the hands of someone whose idea of photography is to point their camera and push a button. In the hands of an experienced photographer, that just isn't going to happen.

AARP Bulletin, July/August 2017