In 2023, Apple chose to shoot their entire Apple Event’s presentation with the iPhone, signaling their confidence in their smartphone’s camera, a confidence not misplaced. The iPhone 15 Pro was used to produce the feature film ‘Midnight’ in Japan this year, 2024. Not to be outdone, Samsung has produced smartphones that can zoom all the way to the moon and Xiaomi has designed a phone you can attach camera lenses to. With every development, smartphones inch closer to the realm of professional camera equipment.

The advancement of smartphone cameras and user-friendly editing softwares such as CapCut makes it easier than ever to make video content. All you need to start your videography journey is a few hours on YouTube tutorials. Is this a threat for those who specialize in high production like us? We’ve thought about it, and here are the things to compare.

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Sensor Size

Smartphone sensors range from tiny 1/2.55” (Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra) to a decent 1”(Xiaomi S Ultra), while interchangeable lens cameras start at a larger size 4/3”(OM-1 Mark II) and go up to full-frame 35mm (Sony FX3). This means the smallest sensor in an ILC is nearly four times bigger than the biggest sensor in a smartphone. Thanks to larger sensors and higher pixel count, interchangeable lens cameras capture images that are not only higher in resolution and have better dynamic range, but also images that have superior color accuracy and detail, which is especially useful in post-processing.

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Lens Versatility

Smartphones typically have three lenses: wide, mid, and zoom while with interchangeable lens cameras you can pick from hundreds of lenses for any scenario. Smartphones can't switch lenses mid-shot, instead they operate a digital zoom, which often impacts image quality. Interchangeable lens cameras let videographers tell stories with every shot, whether it’s through crystal-clear modern lenses or charmingly imperfect vintage ones.

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Manual Control

When you are specific about your creative outcome, manual control is crucial. When it comes to manual settings like shutter speed, aperture, and ISO, mirrorless and DSLR cameras provide full control, empowering you to capture perfect shots in challenging conditions. Smartphones, while continuously improving, can't offer the same level of precision.

Moreover, while AI-driven features in smartphones automatically adjust settings to capture optimal images, these adjustments are designed for smartphone viewing and create tricky issues when you try to edit those images for other mediums.

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So will we ditch our interchangeable lens cameras? Not just yet. We’re still hooked on the creative control those hefty beasts give us, especially for projects demanding razor-sharp details and color precision—think commercials and promotional videos. That doesn't mean we're ignoring our smartphones. Paired with some killer third-party apps and gear, smartphone cameras can bring about brilliant images and be considerably lighter than our ILCs. The smartphone set up is our pick for travel videos, event coverage, and social media posts.

As smartphone cameras continue to evolve at an exciting speed, we are here to celebrate more tools in our creative toolbox!