Why I Prefer Compact Cameras Over Cell Phones

[@ChrisBrogan]

My Ricoh GR IIIx just showed up as a "just throw it in the pocket cam" so I'm into it. :)

[@ryanrootphoto]

Heck yeah, man!

[@GungKrisna12]

or a glorified digicam

[@ChrisBrogan]

@@GungKrisna12 also true. Only with honking big pics with raw files and recipes and.. Oh. Nothing like a shitty digicam. But those win on zoom.

[@XoaGray]

When I used to work for Olympus, we had a saying, "You can't beat glass." What that meant most directly, was the lens was often more important than the rest of the camera. It mattered in how much light got to the sensor, and how things like bokeh and lens flares looked. Cell phone cameras, regardless how many megapixel their sensors are, or how much technology they try to cram into them have two major, major issues right off the top. Minuscule lenses, and equally minuscule sensors. It doesn't matter if you cram a 150mp sensor into a phone if it's shooting through a pinhole. These are limitations that will always exist. So cellphones have to rely on software to make up that difference. This is why you see the kind of things you do in cellphone images, the bokeh looks fake, because it is. The abrupt breaks between subject and background seem unnatural because they are. it's all done by the software. And that's not even getting into some of the other things that cellphone cameras routinely do. I've seen them full on hallucinate, and add in light sources that weren't there, flatten surfaces that weren't flat, etc. I have a pretty nice smartphone, I also have a couple pretty nice dedicated cameras. And if i have the choice, the cameras almost always find their way into my hands before the phone does unless I'm taking a photo that doesn't really matter.

[@ryanrootphoto]

Extremely insightful comment! A very well put add-on to the video, thank you.

[@bivouacphotography4768]

Bang on the money

[@petegleeson1]

@@XoaGray You did really well until the final line, if a photo doesn’t matter wtf would you take it? I am sure you have a cannon 5d with a big lens in your jeans pocket? Yes a big sensor and big glass that is quality will bring great IQ but actually how good an IQ do your images need for the images you make and where you use them, and do you really wander around with a backpack full of gear weighing who knows what 24/7?

[@XoaGray]

@@petegleeson1 Not every photo is meant to be a work of art, or to keep a life long memory. If I take a photo of something I'm making for dinner to share with a friend that doesn't require I pull out my DSLR, I'm just showing a friend a food I made. We'll probably both delete the image shortly after. It doesn't matter if I shoot that with my best camera, or a budget cellphone. And no, I don't walk around all the time with a bag of camera equipment. And while I'd love to have a 5D I don't have one of those either. I do have a Canon G15 that I love to shoot. I also sometimes I pull out my old Canon A550 pocket camera and take that with me. I do have a nice older DSLR, but that I use mostly when I'm going somewhere specifically to shoot photos or around my house where it's always in arms reach. But neither the video you're commenting on, nor I ever said you need to carry around a bag of camera equipment everywhere you go.

[@simonrockstream]

We desperately need more videos like this one, you got the point across expertly!

[@Dinkymod]

All of this is how I've felt. I don't know why people aren't making these arguments more often.

[@ryanrootphoto]

Appreciate it!

[@simonrockstream]

Genuinely WONDERFUL video Ryan! Seriously love your vibe, the way you talk and this type of video! Keep it up! Love to see what else you have to share :D

[@ryanrootphoto]

Really appreciate your commenting! I try to straddle the line between informative, yet humorous as that's just the type of person I am. Glad you got something out of it :)

[@jgwd25]

I got an older sony dslr from a second hand shop. I don't know how to use it, but now I have a hobby and I love it 😊

[@ryanrootphoto]

I'm telling you man, for me it's like therapy. You won't regret it!

[@abe.m.essack5719]

Ryan you are 100% on Point!!! Thanks for making this video. I’m a seasoned photographer of 50yrs experience. I can’t agree more….. camera’s and lenses are made for photography cell phones are okay for the occasional snapshot. You have detailed everything I can think of in your video. Wishing you great success with your channel. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts- forward to great photography- keep the content coming as technology improves daily.Thanks ❤

[@ryanrootphoto]

Even though I do get some negative comments, there's honestly SO much more positive ones, like this comment here. I really appreciate the encouragement, and congratulations on being in this art form for 50 years-that’s incredible! I will continue to share my spin on things in this photography centered channel :)

[@wherezthebeef]

I like old point 'n shoot digicams because... of the imperfection and challenge. With modern cell phone cameras, you don't know if your picture is... actually the photo of the scene, or some ai generated amalgamation what your phone's algorithm thinks you want to see. I want the challenge, and being human -- I embrace the imperfection and uncertainty of using an actual camera.

