Newest IPhone compared to Leica digital

[Nikon 2]

Are the image differences between the newest iPhone and Leica digital cameras worth buying Leica still…?

 

[bdial]

Much depends on your priorities and what you can afford.
Except for convenience, I don’t like phones as cameras all that much, but that’s certainly not a universal opinion.
I don’t know how the IP 16 compares to “full frame” sensors for things like sensitivity and noise. With the processing horsepower available in the phone, it may be a moot comparison.
iPhones are pretty ubiquitous, Leicas aren’t, but I expect that most people who don’t follow photography wouldn’t know a Leica from a Holga.

The image quality might well be similar, but you can’t make a phone call with a Leica.

 

[mollyc]

those are two pretty disparate cameras to compare.

but i’d take any full frame camera over an iphone personally.

 

[Nikon 2]

Much depends on your priorities and what you can afford.
Except for convenience, I don’t like phones as cameras all that much, but that’s certainly not a universal opinion.
I don’t know how the IP 16 compares to “full frame” sensors for things like sensitivity and noise. With the processing horsepower available in the phone, it may be a moot comparison.
iPhones are pretty ubiquitous, Leicas aren’t, but I expect that most people who don’t follow photography wouldn’t know a Leica from a Holga.

The image quality might well be similar, but you can’t make a phone call with a Leica.

Yes, but you don’t need to pay a monthly bill to shoot the Leica…!

 

[Nikon 2]

those are two pretty disparate cameras to compare.

but i’d take any full frame camera over an iphone personally.

I’m glad to hear that…!

 

[4season]

If your goal is to get great results with little or no post-processing, the phone will win pretty much every time. The Leica has the potential to create higher-quality images, but you may have to work to fully realize them.

 

[Paul Howell]

In my thinking it depends on the final product. If the final product is a web image,sociaol media emails to your friends then a smart phone, Samsung or Apple would be my choice. If you want a large wall mounted print, then a high MP full frame is how I would would roll.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I prefer a capable camera which provides easier and a larger choice of methods of working with and producing printed output.

 

[mollyc]

I'm curious why you decided to compare an iPhone to a Leica vs a more affordable, yet modern mirrorless setup from Fuji, Nikon, or similar?

 

[Nikon 2]

If your goal is to get great results with little or no post-processing, the phone will win pretty much every time. The Leica has the potential to create higher-quality images, but you may have to work to fully realize them.

Very good point…!

 

[Nikon 2]

I'm curious why you decided to compare an iPhone to a Leica vs a more affordable, yet modern mirrorless setup from Fuji, Nikon, or similar?

After shooting film for most of my photography, the costs and time for developing brought me to a Leica MD 262…!

 

[Nikon 2]

I prefer a capable camera which provides easier and a larger choice of methods of working with and producing printed output.

 

[Nikon 2]

In my thinking it depends on the final product. If the final product is a web image,sociaol media emails to your friends then a smart phone, Samsung or Apple would be my choice. If you want a large wall mounted print, then a high MP full frame is how I would would roll.

I agree…!

 

[mshchem]

There is a reason that most people have abandoned traditional cameras (digital or analog) for a phone and a small screen.
Professionals and enthusiasts require something more than a phone. AI will give people what they want to see regardless, Yikes

 

[Nikon 2]

There is a reason that most people have abandoned traditional cameras (digital or analog) for a phone and a small screen.
Professionals and enthusiasts require something more than a phone. AI will give people what they want to see regardless, Yikes

 

[koraks]

worth buying

Subjective, YMMV.

iPhones are pretty good cameras objectively speaking. So are Leicas. They're different animals. Which is 'best' depends on what you want. An iPhone will always have a much smaller sensor than a Leica. That has drawbacks as well as advantages.

In terms of fashion and showing that you know what's up, it's of course best to have both and display them prominently.

