Comments on: Can the iPhone 3G S change how cameras are made?

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:17:58 +0000

Hey Iodro,

Funny that you mention Blind Photographers. I’m part of that group on Flickr.

By: lodro

lodro — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:52:30 +0000

One important change is that this is the first camera that is fully accessible to blind photographers such as myself. In fact, the entire iPhone 3GS is accessible right out of the box: this and the fact that now, for the first time, developing acessible apps for the iPhone is relatively simple makes for a radical change, from an accessibility point of view. If a modified version of the iPhone OS were to be available on DSLRs, these cameras too would be accessible to all (also to visually impaired photographers. In fact, for me, if apps like ezimba, camerabag and flickup are accessible, I can control my entire digital workflow. That is an amazing thing to me.

By: Eric

Eric — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:24:47 +0000

It’s a pretty common belief that cell phones will wipe out the P&S market one day. I’ve noticed people for years now taking vacation photos with phones (even crappy camera phones). Truth be told, from what I’ve seen of my 3GS so far it’s great for taking quick snaps.

I also hope people begin learning that “only” 3-5 megapixels is actually a good thing when dealing with small image sensors. Right now P&S’s make up something like 70% of the market. I can easily see camera phones engulfing most of that leaving the top 30% for m4/3’s cameras and DSLR’s.

By: Sloaah

Sloaah — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:57:17 +0000

You described how the camera can “mimic” an SLR due to shallower DOF. This isn’t true at all – the tap to focus function does not mean that the camera has shallower DOF. The photos in the above flickr account are only like that as they are taken close to a subject; in this situation, the DOF is equal to an average phone, or greater than normal compacts, which in turn have far greater DOF than SLRs.