The best camera is the one you have with you!

This is a statement that has been promoted all around the photoblogosphere. I think the statement makes an excellent point. Today's point and shoot cameras, and even the cameras built into your phone, are capable of taking very good photographs if used correctly. Though creativity, from a technical aspect, may be limited using these cameras, you can still capture post worthy and print worthy images. I would expand this statement  to say "The best camera is the one you have with you, AND know how to use!

Here's a video by a well known photographer in support of this concept. This is a promotional piece for a book and iPhone App, but I think you'll be impressed at the photos people are taking with their phones.



Cell Phone Camera
Below is a shot taken on my cell phone of my favorite dog Blue (I don't really like my other dog). I don't think the average non-photographer would be able to tell this came from a cell phone.

Cellphone Camera Shot (click to enlarge)

The trick is to understand the capabilities and limits of the camera and lens you're using. This is true of any camera, including your high-end DSLR, but much more so with a less sophisticated camera. For this shot, I chose a location out of direct sun light, but well lit by the ambient light of the sky. I also took extra care to hold the phone (camera) steady as I gently pressed the shutter release. I chose the location because I understood that my phone camera can't handle choosing a proper exposure for high contrast (bright sun/hard shadows) scenes very well. I used extra care to hold steady because I know the phone/camera has a small aperture and low ISO performance, and therefore a relatively low shutter speed. Any movement would create a blurry image.

Point and Shoot Cameras (P&S)

If you don't know what a "Point and Shoot" camera is, the name says it all. These are the cameras that dominate your local electronics store and are typically small, pocket sized cameras with a fixed, often retractable, lens. They are made to "Point" at the subject and "Shoot" without having to mess with any settings.  The quality of these cameras range from excellent to very poor (worse than some cell phones). Some of these cameras can rival the quality of a DSLRs. The built-in lens can be of very high quality and ISO performance is always improving. I carry one of these with me everywhere in case an opportunity presents itself when I don't have my full kit. I've heard this is becoming a common practice for many professional photographers as well. Though they don't have interchangeable lenses, some of the nicer P&S cameras have very high quality lenses and allow reasonable control of aperture, shutter and ISO. In the right hands, some very creative, and high quality, images can be created.

Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR)

These are the high-end cameras that support interchangeable lenses and full creative control of every setting. Amazingly, most amateur photographers, and even a surprising number of "pros", never use their DSLR as anything but an expensive and large P&S. I've often seen photographers disappointed at the quality of the pictures from their expensive camera. I would argue that, in some cases, some photographers would be better served with a good P&S, as the complexity of a DSLR can become a significant obstacle. If you know what you're doing and how to use your DSLR, the quality of the images can't be matched. However, if you don't take the time to learn how to use it properly, you've  probably wasted your money.

Obviously I wouldn't take my cell phone to a planned shoot, but if it's the only camera I have and the opportunity arises, I know how to use it and wouldn't hesitate to do so. 

What do you think? Do you take a camera with you everywhere? Would you use a "lesser" camera if you didn't have your DSLR with you?