The first camera developed to capture the world around us was created in 1816 by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce. The invention of the camera was something new and exciting at the time, but do people nowadays still need the technology?

In the last 50 years, cell phones have definitely made an entrance and one that went right into the pockets of billions of people everywhere. So now that people have cameras in app form, is there really a use for the old invention?

The answer is definitely up for debate, but in my personal opinion I believe that cameras should continue to be an important part of the creativity and emotion behind capturing a photo. However, there are pros and cons to both inventions, the camera, and the cell phone.

Cameras, depending on the model, can be big, heavy, and expensive. On the other hand, cell phones are much smaller, lighter, and cost less. Phones are also much more convenient as they can quickly snap a picture and instantly upload it to be posted or sent online.

Although this is true, it really comes down to which invention takes a better quality picture. Lens size is one of the biggest contributors to quality, the bigger the lens, the better the photo. With all the data there is out there, debating whether or not cameras are better than phones or vice versa, the decision is really up to the customer. If you are going to be quickly taking pictures to add to your Instagram, a phone is the better option, but if you pursue photography as a career or hobby, your best bet is probably the old-fashioned camera.

Source:

Davies, Amy. “Smartphone vs Digital Camera: Which is better?” Amateur Photographer, Kelsey Media Ltd., 26 May 2024, https://amateurphotographer.com/buying-advice/smartphone-vs-digital-camera-which-is-better/. Accessed 3 February 2025.