Video: can an iPhone 11 Pro from 2019 beat a GF1 from 2009?

Choose your fighter.

 

(16:46)

I still use my GF1 regularly.

I don't want an Iphone pro but do want a GF1. It's a nice camera. In fact this post made me go look for a good GF1.

My only experience photographing with a phone is/was when a tourist would ask me to take their photo with their phone. I didn't know how to hold it, which side to point toward the people, where to press the button, how to know when a photo had been taken. All while trying not to drop the ergonomic disaster that phones seem to be. I remember taking a photo once, having the folks look at it and hand their phone to someone else for another try. What an insult. The GF1 is a classic.

The phone is always with me and a camera, not so much. Computational photography is only going to improve and its quite compelling right now. For my needs, I would not want an M43 with the old 12 mp sensor. My EPL2 has that sensor and the 1st generation 16mp m43 sensor is vastly better.

Computational photography is only going to improve

Good point. However, computational photography already exists in dedicated cameras, with features like HDR focus stacking/bracketing, and pixel shift. Even then, there is no substitute for sensor size when it comes to image quality. Other factors of course do apply, which is why most people don't shoot medium format.

My iPhone works fine. Don't want to carry a conventional camera.

 

Photography and making photographs has very little to do with gear.

When used within its limits, a cell phone can produce high quality stills and video. My iPhone XR does 4kp60, which is available in only a few hybrid cameras. Most smart phones have a single lens choice, wide angle, equivalent to 28 mm. Digital zoom (cropping in-camera) is no substitute for optical zoom. Still, a wide angle lens is appropriate for many situations. You just need to find the right "nail" for that hammer.

 

There's not much good you can say about built-in microphones in cell phones (nor in video cameras of any sort). There are a plethora of external microphones which do a better job. I've used an inexpensive (<$100) stereo microphone by Zoom, a 1Q6 (replaced by a more versatile 1Q7) for student auditions. In particular, I've coached students and parents in their use, rather than recommending solutions which require much more experience at higher cost. Given a choice, I use a Sony FS5 and an array of Schoeps microphones. But I can spread the cost over dozens of customers, and get good results under a wide variety of situations.

Photography and making photographs has very little to do with gear.

With respect, you can't separate the hardware from the practice. I say that as someone who also really likes his iPhone.

The tool you choose can give you a broader choice of nails.

With respect, you can't separate the hardware from the practice. I say that as someone who also really likes his iPhone.

 

"... you can't..."

 

That may be true for you. But I do that everyday when I make photographs.