[slr555]

The implicit subtitle of this article is: In Smartphone Cameras.

The modern smartphone certainly adds computational strength that likely exceeds the image processing sophistication of even pro-level DSLRs. After all the performance gap between desktop and mobile CPUs is quite narrow at this point. The author rightly implies that the form factor of the phone creates an inherent set of limitations.

Outside the phone realm there are fewer and somewhat different limitations to deal with and that is where really interesting things are happening in photography today. Modern sensors have made great strides towards closing the gap between film and digital in terms of dynamic range. Full frame sensors with a large number of pixels allow for far greater resolution in images. Looking on DXO mark on how far sensors have come in the last decade is amazing. When I look at images created on my Nikon D200s they were very good and acceptable for a broad range of applications. Compared to the images from my D850, however, there is a quantum difference. Shooting RAW files gives me unprecedented creative control over the final image using a laptop instead of expansive requirements of a full darkroom. While, I shoot Nikon other companies like Sony, and Canon are more or less in the same place. We have reached the point where output from a DSLR sized body compares very favorably to a medium format sensor.

While computational adjuncts to image acquisition, whether in the form of phone software or Adobe like products, will play an increasingly important role in photography, there are still areas where hardware such as sensors, lenses, and physical stabilizers will improve.

[devindotcom]

Certainly true (I'm the author). As a photographer I look forward to more interesting techniques in the non-smartphone world too but ultimately I think what will advance them is also code, not a major advance in optics or sensor tech.

It's kind of a lame argument in a way (mine, that is) because code underlies just about everything these days. But I do think we've mostly tapped out the physical side of things, barring clever new constructions like the L16 and successfully wrangling hyper-sensitive, hyper-noisy sensors.

Anyway it's exciting no matter which one is advancing the art. Consumers are winning (as with a consolidation in mirrorless form factor, which is another piece I'm working on). Thanks for reading!

[slr555]

I agree that at this point everything is computational. And you are right that consumers are winning big time. I'm pretty serious about photography and there are far fewer situations that arise where I think, "crud, I've only got my phone". My hope is that there is still room to squeeze low light, low noise performance out of future sensors. Again, great article, a good read!!!

[volkk]

> We have reached the point where output from a DSLR sized body compares very favorably to a medium format sensor.

I think at this point it's mostly a price issue. Medium format cameras are essentially the same size (Hasselblad x1d) as a top of the line DSLR, but their dynamic range is still miles above in my opinion. The only problem is that these cameras cost usually a minimum of $7k