iPhone vs. DSLR/Mirrorless Cameras - Which Should You Buy?

Many people still debate whether or not a DSLR or mirrorless cameras are still worth getting while iPhone cameras are improving so much. Since there are many differences between the two, it's good to know what to look for before deciding.

In this article, I'll go over the main qualities and differences to help think about when deciding which one to buy. I also list My Recommended DSLR and mirrorless cameras below to make it easier.

Featured DSLR

Sony Alpha a6400 Mirrorless Camera Check Price on Amazon Amazon Affiliate Link

iPhone 13 Pro Max

iPhone 13 Pro Max 256 GB Unlocked (Renewed) Check Price on Amazon Amazon Affiliate Link

Image Quality

DSLR/mirrorless (I'll mention only DSLR cameras from now on, but I mean both DSLR and mirrorless since they have similar benefits and drawbacks) cameras have much better image quality when compared to iPhones. At first glance, iPhone photos may look great on a small screen, but if you enlarge the pictures and compare them with DSLR photos, you'll see a clear difference. Colors are more accurate with DSLR cameras, and much more detail is retained in the image because it has a higher resolution and image sensor to capture the detail.

iPhones can automatically process a picture (computational photography) to make an image look great, but the overall quality is lower on an iPhone than on a DSLR camera. Of course, it still matters if you use a DSLR camera correctly to get a better image than an iPhone. You can also enhance the image further if you shoot photos in RAW format and edit the image (more about that below).

Nikon D850 FX-Format Digital SLR

Background Blur (bokeh)

Background blur, or bokeh, happens when you take a photo while focusing on a foreground subject with a wide f-stop, which causes the background to be out of focus because of a low depth of field.

iPhones have some blurring when taking pictures of close-up objects, but it renders a fake blur to make it look similar for farther away subjects. The blur iPhones add isn't nearly the same as a natural bokeh effect from DSLR lenses.

Background blur/bokeh when using a DSLR lens is much better and more natural, with a cleaner and smooth blur without any weird effects/artifacts around the outline of a subject.

Lenses

Since the lenses on an iPhone are so small, it limits what's possible. iPhones are suitable for wide-angle and some zooming but could be more natural-looking. There are only fixed lenses on iPhones, with no option to change them later.

DSLR cameras have lenses for all purposes and can zoom into subjects far better than iPhones. There are also various lenses for wide-angle landscapes, portraits, or adjustable zoom. Many lenses are made of quality glass, which can improve the clarity, color, and overall image.

Ease of Use

Taking pictures on an iPhone is easy since you can point and shoot with them. On the other hand, DSLR cameras take some skill and learning if you want to get the most out of the camera. While iPhones are more accessible, learning to use a DSLR camera can be a satisfying experience that can help you become a better photographer. You will learn about the aspects of what makes a photo great.

Go with an iPhone if you want something easy and care little about the quality or more control and flexibility over your photos. Otherwise, DSLR cameras are worth the extra effort since you'll get amazing-looking images.

iPhone Photography For Dummies

Settings

DSLR cameras have many more settings to adjust everything to create an image you envision, adding more flexibility than the iPhone camera app. There are designated buttons just for changing specific settings on a DSLR camera, making it easier to use and adjust than everything on a touchscreen. With that said, some DSLR cameras now have touchscreens in addition to physical buttons.

iPhones don't have many settings to change in the stock camera app, but some "pro" camera apps add flexibility.

HDR

An HDR image enhances the darks and balances the whites to create a colorful and balanced photo. Cell phones made HDR even more popular, with them able to do it quickly. iPhones can automatically take HDR images by taking many pictures and then combining the bright and dark images into one.

DSLR cameras have some automatic HDR features or can be manually done, but that's sometimes more challenging. If you want a similar experience and quickness, getting a DSLR camera with the highest dynamic range is best.

Dynamic range is the maximum range between dark and light, so the higher the dynamic range means it can capture a broader range of the two extremes. If you capture a picture on a camera with a high dynamic range and use RAW format, you will have the flexibility to edit the image later without many limits.

Battery

Taking pictures on an iPhone can cause a lot of wear and tear on the battery over time. It can also become an inconvenience if you need access to charge your phone while taking many pictures or videos.

DSLR cameras have replaceable batteries, so you don't have to worry about wearing out the battery without being able to get another one. It can also be easier to charge DSLR batteries since you can have multiple batteries to swap out, so you can take pictures freely while an extra battery is charging for use later.

