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  • So this is really something I'm interested in and want to document, and ideally to document over time by other people too.

    There are two things here that I want to consider:

    1. The best camera you have is the one that you have with you
    2. Smartphone cameras are good enough

    The simple hypothesis:

    • There will be a time when phone cameras exceed the capability of cameras priced at less than the cost of the phone (even when buying 2nd hand camera equipment).

    I don't actually believe that is true (it's all about the glass and light), but a lot of software developers do seem to believe that the difference can be overcome with software, so I reckon periodically documenting progress isn't a bad idea.

    So the rule here is that the camera that you use to test cannot be a full DSLR, let's say that the entire camera must be comfortable in one hand, able to point and shoot within a couple of seconds, and weighs less than 1kg including glass (that's an upper limit, I expect most will weigh less)... and... the camera at the time of the test must cost less than the cost of the phone you're comparing with.

    This is a simple: Are cheap cameras better than smartphones or vice versa, and when do those lines intersect and one beat the other?

    For my test I give you:

    • 2016 Nexus 6p (with famed camera re-implemented on the Google Pixel, uses HDR+ by default, most people prefer this camera/software than other smartphone stuff). Worth £280 on ebay
    • 2011 Panasonic GX1 with prime 25mm f1.4 lens. Body worth £130 on eBay, lens worth £60 on eBay. Camera weighs 318g, lens 200g.

    All photos in this album: https://goo.gl/photos/899XawEnjcocURsv7


    Nexus 6p 12.2 MP 3024 × 4032 3.8 MB f/2 1/5000 4.67 mm ISO62


    DMC-GX1 15.8 MP 4592 × 3448 7.7 MB f/2 1/4000 20 mm ISO160

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