The Photography Path Now Taken

"In the past, we thought smartphones should be good enough because everyone's taking photos on smartphones, right? But apparently, it was not the right prediction because many people started to have different tools: smartphones in one hand and a camera in the other hand, and they decide which one to use depending upon the use case.

...

So they started to find the joy of using cameras. When they choose a second device after the smartphone, are they going to use the mirrorless camera? Possibly not, because it's a bit large and also it's pricey as well. That's why the compact camera is there for their choice, so this is a totally new need we see."

-- Go Tokura, Executive Vice President and Head of Canon's Imaging Group (CP+ Expo)

This seems to sum up my current photography situation. I started a beginner project with the hope of getting better at taking pictures. I've come to the conclusion my current path has run its course. The next step is obviously a dedicated camera which was always part of the plan.

But are compacts a better natural step forward?

Until now, I assumed I'd take the mirrorless, interchangeable lens route. The one thing holding me back is I'm not ready to shell out money for lenses. I guess the question is what's the gap between mobile phones and compacts regarding things such as image quality and control features. If there really is a difference, why not look at compacts. After all, might as well consider every option.

Tags: Photography