Iphone 5s or DSLR?

[set1208]

I really want to go minimal/bagless next week but I am feeling torn. Has anyone left their camera at home and just used their cell phone camera? I had a 4 for the longest time and just got the 5s so I haven't broken it in yet.

Any suggestions or opinions or first hand experiences would be appreciated.

 

[xlxo]

Some thoughts...

• How important are your pictures vs portability?
• Are you flying and luggage weight is an issue?
• Will you always be taking pictures in bright light? Do you need a flash or high-ISO?

 

[MataHari22]

Well, you cannot compare pix taken with a DSLR and an iPhone. Do you take a lot of photos with your camera while on vacation? Do you use the zoom a lot? Do you take photos with low light? If you're utilizing all the functions that a DSLR has to offer, then you may not be happy with just using your iPhone. I mean an iPhone camera is ok for some things, but not for serious shots. If you're ok with that, then leave the camera at home. I decided this year, not to bring my bigger Nikon. I bought a small point and shoot, and I am going to bring that. Thought that would be a good compromise. I have an iPhone 4s, and I used that a little bit last year, but I would not want to rely on that for my only camera, but, I also do a lot of photo editing, photo manipulations, scrap booking and artwork with the photos I take. (For photo manips it's best to have the highest resolution I can get) I took a lot of shots with my Nikon. I also decided on purchasing memory maker this year, because my friend that I travel with, she is awful at taking photos. Like, so bad that I asked her to take a photo of me, and I was no where in the photo! Yes, that bad. In others the camera strap or her finger is also in the way. There's a lot of beautiful shots of her at WDW that I took, and well...not hardly any of me....

 

[lylone]

Last year I just used my Nokia lumia 920 and the shots the CMs took with it were better than the ones we got from photo pass! Now we will always make them take shots with "our camera" instead of whatever DSLRs they use!

 

[set1208]

I like all of these points. Obviously my Nikkon is way better than a phone but I'm not excited to be lugging it around. Since I'm using a new phone, maybe I will take a couple pics this weekend before I leave and see how they look when I print them. Maybe they'll be "good enough".

 

[brinafair]

I'm torn. I made up my mind (or so I thought) not to bring the DSLR this trip. Sure I got some great pics last time but My neck was horribly chafed by the strap, on a couple occasions I accidentally banged it against the stroller, and I managed to scratch the lens. (Bonehead, I know!)

I thought I would be content just using my 5s & the hubby's phone. Now, I'm not so sure. I don't want to miss out on capturing anything. Biggest worry is keeping it dry and having to lug it around. Can't decide what to do.

 

[siskaren]

I thought I would be content just using my 5s & the hubby's phone. Now, I'm not so sure. I don't want to miss out on capturing anything. Biggest worry is keeping it dry and having to lug it around. Can't decide what to do.

How about bringing a point and shoot? Not as heavy as a DSLR, but more versatile than a phone.

 

[xlxo]

Scratch the lens??? For starters everyone should have a UV or a Nikon NC (no color) filter. In addition to fingers, it keeps dust and moisture away to make things easier to clean.

Does your DSLR have a vertical grip? I just remove my grip and the camera instantly shrinks.

How many lenses are you packing? I just grab a simple 18-200 or 18-300mm.

What are you using as a neck strap? Have you considered replacing the strap with something wider? Personally my DSLR is in a bag until I find my camera phone not good enough for those low light images or my phone is unable to zoom that far.

 

[set1208]

I'm torn. I made up my mind (or so I thought) not to bring the DSLR this trip. Sure I got some great pics last time but My neck was horribly chafed by the strap, on a couple occasions I accidentally banged it against the stroller, and I managed to scratch the lens. (Bonehead, I know!) I thought I would be content just using my 5s & the hubby's phone. Now, I'm not so sure. I don't want to miss out on capturing anything. Biggest worry is keeping it dry and having to lug it around. Can't decide what to do.

You sound just like me....LOL

I am going with my DS8. I've got four kids and anytime we travel, it's strollers and bags and spare clothes and water bottles and stuff stuff stuff. Since it's just me and one of my sons, I really would love to go minimal and bagless.

I think I'm gonna just roll the dice and make due with my phone. I just wish that someone who only used their 5s would let me know how satisfied (or not) they were.

 

[nkereina]

I used my 5s last trip and my pictures were fine. Full disclosure, we aren't "picture people" and I don't own a DSLR but I did bring my little point and shoot which never left my purse. I also liked being able to take photos on my phone for the purpose of texting/emailing to family and posting to Facebook. The 5s camera is pretty good and I especially like the enhance option under Edit, as well as the filters you can add to photos.

A lot of people will rely on PhotoPass to capture some of the important photos, and will use their camera phones for the rest. May be a good compromise.

Another tip - if you do go with the phone and will be taking a lot of photos/video, invest in a portable charger. Mophie and Jackery are probably the most popular. I own the Jackery and I got the middle of the road one on Amazon. It was about $40 and about the size of an iPod mini. It holds a full charge for quite a while (days) and gives off enough power to charge 2-3 devices, depending on how low your battery is. I think a portable charger is a must if you are using your phone as a camera.