[@ryanrootphoto]

Great reply! I'm right there with you 👍🏻

[@pgbaines65]

The thing that I like about my compact camera that newer models no longer have is the 30x optical zoom. 2018 is the last new model that this advantage. In fact I have just bought a sx470hs 40x zoom first release in 2018. I hate taking pictures on my phone and always find it funny when I see someone taking the time to compose a shot on their phones. 👍🤠

[@trapy3550]

LMFAO at the last sentence haha. You a fool :)

[@ryanrootphoto]

Yeah, I mean I applaud anyone aiming to capture a great photo, but I'm just a dedicated camera guy myself! Thanks for watching.

[@c.d.osajotiamaraca3382]

This is an argument I haven't seen today. I appreciate your perspective. At least you considered the problems to be solved. The two work arounds I can think of off the bat is 1.) a smartphone cage with an ergonomic handle like Tilta from Kronos, and 2.) The do not disturb switch in your system window for however long your shooting session will be. The drawback, it's still a lot more work and time to set up your shoot than just pulling out your dedicated camera, unless it happens to be a 2nd smartphone; and provided your camera doesn't have an extensive lens setup. Thank you for this.

[@ryanrootphoto]

For a couple years I used a cage setup for my phone, that was way back when the iPhone 8 was a thing. I mean, it was super cool and I mainly used it for music videos. Dedicated cameras are just the natural graduation marker the more serious one gets about the art form, but nowadays so much can be done with phones and kudos to anyone who creates from their phones. I appreciate your insight as well and thanks for the comment!

[@markstevens6682]

I take my Sony RX100 M4 with me when I’m scouting an area for great scenes to photograph because sometimes, even years later I can use these photos in prints if I want too… You can’t do that with a cell phone!

[@ryanrootphoto]

Heck yeah! Love those little cameras

[@VladisRed]

I use compact cameras since 2010 for photos and videos. Even at this days when cameras in the phones are awesome. Compact cameras that's a real photography

[@ryanrootphoto]

I agree!

[@michaelmcclellanjr9831]

I like it. I would have loved to have seen some pixel peeping or color saturation discussion.

[@ryanrootphoto]

Perhaps I'll do a video about that! Thanks for watching :)

[@SatsumaMandarin]

I'm not an expert by any means but I've always had trouble taking "nice" photos with cell phone cameras. The look was just always off, in some way I can't really articulate. Even the top of the line cameras from Samsung or Pixel phones can't compete with my 10 year old Fuji. Like you said, it probably has to do with the software and computational photography. Also the wide angle lens makes things often look unnatural.

[@ryanrootphoto]

100%. Don’t get me wrong, the masses have adjusted to the “cell phone image look” and I don’t think that’s a bad thing altogether, but there’s just no replacing a dedicated camera. At least not yet.

[@stefanexplores]

Dude you're gonna build an awesome channel. Really enjoyed the video.

[@ryanrootphoto]

Very encouraging words! Appreciate it man!

[@trapy3550]

I wanted to get into photography and i bought the iphone 15 pro. It just makes the most sense, because of a few reasons and yes, i think they are fairly universal. (1) People want, need, have and upgrade their phones. Regardless if you are getting a new phone for the camera, you and yeeees, maybe not the exact person that is reading it, but you will upgrade your phone and it's expensive. Cameras though..... equally if you look for compact, which, is NOT something i had on my radar, when i was deciding in which direction i wanna go, and WAAAAY more if you go bigger. So to have both things under the same hood is just SO GOOOD! (2) The flexibility and ease of use is incredible for a beginner. Yes, some will smirk, but i have multiple lenses in my pocket, everywhere, even when i had no desire to take photos and can just take pictures. I don't need to worry about anything. It's just there. While i totally get, that the process is not as great on a phone, it's easy, it's intuitive and there is room to grow, learn and experiment. It also gives you flexibility with what you camera can do, BECAUSE it relys so much on computational photography. No NEED for RAW and editing, no NEED for a tripod even when it's dark or if you want to take a picture of the night sky. It just works and lets you have fun. (3) I can always decide i want something different, bigger, something with lenses or something small, but that is a dedicated camera, while still not having to "forgo" my purchase. Do people really argue that phone cameras or the iphone is the technically superior camera, that takes better photos? Nope and i think most people that say they prefer the iphone, would switch to your camp, if they had the camera in their hands. But that's where it ends up. The camera you have..... and there just a lot of good arguments for buying a whole phone, instead of "just" a camera.

