Sunset over Carson City

Sunset the other day over Carson city. Didn't have time to grab my

regular camera because the light was fading fast so I had to snap this

with my iphone 4s. What do you think?

If this had been taken with your regular camera, what would you think?

Hi Kyle,

While it is true that the basic technology of the chip that resides inside your I-Phone is the same of that of a $100, 000 camera that I use at my laboratory for research and lens evaluation, there are no comparisons to be made by any cell phone to most any imaging camera on the market today.

The important aspect here is that you did make a capture that otherwise would not have happened, and that you have a memorable scene capture of a colorful sky over the distant mountains.

As I always have said, it is better to make the shot than have no shot at all.

This is why I keep my higher quality P&S camera or one of my smaller frame DSLR cameras handy.

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year coming !

Best Regards,

Mike

Thank you both for leaving comments on my photo. I think if I had my regular camera with me (my wife and I were on our way to a Christmas party) that I would have benefit from the better low light performance, I notice a decent amount of grain in this photo when viewed at a size larger than for web. 

I also think that it would have allowed me to adjust exposure better such that I could have captured some of the beautiful lights from the city below to get a nice balance between the sunset and the city. 

As Mike pointed out there I would much rather be able to capture this photo even with a smaller camera than not capture it at all. It was a beautiful moment and I am happy that I am able to share it with friends here and elsewhere. 

Happy Holidays. 

Kyle, I've been thinking about this for a few days.  I'm not disagreeing with you, but I am providing an alternative point of view.  I've been in this situation more than once:  a gorgeous scene, yet I do not have the camera and/or the lens that would make the most of the scene.  Sometimes I just have my iPhone, and its camera is reportedly not as good as your 4s.  At times like this, I've chosen to sit back and just soak in the beauty of the moment, realizing I could not do the kind of justice I think the scene deserves with the equipment I have at hand.  So the primary difference is that I don't subscribe to the notion that an image, even with shortcomings, is better than no image at all.  I just chalk it up to bad luck or bad planning, but like you, I do appreciate the moment.  You're able to take away a physical reminder of that moment, while I have only a memory.

Stephen that is a very good point. I do agree with you there is a lot of room for debate on the image vs. no image area and I have done the same thing as you sitting back and enjoying the moment many times before.

I find this whole subject fascinating.