Which camera to take

[rossb]

You guys must be using some really bad P&S cams. The SX260 is much better than an iPhone camera. The iPhone camera is nearly useless when the light drops and it only works with one focal. Bright light shots are ok, but a $160 P&S like a Lumix ZS15 is better.

 

[klmall]

NO! Do not bring an iPad into the park to use as a camera. Not only do those people look extremely stupid using an ipad to take simple photos, the actual camera in them is documented crap. usefull for FACETIME and nothing more.

In regards tonot knowing how to use you camera. search you tube for "fro knows photo" he has tons of short 5-15 minute video instructionals. 3 or 4 nights and you will be using your camera more and more.

I agree with NOT using an iPAD for that purpose. Just the other day I saw someone using one to take Christmas pictures at a mall and I was sure that the next person bumping her would send that iPAD flying.

 

[DSLRuser]

to me, again, knowing how bad the camera is. It just screams "look at me i have an ipad".

I see it all the time and every time i just laugh. the iphone camera is a great little P&S, but the one in the ipads is just a FACE TIME camera.

 

[Patrick in Oregon]

It's weird because my wife's iPhone 4s takes great fireworks and F! shots, but my Galaxy Nexus takes way better Cars Land at night shots. iPhone is also very good during the day.

 

[traylorc]

to me, again, knowing how bad the camera is. It just screams "look at me i have an ipad".

I see it all the time and every time i just laugh. the iphone camera is a great little P&S, but the one in the ipads is just a FACE TIME camera.

But the issue is that most folks may not realize that the camera in an Ipad is not that great. So it's not a matter of trying to show everyone they have an Ipad, these folks may actually believe they have a viable tool to take acceptable pictures similar to their iphone.

Personally I would use my Ipad to take pictures...but...to each their own.

 

[havoc315]

to me, again, knowing how bad the camera is. It just screams "look at me i have an ipad".

I see it all the time and every time i just laugh. the iphone camera is a great little P&S, but the one in the ipads is just a FACE TIME camera.

That's incorrect. I believe it was true of the original iPad. But the current iPad has a facetime + a separate camera. The specs are 5 mp, 2.4 aperture, five element lens. It's a half decent camera built into the iPad, certainly far better than a facetime camera.
In fact, the lens and digital processing in the new iPad are the SAME as the iphone 4s.

http://reviews.cnet.com/2300-3126_7-10011688.html

 

[photo_chick]

I just assumed they were the same. Perhaps they've upgraded the camera with the latest generation of iPad/iPad mini?

The pictures sure look good when people are holding up their iPads to take the photos... perhaps it's the screen.

It's partially the size your viewing at. Much like taking a picture with a DSLR and thinking it looks awesome on the screen, then looking at your big desktop monitor and seeing it looks like crap. If you're only going to view the images on facebook and never make prints an iPad might serve you very well.

 

[DSLRuser]

But the current iPad has a facetime + a separate camera. The specs are 5 mp, 2.4 aperture, five element lens. http://reviews.cnet.com/2300-3126_7-10011688.html

As most camera people will tell you. Mega Pixals are next to meaningless. It's more of a marketing play. Especially on a P&S. a 2.4 aperture is great, but it is worthless becuase I cant tell it when i want ti to be wide open vs closed.

I stand by what I said. the ipad camera is a face time camera. trying to use it for more is moronic.

yes, I can take an old vespa scooter on the freeway, but its not really sometihng a smart person would want to do.

 

[havoc315]

As most camera people will tell you. Mega Pixals are next to meaningless. It's more of a marketing play. Especially on a P&S. a 2.4 aperture is great, but it is worthless becuase I cant tell it when i want ti to be wide open vs closed.

All that is true of the iphone camera as well. The newer ipad includes the same camera as included in the iphone 4s, with less megapixels. Other than the megapixels, the ipad camera is no different than the iphone 4s camera. Well, it's the same lens and optics as the iphone 4s camera. And it's the same sensor as used in the iphone 4 camera. So really, the iphone and ipad both have the same limitations and same strengths. The iphone 4s and 5, have the advantage of more mexapixels (which you claim is meaningless).

 

[DSLRuser]

the same limitations and same strengths. The iphone 4s and 5, have the advantage of more mexapixels (which you claim is meaningless).

The difference between a 4mp and say an 7mp camera in a phone or handheld device would be meaningless.

Now take a 4mp P&S and try an compare it against a 17mp DSLR, yes there are differences.

but in the same class of device dslr v dslr... iphone 4 vs ipad 2 or 3 a 1-3 mega pixal difference means nothing. It's the least important specification one should look at when comparing models.

Bottom line, a picture taken with an ipad and printed at 8x12 will be noticably inferior to a dedicated camera. you can onld get some much info out of a 1/4 inch lens with a 1/4 in fixed focal lenght.

And it looks dumb to take pictures in public with an ipad.

 

[havoc315]

Bottom line, a picture taken with an ipad and printed at 8x12 will be noticably inferior to a dedicated camera. you can onld get some much info out of a 1/4 inch lens with a 1/4 in fixed focal lenght.

Depends on the dedicated camera. But the question wasn't, iPad versus dedicated camera. The question was iPad camera versus iPhone camera. And technically, they are the same camera, except that the iPhone camera sensor has more megapixels.

 

[Patrick in Oregon]

The difference between a 4mp and say an 7mp camera in a phone or handheld device would be meaningless.

Now take a 4mp P&S and try an compare it against a 17mp DSLR, yes there are differences.

Your comparison is a little off.

4 vs 7mp in similar devices is meaningless - true.

Your 4 vs 17 compares PnS and DSLR not MP vs MP. So of course the DSLR will have better quality.

I imagine that wasn't your intent and I don't believe there are any 17mp PnS out there so the ideal comparison for this situation wouldn't exist.