[@BarrettBaker_photos]

I bought a Ricoh GRD1 from 2009 for $175. It’s always with me. I love my phone but a tool that is focused on one thing only is better than a multi functioning device that does a bunch of things decently but never good enough.

[@ryanrootphoto]

For photos I’m all about the more dedicated device, for now anyway

[@abchappell01]

That was a wonderful video presentation. I agree with you completely. 😊

[@ryanrootphoto]

Really appreciate it!

[@mk1photography62]

Totally agree a camera is a real camera and a phone is a phone with a camera still rather go with a Ricoh

[@ryanrootphoto]

Would always rather have an actual camera! 👍🏼

[@petegleeson1]

I own the GRiii and it is probably my most used camera. However I know a few people who have abandoned big digital slr or mirroless cameras for their smart phone. I recently did an exhibition with images printed at A3. Some were combined images from an iPhone se 2020 and the GRiii and one was just a combined image from the iPhone. All looked great at A3. Am I selling the GRiii? No. Am I getting a grip for my iPhone 15 and will consider using it a lot more yep.

[@ryanrootphoto]

Great, insightful comment! As I’m still trying to get mileage out of my 13 I’m going to wait until I absolutely have to upgrade and by that point, whatever latest model will be at that time, I’m sure it’ll reawaken my desire to shoot on a phone again.

[@ParkerPhillips-h9p]

Very informative!

[@GungKrisna12]

also: smaller sensor compact cameras tends to be capable of very long optical zooms

[@ryanrootphoto]

👏

[@АндрійПозняков-н2ф]

You can turn off all destructive notifications just using Focus menu... turn on AT Work and use iphone just as a camera)

[@simonrockstream]

Thank you

[@GregorPQ]

True.

[@ryanrootphoto]

Cheers 🥃

[@edwinty1010]

Hey Ryan, nice video! Totally onboard with your points. Been stalling away my Canon G7X (1st gen) for a while and been only using my iPhone. Trying to get back into the game with photo-shooting portraits and my dogs, maybe some vlogging on the side. Would you recommend any compact camera that carries the benefits that you mentioned while helping me to achieve my goal? Thanks a lot man! All in all, great video! A new sub! Ed

[@ryanrootphoto]

Hi Ed! Thanks for the kind word and the sub, it really helps. The Canon you have seems like a capable little camera for photos! Aside from full-frame Sony cameras I just have the Ricoh for daily stills, which I do highly recommend. Look into that camera line! The photo quality is great. I'm sort of falling more more into the belief of having cameras that specialize in one job: photo cameras for photo and video cameras for video. If I were you I would either keep my Canon for daily stills (or maybe sell for a Ricoh) and would possibly look into the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 just for the vlogging end of things. I think the true hybrid anymore IS the cell phone, which you already have :)

[@edwinty1010]

@@ryanrootphoto hey Ryan! Thank you really much for your suggestion and sharing. I ended up picked up the ZVE10 mark 1 which is an incredible camera. It turns out that I like shooting photography more than videos, so I think I made a good choice. And somehow, I also got the kit lens of Mark 2 which is very enjoyable so far. Definitely paving away from myself to the rabbit hole of changing different lenses. Thanks a lot! Ed

[@stevenmccaughan2752]

My cell doesn’t do what my Sony A6400 with my Canon F/4 500mm

[@ryanrootphoto]

Haha, I mean, for sure

[@stevenmccaughan2752]

Going to use it when the Comet rolls in at the end of the month gives me 750mm worth of reach need less to say I pick it up by the lens

[@danleber2281]

Who’s that handsome hunk sitting at the bar

[@ryanrootphoto]

Hot boyz only on this channel

[@bennieferinga9609]

I prefer compact cameras, for sure. I have a Sony RX100Vii, and recently bought a A7CII - great cameras. I started using phone camera. Phone cameras are great to begin with. If one likes photographing, and want to learn more, then get a compact camera for further advancement. One more thing cameras are better at: They last much longer. A phone gets outdated, the battery health declines. You can have a camera for years and years, if treated well. That Ricoh GR3X seems appealing with its compactness, aps-c sensor, and other features. Thanks for this video! 😊

[@ryanrootphoto]

I agree with all of this! Also, pretty jealous of that A7C2, I’d really like to get one sometime.

