Smart phone vs $100 digital camera = smart phone wins

[Tradd]

We've reached the point where smart phone cameras are better than the cheapest digital cameras...

I was the "extra" photographer at the wedding of a friend's daughter yesterday, at the request of the bride's mother. Anyway, I started out with my $100 digital camera I won at a work event two years ago. The few pics at the beginning weren't coming out well, so I switched to my Samsung Galaxy S3 phone, which I usually take pics with. The pics were MUCH better, the zoom (which I finally figured out how to use) was pretty good.

People who've already seen the wedding pics can't believe they were taken with a smart phone.

I think I'm going to just ditch the digital camera and put a non-point and shoot on my wish list. The phone camera is just so much better.

[JaneV2.0]

Smart phones really are amazing--like the best science fiction fantasies come true. My technophobic SO was just rhapsodizing yesterday over everything they can do. So far, he doesn't have even a flip phone, but he may just leap-frog right over that technology and treat himself to the super-duper deluxe Swiss Army knife version some day. And I'll keel over in a faint.

[Gardenarian]

Wow - I was thinking of asking for a camera for my birthday - but now I'm going to ask for a smartphone. Republic Wireless (the $19/month company) is supposed to be coming out with some new models in July!

[Tradd]

Wow - I was thinking of asking for a camera for my birthday - but now I'm going to ask for a smartphone. Republic Wireless (the $19/month company) is supposed to be coming out with some new models in July!

Something to consider: I don't know how good are the pics lower end smart phones take. I've got a high end smart phone.

[JaneV2.0]

I amused myself one day by listing all the tools one smart phone can replace, and I'm sure I didn't scratch the surface. With a Leatherman, a smart phone, and a roll of duct tape you could surely conquer the world.

ETA: I had a mid-range Samsung Galaxy briefly, and I'd buy that brand again. I've been reading reviews all along, and they hold up well. And features just keep getting better, it seems.

[CeciliaW]

There's a great thread over at Mr Money Mustache about smart phones and how to get the cost down. Go read before you buy into another one.

[SteveinMN]

Something to consider: I don't know how good are the pics lower end smart phones take. I've got a high end smart phone.
It varies. I've taken some terrific pictures with a 2MP camera. My current smartphone does a good job with just 5MP. DW's iPod Touch has a really bad camera; almost useless; a weird cost-cutting move for Apple considering how good the iPhone camera is.

[ApatheticNoMore]

I just this weekend bought a $100 camera. I just wanted a camera, not a monthly bill. Hopefully it suffices.

[creaker]

I'm not surprised - it looks like an unlocked Galaxy S3 is going for around $450.