Still Photos Compared: Camcorder vs iPhone

     For years, the photos you have seen on my blog have been taken with my Sony Handycam (FDR AX53).  I liked the way they turned out, and the comfortable easy way the camcorder sat in my hand.  I also love the focal range of the camcorder, from its zoom, to its very close ups.  When I would import the photos into my computer, I did often tweak them, giving them a little more contrast, and just a bit more intensity to the color.  

    I bought myself an iPhone 16 in December, and soon became very impressed with the photos that it was giving me.  I was amazed that the focal range on the iPhone, which gave me similar shots to my camcorder.  I do have more difficulty holding the phone in my hand when taking a photo. 

      Since I got the phone, I have been using more and more of the iPhone photos on the blog.  (Yesterday’s photos of the elk were taken with the iPhone.)  The iPhone is always in my pocket and is easier to take with me, for unexpected photos.

    I had read an article about how mobile phones do a lot manipulating of the photos you take, without you realizing it.  That made me curious, so I did a bit of experimenting.  I took a shot with my camcorder, then a shot of the same scene with my iPhone to compare.  On the photo above, the upper half was taken with my camcorder, and the lower half, with my iPhone.  

    You can see that the iPhone photo is a tad more colorful, and distinct.  (Those are both things I usually tweak on my camcorder photos anyway.)  The same differences in color and contrast show up in the photo posted below, with the camcorder shot on the top half and the iPhone photo beneath it. 

    I have noticed that sometimes the phone digital photos come out a bit “too much.”    I have really noticed that on some of the photos I took with my iPad--everything is just way too distinct, which I find disturbing.  

    Anyway, that was my little experiment.  I will keep using both my camcorder and iPhone for the photos on my blog.  I am satisfied with the photos I get from both of them.

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