[@CrateUniverse]

Camera

[@ryanrootphoto]

Yeah

[@rccdesign]

1:20 I don't know who came up with this statement, but it feels like it's being told to beginners so they don't throw away cash too early in their learning process. There is now way a crappy hardware can match what professionals needs to achieve something. Try sports photography and then tell me that camera does not matter to get a good photo. It does matter. Focus tracking, fast AF, 1/8000 shutter speed, 12+ fps continuous shooting, better ISO performance, brighter aperture etc. It all matters. So, you give a professional a potato, and a beginner a 3000$ cam - they both will just have crappy photos as a result.

[@ryanrootphoto]

I mean, sure, obviously the more niche one ventures hardware does matter-but I'm sort of speaking in general terms here and was trying to emphasize building skill before blowing money., In this video, I'm breaking down the decision to use a compact camera over a cell phone, so you can imagine the audience I'm speaking to isn't out there shooting formula one racing cars. However, yes, it all matters in the long run. Appreciate the comment.

[@AdamKuzniar]

Some of the best sports photography were done on a 1fps (if you're quick) film cameras with manual focus, ISO performance dictated by the film you used and shot at f/8 (because MF). Gear helps, a lot, but give an A9 to a beginner and they will take the most boring pictures ever - give a 2005 Canon 5D to a pro and they'll produce works of art.

[@rccdesign]

@@AdamKuzniar Of course, but still, better gear greatly improves chance of taking that work of art. Speaking from experience, upgrading from 5D mk2 to 1D X improved my hit rate by A LOT. Shooting track racing and rally, with 1/30 exposure. There is a point where your skills outreach the camera capabilities, and then gear starts to matter.

[@ryanrootphoto]

@@AdamKuzniar Agree 👍🏼

[@tanuj.mp4]

It's all cool until youtube recommends such vids multiple times till you buy one and you can't focus on SHIT with this Ricoh GRIIIx. Also the metering mode is seriously fucked on this, usually underexposes 4 in 10 photos. 3 in 10 photos are out of focus. I am just horrified with the amount of memories I've lost just trying to make this camera work.

[@ryanrootphoto]

Well first, let's not blame the internet for our spending habits-that's on us. Two, I am a channel of a whopping 414 subscribers, I have nothing to gain so when I speak highly of a product its only because I believe in said product. I can't say anything other than I just don't seem to experience the same issues you're having, though I do primarily rely on snap distance auto focus for street photos and it serves me well. I am sorry for your bad experience but can't apologize too personally as I am in no way affiliated with Ricoh camera company. Hopefully you qualify for a return and if not hopefully you can resell on the used market.

[@ivlog3663]

I don’t know about your hands but I can shoot everything with one hand and a normal I phone 14 pro with a case… I HATE shooting with a compact ( have the rx 100 ) it’s horrible, „shoot and go“ and 90% is unsharp even though autofocus is green and so on plus image quality is worse than my phone… it’s super embarrassing and I feel 2nd hand shame for Sony …. Maybe you should consider learning your phone better :)

[@ivlog3663]

Ah and Sonys autofocus is like…. Oh two big dogs (shepherd) I’m pretty sure that’s macro or landscape … unsharp all day… and don’t get me wrong as a beginner and one that has always moving subjects I shoot in auto ( learning to shoot manuel ) And quality sucks it’s way better with a phone!

[@ryanrootphoto]

Hmm, that's strange that so SO many of us have absolutely no issue getting our shots sharp and in focus, we must be getting lucky. As far as my hands, they can grip a basketball. My point there was of ergonomics and NOT comprehension of cell phone use. We're all just doing what works for ourselves out here.

[@wherezthebeef]

To each his own, enjoy your one-handed computational, ai-generated iPhone photography. And somehow you're making a case that because your particular Sony has a problem or isn't working out for You, 'ergo', iPhone is the only solution and if a photographer prefers a point 'n shoot to iPhone, ergo - it's because he never bothered to learn the camera app? You lost me.. or you didn't bother watching the video.

[@teixeiradasilva6299]

You describing a ricoh gr simply as a compact camera is extremely misleading.

[@ryanrootphoto]

I mean, in my defense it actually IS just a compact camera, but I agree with you when I take into account my love for it 😂

[@danleber2281]

First

[@xCsquared]

Don’t boost dans confidence like this Ryan

[@johnadams3038]

Easy cause phone cameras suck ass lol