 

[Nikon 2]

Subjective, YMMV.

iPhones are pretty good cameras objectively speaking. So are Leicas. They're different animals. Which is 'best' depends on what you want. An iPhone will always have a much smaller sensor than a Leica. That has drawbacks as well as advantages.

In terms of fashion and showing that you know what's up, it's of course best to have both and display them prominently.

 

[Nikon 2]

Subjective, YMMV.

iPhones are pretty good cameras objectively speaking. So are Leicas. They're different animals. Which is 'best' depends on what you want. An iPhone will always have a much smaller sensor than a Leica. That has drawbacks as well as advantages.

In terms of fashion and showing that you know what's up, it's of course best to have both and display them prominently.

 

[DWThomas]

I'm currently running an iPhone 13 Pro and at times I'm amazed at what it can do. But there are also times when I would prefer a "real camera." Usually situations with backlighting, or contrasty foreground items in front of items I want sharp focus on, and that sort of thing. I've not investigated in recent years, but at one time there were some apps that allowed using a phone camera in something close to manual mode. I've no idea if such a thing might still be available but if it were it might solve some of my occasional phone photo annoyances.

I know there are some tricks on the iPhone where you tap a spot to direct focus, establish exposure and/or bring up a slider to make some adjustment. But (perhaps it's my age and decrepitude) I find I really like good old fashioned knobs and levers and buttons!

 

[Nikon 2]

I'm currently running an iPhone 13 Pro and at times I'm amazed at what it can do. But there are also times when I would prefer a "real camera." Usually situations with backlighting, or contrasty foreground items in front of items I want sharp focus on, and that sort of thing. I've not investigated in recent years, but at one time there were some apps that allowed using a phone camera in something close to manual mode. I've no idea if such a thing might still be available but if it were it might solve some of my occasional phone photo annoyances.

I know there are some tricks on the iPhone where you tap a spot to direct focus, establish exposure and/or bring up a slider to make some adjustment. But (perhaps it's my age and decrepitude) I find I really like good old fashioned knobs and levers and buttons!

I have the iPhone 13 Pro Max also, and it’ll be my last iPhone. And the Leica MD262 will be my last camera…!

 

[bdial]

Yes, but you don’t need to pay a monthly bill to shoot the Leica…!

That's only a requirement if you want to use the phone as a phone

 

[loccdor]

Questions you should ask yourself:

Do you want to be able to create a portrait or other photo with an attractively blurred background? Tiny sensors can't really do this. The recent iPhones have a mode for doing this in software, but it looks very artificial to me.

Do you like tactile, dedicated controls or are you comfortable doing everything on a touchscreen?

Is it a big disadvantage to carry a camera bag with you, or to have a camera strapped to you? With a phone you can often take pictures of people without them thinking you're taking a picture.

Are you attracted to the character of certain lenses? Do you like working in different focal lengths or are you mostly wide angle?

The more recent iPhones have a really good night mode and you can even do handheld shots of the milky way. I don't know if Leicas can do that handheld.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I have an iPhone SE third edition which can do the job, but I rather use a film or digital camera which gives me more control.

 

[Nikon 2]

That's only a requirement if you want to use the phone as a phone

You can use the iPhone as a phone…?

Questions you should ask yourself:

Do you want to be able to create a portrait or other photo with an attractively blurred background? Tiny sensors can't really do this. The recent iPhones have a mode for doing this in software, but it looks very artificial to me.

Do you like tactile, dedicated controls or are you comfortable doing everything on a touchscreen?

Is it a big disadvantage to carry a camera bag with you, or to have a camera strapped to you? With a phone you can often take pictures of people without them thinking you're taking a picture.

Are you attracted to the character of certain lenses? Do you like working in different focal lengths or are you mostly wide angle?

The more recent iPhones have a really good night mode and you can even do handheld shots of the milky way. I don't know if Leicas can do that handheld.

 

[Nikon 2]

Yep, you’re right about the quality of the image using a dedicated camera.
The MD 262 even looks and shoots like a film camera. The iPhone shoots and looks like an iPhone…!