Do you need a DSLR?

By Adrian Toon, director of a2n.

When I started this column, it was to help reader improve their photography skills, and at the time we questioned if smart phones were good enough for PR photography.

It is clear from the rapid advancements made in these very small cameras that they can easily replace a good compact camera for ease of use with a good range of automatic settings.

So, is the DSLR dead? Well, for most people wishing to capture and share good quality images for personal and business use, there is no need to carry a bulky DSLR. But for the professional, there are still many advantages, but the gap is certainly narrowing.

Does this mean the professional photographer’s days are numbered? Well, no. While the hardware changes, the composition and experience of a professional photographer cannot be built into a smart phone, although some techniques such as enhanced ‘bokeh’ are being added, as discussed in a previous column.

For the foreseeable, in the column inches here on the closing pages of your best fenestration magazine, I will now concentrate on the best use of the smartphone in your pocket to capture your best PR and project pictures. While the hardware may change, the basic principles of photography remain, and master these to get your best shot.