When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Heres how it works.
Whenever a new premium smartphone launches, manufacturers breathlessly wax poetic about the latest models updated camera array.
Im a photographer and I can say definitively there is no one answer to this question.
S23 Ultra(Image credit: Melissa Perenson)
It all boils down to a trade-off between creative control and convenience.
It also helps to know how you plan to use your photos.
Now, its time to rephrase that question.
S23 Ultra(Image credit: Melissa Perenson)
The reality is smartphone cameras are more capable than ever, and they can capture terrific images.
And sometimes, it comes down to what works in the heat of the moment.
Despite always having both handy, I reached for the S23 Ultra smartphone a lot.
R7(Image credit: Melissa Perenson)
Convenience
Smartphone cameras reign supreme on this metric.
The S23 Ultra did best with stationary subjects in consistent lighting.
By choosing the S23 Ultra, I ceded control of the image controls to the phones camera subsystem.
R7 left, Galaxy S23 Ultra right(Image credit: Melissa Perenson)
It was a choice I made in favor of the lightweight phones point-and-shoot convenience.
I used the S23 Ultras camera previously at a formal wedding for similar reasons.
As much as I love the smartphone cameras convenience, I recognize its limitations.
R7 left, Galaxy S23 Ultra right(Image credit: Melissa Perenson)
Winner: Smartphone camera.
I also found I could adjust my configs more quickly and reliably than on a smartphone camera.
For all their point-and-shoot convenience, smartphone cameras have their share of usability challenges.
S23(Image credit: Melissa Perenson)
The on-screen manual controls are imprecise and can become a time-consuming hassle.
That happened to me plenty of times during my walks.
I opted for a lighter camera and lens combo from the mid-range of Canons mirrorless lineup.
R7(Image credit: Melissa Perenson)
A wider-angle lens would have helped as well.
Those images looked best when viewed on the phone and on social media.
The smartphone camera also struggled when capturing motion.
S23 Ultra(Image credit: Melissa Perenson)
I wanted to freeze the action and confirm the person dancing in the twilight setting was crisp and sharp.
Image quality
Depending on the image, this got closer than I expected.
Thats a testament to how good smartphone cameras are now.
R7(Image credit: Melissa Perenson)
Most of the time, I achieved a clearer, sharper image from my dedicated camera.
Winner: APS-C or full-frame camera.
Still, the dedicated camera had so much creative potential, too.
S23 Ultra(Image credit: Melissa Perenson)
Using the camera with the RF28mm F2.8 STM completely changed my creating experience and the images I could capture.
Both smartphones and dedicated cameras let you achieve innovative, creative shots in different ways.
The winner is…
R7(Image credit: Melissa Perenson)
If I carried both cameras with me, I quickly noticed a pattern.
The camera I reached for played to the strengths of that camera.
For example, for wide-angle shots in low light, the smartphone was the best choice.
S23 Ultra(Image credit: Melissa Perenson)
Same if I wanted to fire off a quick shot in a casual environment.
But to zoom into a distance or capture a streetcar in motion, I pulled out the dedicated camera.
Of the two cameras, I get to enjoy the photos taken on my smartphone more often.
R7(Image credit: Melissa Perenson)
Theyre always accessible, scrollable in my phones gallery, and eventually backed up to myGoogle Photos.
The flagship smartphone camera is a valuable imaging tool and an excellent complement to any dedicated camera.
But I also value agility and not breaking my back.