Anker PowerCore 20,100 mAh Power Bank

Photo Storage

iPhone storage is fixed and can be expensive for larger storage options, and there's no way to upgrade the storage later. Having photos on your phone can make it easier to back them up.

DSLR storage can be unlimited since you can buy multiple memory cards. Memory cards are also much less expensive, so you can freely take as many photos (or videos) as possible without worrying about using all of your phone's storage.

SanDisk 256 GB Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-I Card

Weight / Size

DSLR cameras are much heavier and bigger than an iPhone. You can't just slide it into your pocket like with phones. You also probably need a bag with more accessories and lenses (if you have more than one) that you'll need to carry around with you. Needing extra items can make it more challenging to carry around with you all of the time. Mirrorless cameras are smaller, so they might be a better option if that matters to you.

iPhones are much lighter and easier to transport since you most likely carry your phone around with you every day.

MOSISO Waterproof Hardshell Camera Backpack

Editing Images

You will have a lot more flexibility with editing DSLR photos. DSLR cameras can store more information in the image file, especially if you take them in RAW format. RAW images are uncompressed photos that keep all of the data when taking a picture.

You only know how much editing is possible with a photo once you try editing a RAW image. For example, if you take a low-light picture in JPG format, you can't brighten it up without causing artifacts and losing detail. With a RAW format image, you have the flexibility to brighten darkness much more and balance the highlights.

Editing photos on an iPhone might have less flexibility or ease of editing, but most of the editing is done automatically by the phone's processing. While this is nice, it still removes the flexibility if you want to edit it further later unless you take a picture in RAW format. With that said, it is easier to do quick edits to an image on your phone.

Sony Alpha a6400 Mirrorless Camera

Cost

DSLRs have a lower starting price for beginner cameras, but they can be much more expensive if you get a higher-end camera and multiple lenses. Despite the increased cost, DSLRs can hold onto their value over time. These cameras can also do more and still work great years (or decades) later. If you get a good camera lens and a good DSLR, it's worth the price in the long term.

The downside to getting a phone over a DSLR is that you may want to upgrade sooner since phone technology keeps improving rapidly. Since you'll most likely be using a phone anyway, getting an iPhone with a good camera can save you money. It's always an option to get a phone AND a DLSR camera, though! iPhones have a fixed starting price, so you know what you're getting in one package.

My Recommended DSLR Cameras

• Find the Nikon D850 DSLR Camera on Amazon (affiliate link).
• 45.7MP BSI CMOS sensor.
• 3.2-inch tilting touchscreen display.
• Battery life rated for up to 1840 shots.
• 7 FPS continuous shooting with 153-point autofocus system.
• UHD 4K video capture at up to 30p. Nikon D850 FX-Format Digital SLR Check Price on Amazon Amazon Affiliate Link

• Find the Canon EOS Rebel T8i on Amazon (affiliate link).
• 24-megapixel APS-C image sensor.
• 3.0-inch vari-angle LCD touchscreen.
• ISO 100 to 25,600 and can extend up to 51,200.
• 7 FPS continuous shooting.
• 45 point phase-detect autofocus.
• 24p 4K video with 1.6x crop. Full-sensor video @ 1080p60. Canon EOS Rebel T8i Check Price on Amazon Amazon Affiliate Link

My Recommended Mirrorless Cameras

• Find the Sony a7 III Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera on Amazon (affiliate link).
• 24MP full-frame BSI CMOS sensor.
• 3.0-inch 922K-dot touchscreen LCD.
• 2.36M-dot OLED viewfinder.
• 693 phase-detection point autofocus.
• UHD 4K video with the full width of the full-frame sensor.
• 10 FPS continuous shooting.
• In-body image stabilization.
• Dual SD memory card slots. Sony a7 III Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera Check Price on Amazon Amazon Affiliate Link

• Find the Sony Alpha ZV-E10 Mirrorless Digital Camera on Amazon (affiliate link).
• 24.2 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor.
• 3.0-inch tilting 922k-dot LCD screen.
• Fast hybrid autofocus system with 425-point phase-detection.
• 46 frames of continuous RAW shooting.
• UHD 4K video recording.
• Wi-Fi for easy file transfer and remote camera control. Sony Alpha ZV-E10 Camera Check Price on Amazon Amazon Affiliate Link

A Note From the Authors