Mobility

(Or the title could even be: 'the best camera is the one that's with you' - from Chase Jarvis)

Cute stray-cat sleeping at Kiev airport somewhere around Easter of 2012

I didn't like camera-enabled mobiles when they first came out - actually I was hating those blurry, pixelized (under half Mp.) photos made by those 'cameras'. Sometimes even people were unrecognizable on shots! As it goes usually in technology, things started to improve and I had to admit that under certain circumstances (beautiful sunlit open field, where light comes only from side / slightly behind cam) there can be 'quite decent' pictures made by. (Meaning: 'Oh, its her on the shot!' :-))

That time the only real use -and anyway an advantage - of those integrated cams for me were that 'just in case' I can have a cam with me always ready to point and shoot. No matter what quality, but I can have an 'evidence' of the moment. (Even if it means a real evidence like witnessing a crime.)

Than came the age of these new(er) generation touch-smart-phones with really decent integrated circuits. (Note that I still avoided the phrase 'decent integrated camera'... :-))

Anyway, I feel a bit pampered - having quite same level of quality in my pocket like my first digital camera - and like to use it too. That is the other big advantage of the fact, that you simply cannot buy any not-lowest grade smartphone today without a cam: you are encouraged to use it. No matter which software platform you choose: Android, iOS or even WP7 / 8 - there are tons of photo-apps in their 'stores'.
(Personally, I use Camera360 and Instagram)

 

In so many situations, when you cannot have the big DSLR with you - or simply was lazy enough to not carry (oops, there's a disadvantage of integrated cams :-)) - you can still take a quick shot.

One nice example is about food - either because I really don't have other cam with me or just don't want to bother with handling the big gun in a restaurant, yet can't miss to record those little wonders can see on the plate sometimes:

Than there are some other cases, when I have the D60 with me - around somewhere :-) - but due to the situation, its easier to just 'point and shoot' - like having a great breakfast in Tuscany with a view I'd like to share or wondering at the amazing market next to 'Las Ramblas' of Barcelona (called 'La Boqueria')...

...or just having a nice beer after a long workday in Prague:

Here comes the biggest advantage built-in to all of these smartphones: SHARING. When it comes to the fact you'd like not just capture but also share the moment instantly, the best tool is the one ringing in your pocket.

Such moment was when found and tasted first the 'rose-icecream' - had to be fast:

The yellow was melon and the green was pistachio - not sure about the white in middle, maybe lemon.

Last but not least - another great use of quick-always-with-you cameras at the sudden appearance of film staff in your street:

'Caught in action' - the making of 'Good day to Die Hard'