 

[havoc315]

I imagine that wasn't your intent and I don't believe there are any 17mp PnS out there so the ideal comparison for this situation wouldn't exist.

The Sony RX100 is 20mp. (And image quality is quite comparable to a dSLR in most cases)

 

[photo_chick]

As most camera people will tell you. Mega Pixals are next to meaningless. It's more of a marketing play. Especially on a P&S. a 2.4 aperture is great, but it is worthless becuase I cant tell it when i want ti to be wide open vs closed.

I stand by what I said. the ipad camera is a face time camera. trying to use it for more is moronic.

yes, I can take an old vespa scooter on the freeway, but its not really sometihng a smart person would want to do.

Moronic? I wouldn't go that far. While it's certainly not my first choice, and I do think the sensor is inferior to the iPhone for reasons beyond megapixels, I wouldn't go as far as blatantly insulting anyone who wanted to use an iPad as their camera. In fact your statement makes me want to grab my husband's iPad and see what I can do with it and how far I can push it. I've managed to get shots with my smartphone that are indistinguishable from a DSLR, why not with an iPad?

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

I believe the best camera is the one you have with you when you need to take an image!!!!

Saying that, I've seen some Ipad users attempting to use one in some really ridiculous places, ie, trying to photograph 200-300 mph racecars in lowlight when I'm struggling with a semi-professional DSLR body with professional lenses! I've seen them in crowds being held over head which because of their size do have a reach advantage and the screen can be used like an articulating DSLR screen. Would an Ipad be my first choice? Absolutely not, but with their growing popularity and instant access to the internet, they will be used. For the not so discerning photographer, its better than nothing.

 

[havoc315]

I believe the best camera is the one you have with you when you need to take an image!!!!

Saying that, I've seen some Ipad users attempting to use one in some really ridiculous places, ie, trying to photograph 200-300 mph racecars in lowlight when I'm struggling with a semi-professional DSLR body with professional lenses! I've seen them in crowds being held over head which because of their size do have a reach advantage and the screen can be used like an articulating DSLR screen. Would an Ipad be my first choice? Absolutely not, but with their growing popularity and instant access to the internet, they will be used. For the not so discerning photographer, its better than nothing.

Neither an iPhone nor iPad would ever be my first choice, except when I want to instantly upload something to the Internet. And my iPhone would still be preferred over my ipad, because I think the ipad size makes it awkward for photography. But speaking purely in terms of IQ, the new ipad uses the iPhone 4 sensor, and the iPhone 4S lens. It uses a processor superior to other cameras.
So the ipad is indeed capable of decent pictures. Certainly not comparable to a mirrorless or dSLR, but certainly on the level of a budget p&s.
And for the challenging situations you mention, a budget p&s will be as useless as an ipad/iPhone.

 

[cmwade77]

I would not recommend using an iPhone for in park photography. It doesn't do very well with low light.

My P&S cameras do a very good job, but I have an annual pass to Disneyland, so I specifically purchase ones that will work well and are waterproof. Mine was around $250 when I bought it a year and a half ago or so, now it sells for much less of course.

There are also now even better P&S cameras and plenty of them for the parks, that can rival DSLR quality and are around the $200 mark.

That being said, there are things that you can do with a DSLR that you can't do with a P&S, but if all you care about is picture quality and not fancy features, there are plenty if P&S cameras that will work well.

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

Neither an iPhone nor iPad would ever be my first choice, except when I want to instantly upload something to the Internet. And my iPhone would still be preferred over my ipad, because I think the ipad size makes it awkward for photography. But speaking purely in terms of IQ, the new ipad uses the iPhone 4 sensor, and the iPhone 4S lens. It uses a processor superior to other cameras.
So the ipad is indeed capable of decent pictures. Certainly not comparable to a mirrorless or dSLR, but certainly on the level of a budget p&s.
And for the challenging situations you mention, a budget p&s will be as useless as an ipad/iPhone.

You would be surprised at what I see people attempting to use at race tracks! But they are happy with whatever they get because its only a remembrance that they were there. Because the dotcom internet websites do not require the quality of images that advertising/magazine clients do, again you would be surpised at what is being used compared to the professionals.

 

[photo_chick]

Neither an iPhone nor iPad would ever be my first choice, except when I want to instantly upload something to the Internet. And my iPhone would still be preferred over my ipad, because I think the ipad size makes it awkward for photography. But speaking purely in terms of IQ, the new ipad uses the iPhone 4 sensor, and the iPhone 4S lens. It uses a processor superior to other cameras.
So the ipad is indeed capable of decent pictures. Certainly not comparable to a mirrorless or dSLR, but certainly on the level of a budget p&s.
And for the challenging situations you mention, a budget p&s will be as useless as an ipad/iPhone.

The 4 does use the same sensor now? I didn't know that. We have a 2 and it's camera is a bit lacking, especially when compared to the iPhone of that generation. So it would seem that the iPad image quality could be greatly dependent upon which gen you have.

 

[havoc315]

The 4 does use the same sensor now? I didn't know that. We have a 2 and it's camera is a bit lacking, especially when compared to the iPhone of that generation. So it would seem that the iPad image quality could be greatly dependent upon which gen you have.

Yes, that's correct to my understanding. The iPad 2 had a very low quality camera. With the "New iPad" or iPad 3, my understanding is that they used the iphone 4 sensor (which is so-so), and they used the iphone 4s lens (which is quite good). I don't use my ipad for many photographs, but the fews times I have used it, I've been satisfied with the results in good light. In low light, not so much. On cnet and other sites, you can see side by side comparisons.
Apple seems to prefer to put their flagship technology into the newest iphone, and leave the ipad about 1/2 generation behind. I'd bet that the next iPad incorporates the iphone 5 camera.