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Most smartphones, even entry-level and mid-range models, now have great cameras. Because of their ubiquity, many people get introduced to photography, with some desiring to level up from smartphone to camera.
But many don’t realize that it’s not the camera they need to level up, but their camera’s lens or lenses. While a mirrorless or digital SLR will let you do that, did you know you can also get high-quality lenses for your smartphone Here’s why your first step for leveling up your photography is to get a clip-on camera lens for your phone.
You Don’t Need a Dedicated Camera
If you plan to buy a camera, you should ask yourself why you want to do so. If your answer is because professionals use full-time cameras for photography or videography, you should know thatsmartphone cameras have become so goodthat even some professionals use them for their work.
Most new photographers also want to buy a camera because they can get excellent image quality, which smartphones already have. Another reason is that dedicated cameras give you more precise manual control, but some smartphones and camera apps give you that, too.
As professional photographer Chase Jarvis says, the best camera is the one that’s with you. So, instead of focusing on finding the best camera to take photos with, why don’t you make the most out of the current camera you have—your smartphone camera?
Master the Art of Photography First
Before digital photography reached the quality we have today, you needed to have your technical knowledge down-pat to prevent wasting film and missing out on moments. However,computational photographyhas grown to the point that you do not need to be a technical expert to get good pictures.
Furthermore, you can now see your image’s appearance before you take the picture, so you can adjust your shutter speed, ISO, and aperture and see what the final image will look like in real-time.
While knowing the correct exposure settings like the back of your hand is crucial for you to get the images you envision, it’s more important to train your photographer’s eye, i.e., know the basics of composition, texture, design, and more. After all, even if your pictures are always perfectly exposed, they won’t be interesting if they don’t tell a story.
As you train yourself on how to compose a great photograph, you’ll eventually want to learn more about the technical aspects of photography. And when you hit these limits, that’s when you should consider expanding your gear. But in the meantime, your smartphone camera should be more than enough for your needs.
Expand the Limits of Your Smartphone Camera
When your smartphone camera limits you, you should consider upgrading your gear. After all,most smartphones don’t have a variable optical zoom lens. And when you zoom in using your phone’s optical zoom, it’s probably switching to a less capable camera sensor—the primary reason yourphone has more than one camera.
If this is an issue you frequently encounter when taking photos, don’t get an entry-level camera. Instead, buy a high-quality clip-on camera lens. That’s because most entry-level cameras come with an average-quality kit lens that offers the same zoom range as the one on your phone. And the image quality won’t be as far ahead of your smartphone’s, especially if you stick with the included kit lens.
A high-quality clip-on lens on your smartphone will give you much more freedom when taking pictures and could be much cheaper. An entry-level Canon EOS R100 mirrorless camera with an RF-S 18-45mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM lens will set you back $600 on Amazon. At that price, you can get several lenses and a phone case mount from Moment, the maker of one ofthe best smartphone lenses.
you’re able to get an iPhone case for less than $70; the drop-in lens mount will only set you back by $5. TheMoment T-Series lensescost $130 to $150, meaning you can buy four lenses for just $560. So, for $635, your iPhone (or whatever smartphone you have) could become a photography powerhouse.
But if you went with an interchangeable lens camera, buying a similar lens setup would probably set you back an additional $1,000 on top of the camera you purchased.
Lenses Will Last a Long Time
Another reason I recommend investing in lenses first is that these tend to last longer than a camera. Whether we’re talking about cameras or high-quality smartphone lenses, if you take care of them well, you could still probably use them ten or even twenty years later.
In fact, Canon EF lenses made in the early 2000s will still work with cameras today if you have a compatible Canon EOS camera or even a mirrorless camera with a proper adapter. You can also buy Nikon lenses from the 1980s and make them work with modern Nikon DSLRs today.
So, investing more in excellent lenses and taking care of them is wise, as you’ll probably be using them many years down the line. There’s also this saying among photography enthusiasts, “You date your cameras, but you marry your lenses.” This means that you will replace your camera bodies (or smartphone) every so often, either because of better processing, faster autofocus, or higher pixel counts, but you will likely stick with the lenses you have for the rest of your life.
Only Upgrade to a Camera When Your Hardware Limits Your Creativity
We’re not saying that you shouldn’t buy a camera, but if you want to make the most of it, you should master your photography skills first before upgrading. When you are limited by your smartphone and the lenses you bought, you should consider getting a dedicated camera.
But if you’re pleased with the images you take on your iPhone or Android, you don’t need a camera. If you buy one, it will likely sit unused in your storage, gathering dust. Unless youprotect your camera well, it might even get damaged from being neglected for too long.
Smartphones will kill off the camerafor most everyday and casual photographers. Only professionals and enthusiasts or hobbyists with deep pockets would probably consider getting a dedicated camera and the lenses they need to make the most of it.
But even before spending money on smartphone lenses, you shouldtake your smartphone photography to the next levelby improving your skills first. After all, an experienced photographer can take more beautiful images than someone with all the most expensive gear but doesn’t know how to make the most out of it.