 

[MataHari22]

Another tip - if you do go with the phone and will be taking a lot of photos/video, invest in a portable charger. Mophie and Jackery are probably the most popular. I own the Jackery and I got the middle of the road one on Amazon. It was about $40 and about the size of an iPod mini. It holds a full charge for quite a while (days) and gives off enough power to charge 2-3 devices, depending on how low your battery is. I think a portable charger is a must if you are using your phone as a camera.

I second this. I have a Mophie juice pack on my iPhone and I also have a Jackery bar. If I didn't have those I would never make it through the day. Those iPhone batteries just drain so quickly.

 

[roteiro]

iPhone takes really great pics but for such purpose I'd recommend you to take DSLR. It is better anyway

 

[brinafair]

Scratch the lens??? For starters everyone should have a UV or a Nikon NC (no color) filter. In addition to fingers, it keeps dust and moisture away to make things easier to clean.

Does your DSLR have a vertical grip? I just remove my grip and the camera instantly shrinks.

How many lenses are you packing? I just grab a simple 18-200 or 18-300mm.

What are you using as a neck strap? Have you considered replacing the strap with something wider? Personally my DSLR is in a bag until I find my camera phone not good enough for those low light images or my phone is unable to zoom that far.

I'm a newbie DSLR owner with no business using it until I learn more about it. LOL! I have managed to capture some great shots with it only for sheer dumb luck. I should be scolded, I know. I will be better prepared this time should I decide to drag it along. Seriously considering picking up a simple point & shoot for this trip.

 

[brinafair]

I bought a mophie case for my 5S as well.

Last trip my Galaxy III battery didn't make it through mid-morning.

 

[nitmavis]

The last trip we went on we had both the iPhone4 and our Nikon. Turns out we left the battery charger to the Nikon at home so we relied solely on our phones. The pictures were ok. I have an iPhone5s now and I think we're going to leave the Nikon at home when we go in November. I've been playing around with the different editing features and they are very easy to use. We are bringing my mom and nephew so I like the convenience of being able to text pictures and videos to my family and they can then choose to print what they want.

 

[jess1662]

Seconding the portable charger. The MDE app drained my phone like crazy. We were not on our phones much, and they were almost dead by mid-afternoon each day, and we did not take a ton of pictures with them.

But also, if you're a picture person, you'll kick yourself for not bringing your better camera. You won't be happy with a full trip full of phone pics. Maybe bring it with you, but leave it in the room one day and try with just your phone. At the end of the day, you'll know how you felt about it, but will have the option to switch if you weren't happy.

 

[brinafair]

Went out and picked up a Canon Powershot point & shoot. It'll save me lugging the big one and not stressing if my phone battery dies or I fill up the memory.
It has a lithium ion rechargeable battery.

It was on sale. Walmart had some bundle sales online for a $69 Nikon point & shoot (with rechargeable battery) that included a memory card. I didn't have time to order one and get it here before we leave so I spent a little bit more. Hubby may not agree but it's a small price to pay to ensure we capture precious memories.

 

[set1208]

The last trip we went on we had both the iPhone4 and our Nikon. Turns out we left the battery charger to the Nikon at home so we relied solely on our phones. The pictures were ok. I have an iPhone5s now and I think we're going to leave the Nikon at home when we go in November. I've been playing around with the different editing features and they are very easy to use. We are bringing my mom and nephew so I like the convenience of being able to text pictures and videos to my family and they can then choose to print what they want.

Thanks!
I just upgraded from a 4 to a 5s also and I haven't had time to really test it out. I'm happy to read about your experience.

 

[set1208]

Seconding the portable charger. The MDE app drained my phone like crazy. We were not on our phones much, and they were almost dead by mid-afternoon each day, and we did not take a ton of pictures with them. But also, if you're a picture person, you'll kick yourself for not bringing your better camera. You won't be happy with a full trip full of phone pics. Maybe bring it with you, but leave it in the room one day and try with just your phone. At the end of the day, you'll know how you felt about it, but will have the option to switch if you weren't happy.

Good idea. I leave tomorrow and so I'm going to check at radio shack for a charger on my way out. Great advice!

 

[mickey1968]

A lot of your satisfaction will depend on what you will do with your pics after the trip. If you basically end up just posting them to Facebook or for a screensaver, then the iphone will be more than enough. The iphone 5 and 5s have high enough resolution to print 4x6 size prints with no problem. The main limitation is zoom and low light.

I just got my DSLR last year and I really enjoy taking pictures on my trips. This next trip, I plan to take my DSLR with me but will probably leave it in the room a lot and just carry it when I am going to certain parks or in the evening when I love to tour after dark. I will use my iphone 5 the rest of the time partly for the portability and partly because it makes it easier to post pics to FB for friends to see.