The smartphone versus camera debate has been a major industry talking point over the last few years, with good reason. As smartphones evolve, it is no surprise that manufacturers are placing greater emphasis on their camera features.
As a result, the quality of pictures that can be taken today via smartphones are significantly better than their predecessors, but still do not compare to the crystal-clear quality of digital SLR cameras. In fact, we believe that the fundamental difference between smartphone and DSLR photography is in subject of their focus: smartphones capture moments, DSLRs capture long lasting memories.
What differentiates memories from moments, one may ask. Moments are everyday experiences that people like to share, whether it’s a fancy meal at restaurant or a funny sign on the road. They’re instances in time that people capture and keep for a short while.
The rise of social media overlapping with the rise of smartphone photography is not a coincidence; most photos shared on social media are moments. This does not mean that only smartphones can capture moments; DSLRs, especially those equipped with features such as inbuilt WiFi, capture better quality pictures that one can share online instantly.
Moments are much like new smartphones, they stay with you for a while, but their importance fades with time as they are replaced with new ones. Compare this with DSLRs that have a timeless quality about them, being guarded as valuable possessions along with the priceless memories they helped capture.
Life is a series of milestones — a baby’s first steps, graduation ceremonies, family weddings, anniversaries, and even exotic holidays. These are important markers in our journey that don’t come by again and more often than not are immortalised in photos. These memories are made for DSLRs; people can not only share the photos instantly with their friends and family, but rest assured that they have high-quality copies with them forever, never to be lost or degraded, much like the memory itself.
Contrary to most thinking, the continued improvement of smartphone cameras has contributed positively to the DSLR industry. Some features in DSLRs like inbuilt WiFi, GPS for geo-tagging photos, improved in-camera photo editing settings and most importantly, a compact body for easy portability. These functions will enable people to capture both moments and memories in full colour without compromising the quality of the image, particularly in challenging conditions such as low light where most smartphone cameras still struggle to compete.
Another advantage of the global smartphone trend is that everyone nowadays has entry-level photography experience and interest. There is a great opportunity for camera manufacturers to tap into this market of amateur photographers with DSLRs, and continue to develop and nurture consumers’ photography skills.
As photography habits of consumers evolve with the advent of every new technology, it is important for camera manufacturers to adapt to their differing needs. They need to invest in product innovations, assimilating the best features of smartphones while retaining the core strengths of DSLRs such as their ability to take superior quality photos. The goal is to make cameras a constant companion, enabling people to share their life experiences, whether it is a fleeting moment or memories that last a lifetime.
— The writer is the regional head of sales and marketing at Nikon Middle East and Africa.
