Smart Phone that takes Good Video?

MadMaverick wrote on 10/13/2015, 5:05 AM

I've only ever had basic cell phones, so I'm a newb when it comes to smart phones. I'm thinking of finally upgrading to one. I'd like one that takes decent video, but won't break bank (I just don't think I could bring myself to pay around $700 for a phone).

I was gonna choose one from the Verizon site (http://www.verizonwireless.com/smartphones/), but I'm open to any suggestions. Thank you.

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GeeBax wrote on 10/14/2015, 5:00 PM

@ Peter Duke
"I will therefore rephrase my question, since I genuinely wish to know. Do any of the cameras which have the shape traditionally used to take still photographs incorporate stabilizers when taking movies?"

As said, with optical stabilisation vested in the lens, any camera that can mount that lens will have the feature. I use a very nice Lumix 4/3 lens on my Blackmagic camera that gives me very useful stabilisation.

OldSmoke wrote on 10/14/2015, 5:47 PM

If the quality is only good in 'extremely limited circumstances', then the scales don't tip at all.

What dips the scale in many situations is cost and the fact that one will most likely have you phone always at hand. Also the iPhone can shot at high frame rates, higher then the 5D for nice slow mo.

But, as already said, it's by no means a total replacement for a good video or still camera.

PeterDuke wrote on 10/14/2015, 8:05 PM

Thanks Terje and Geoff.

PeterDuke wrote on 10/14/2015, 8:20 PM

"with all the caveats you get with a small sensor, such as depth of field"

I am often intrigued by the way depth of field is viewed by many here. It must reflect either different content to mine or different personal preferences or both. Sometimes people say good or bad DOF without clearly saying what they mean by that. Usually for me, good DOF means deep DOF. There are times of course when a shallow DOF is better.

Since most of the populous seem to use their smart phone cameras for taking selfies, which usually require a deep DOF (or else either they or the scene would be out of focus), then the popular vote would surely be that a deep DOF is good.

musicvid10 wrote on 10/14/2015, 8:43 PM

Phones achieve deep DOF by virtue of their wide angle lenses, not relative aperture or ISO, both of which are mediocre on most such devices.

PeterDuke wrote on 10/14/2015, 9:03 PM

Based on the field of view, I estimate that the lens on my phone would have an equivalent focal length of about 30 mm for a 35 mm (full frame) camera.