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A smartphone will never be better at taking photos than a DSLR, no matter how many megapixels it boasts or how big its sensors or its pixel size is. The only thing smartphones hold over DSLRs is in size and convenience – which is a small price to pay when it comes to truly stunning photography.
At least, that’s what we thought when we originally pitched this idea, as DSLRs have always been the go-to for high-quality images. But since the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 came out earlier this year with multiple upgrades to its camera system, the answer doesn’t seem quite as clear cut as it used to be.
Therefore, armed with the new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4, we set out to compare the foldable phone with a DSLR.
Meet The Contestants
On one side, we have Samsung’s newest foldable smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4. It sports a dual-camera system on the rear with a 12MP main camera and 12MP ultra-wide shooter and a 10MP selfie camera on the front.
It’s worth noting that the Galaxy Z Flip4 has received some incremental yet interesting upgrades to its main camera as compared to the previous generation. For one, it has a bigger pixel size at 1.8μm, which allows the phone to take better photos in low-light conditions. Apart from that, the new Neural Processing Unit (NPU) improves image processing on the software side.
The Galaxy Z Flip4’s contender is the Canon EOS 250D, a beginner to intermediate camera that’s known to be one of the best entry-level DSLRs. The EOS 250D has a 24.1 MP APS-C sensor, which is commonly used in most DSLRs, and uses Canon’s DIGIC 8 processor for image processing.
For the sake of this comparison, we’re using the original 18-55mm lens that came with the camera.
First Things First; The Size.
The Galaxy Z Flip4 is already much smaller than a regular smartphone — half the size, to be exact. Therefore, it wins in the size department by miles. There’s really just no competition when your smartphone can literally fold in half.
Compared to the EOS 250D which needs a whole bag to itself, the Galaxy Z Flip4 can be slipped into a small purse or even just a pocket. A DSLR is just not the most convenient gadget you would want to bring with you everywhere — but a smartphone is.
Controls
Learning photography can be hard; it gets harder with all the controls and fiddly bits you need to know to get that perfect picture. On DSLRs, there are controls for everything: ISO, aperture, shutter speed, white balance, exposure, etc… For some, this may be a major put-off.
In contrast, the Galaxy Z Flip4 is simply a point-and-shoot: just direct the camera at your subject, and press the shutter. Simple as that; from focusing to exposure levels, the image processing will do all the work for you so you don’t have to deal with all the fiddly knobs and levels.
On one hand, the DSLR offers more versatility over focus and depth of field, allowing you more flexibility in isolating the subject from the background. More controls mean more ways to “customize” your images. Plus, you can change out the lens should you want to do so – you can’t do that on a smartphone.
However, for sheer simplicity, the Galaxy Z Flip4 is still better suited for newbies. You won’t need DSLR-level photos for social media, since all photos go through compression anyway. Besides, there’s always the Pro mode on the Galaxy Z Flip4’s camera app if you really want to learn about ISO and shutter speeds.
Photo Quality
Now, let’s get to the main course: which gadget takes better photos?
Taken with the Galaxy Z Flip4:
Taken with the Canon EOS 250D (on auto):
Same place, same time: the Galaxy Z Flip4 produced brighter colours, albeit a little over-saturated, while the DSLR produced a relatively muted but realistic picture. The aspect ratios are also different – but that’s just because we left both at the default settings: the Galaxy Z Flip4 was taken in 3:4, while the DSLR’s was at 16:9.
It took me about two seconds to snap this photo on the Galaxy Z Flip4, but about two minutes to get it on the DSLR because even on auto mode, it was a little hard to get the DSLR to focus on the correct thing – then again, at least you get a choice. The Galaxy Z Flip4 just puts everything in focus (in Photo mode) without discrimination.
On the DSLR, what you see through the viewfinder is exactly what you get. On the Galaxy Z Flip4, though, the previewed image was actually quite blurry and not as vibrant. In short, the software side of things actually does more for the resulting image than the cameras themselves. This means that the Galaxy Z Flip4’s photos are ready to go immediately with little room for post-production; while you can and probably will want to enhance the photos from the DSLR in post-production.
Taken with the Galaxy Z Flip4 (on 3.2x Zoom)
Taken with the Canon EOS 250D, 18 - 55mm lens:
The Galaxy Z Flip4 has up to 10x zoom; but the zoomed-in photos are… not ideal. The Galaxy Z Flip4 does not come with a telephoto lens, so it relies entirely on digital zoom, which produces a lot of noise. The DSLR wins in this regard – the 18 - 55mm lens produced decent zoomed-in photos, and you can switch out the lens for a longer telephoto lens if you want to.
Like all other smartphones, the Galaxy Z Flip4 has a selfie camera. For selfies, the Galaxy Z Flip4 definitely wins – apart from all the Quick Shots and Cover Screen gimmicks, the Galaxy Z Flip4 can sit up by itself without a tripod, unlike the DSLR. Carrying a tripod around just adds to the already burdensome DSLR.
More Photos From the Galaxy Z Flip4:
Battery
The EOS 250D comes with a removable battery that needs a separate charger, while the Galaxy Z Flip4 recharges through a Type-C cable or wirelessly with a compatible wireless charger.
Being a three-year-old camera, the DSLR did not last as long as the Galaxy Z Flip4 in terms of battery life. With Live View mode on, it only lasted about half a day of continuous shooting (about 400 shots, give or take), while the Galaxy Z Flip4 lasted an entire day with the same amount of shoots AND some regular smartphone usage.
In fact, the battery life is one of the biggest upgrades in the Galaxy Z Flip4 compared to its predecessor. It has a capacity of 3,700 mAh, which is 400 mAh more than the Galaxy Z Flip3. The processors are also more efficient, resulting in much longer battery life.
Aesthetics & Customizability
If you’re holding a DSLR, people immediately recognise you as a photographer; whereas the Galaxy Z Flip4 is a little more inconspicuous, at least where photography is concerned.
The form factor of the Galaxy Z Flip4 is one of its main selling points. It’s certainly different from conventional smartphones, and the model we had – the Bora Purple – is still one of the prettiest colourways on the market currently. There’s also the Bespoke Edition, where you can customize the phone with up to 75 colour combinations.
Where most of the customizability on the Galaxy Z Flip4 are based on aesthetics, the DSLR is more practical: you can change the lens on the camera. Wide angle lenses, prime lenses, telephoto lenses – just swap them out according to your needs. On a smartphone, you’re pretty much stuck with what the manufacturer gives you.
Conclusion: DSLR vs. Galaxy Z Flip4?
A DSLR is a gadget dedicated to photography, while a smartphone can do more than just photography. In return, you don’t get the specific settings on a smartphone that you can get on a DSLR.
With all the technological advancements in mobile photography nowadays, it’s getting harder and harder to justify getting a separate, bulkier, and often more expensive gadget just to take photos. If you’re a professional photographer, then so be it; DSLRs, especially professional DSLRs, still offer more creative control when it comes to settings and better RAW files for post-production.
For the average joes, a smartphone offers more spontaneity and convenience. No one leaves the house without a smartphone nowadays, so mobile photography is much more popular, especially for newbies just starting out. Plus, you really don’t need 4K or 200MP photos for your social media – even if you do, there are smartphones that offer these resolutions anyway.
If you’re looking for a smartphone that can compete with a DSLR, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 is probably your best bet. Apart from enhanced image processing and bigger pixel sizes, it also comes with the benefit of ultimate compactness and longer battery life.
[This post is made in collaboration with Samsung Malaysia]
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