As a reporter and occasional videographer in The Irish Times, I use both a mainstream DSLR camera (about €800) and an iPhone 5S. Which is better?
VIDEO
The iPhone has revolutionised videography. I use Filmic Pro, a brilliant app capable of producing sparkling HD video, and iMovie, which is a handy editing tool. Together they are capable of producing impressive, professional-looking video, but smartphones are not without their weaknesses. An iPhone works best in natural light, and at close quarters with the subject (usually about 4m). Smartphones, however, have only a digital rather than optical zoom, so the picture quality degrades as you zone in on distant objects.
This is not a problem with a DSLR camera, although it depends on the lens you use. Most DSLRs have an 18-55mm camera. You need a 55-200mm lens to maximise exposure to faraway objects. There is an extra cost in this.
An iPhone does not work well in artificial light or in low light. A DSLR can be adjusted for low-light settings using the ISO button, although both can benefit from an LED light source in low-light settings.
With a DSLR camera, there are tricks to enhance your videos. Among these are zooms in and out, and moving in and out of focus (a pull focus). These are much more difficult to achieve with an iPhone.
The vividness and clarity in good DSLR cameras is superior to that of an iPhone.
Verdict:
Canon 700D: 9
iPhone 5S: 6
STILLS
You can take very good photographs with an iPhone. Have a look at photographs that have won competitions at ippawards.com. An iPhone is a powerful tool in the hands of a skilled photographer, but it is technically inferior to a DSLR camera.
The DSLR camera automatically adjusts for light conditions, exposure levels and focus. The DSLR’s use of manual focus can also provide you with a range of professional-looking shots.
Verdict:
Canon 700D:10
iPhone 5S: 6
STORAGE SPACE
My iPhone 5S has only 16GB of space (the maximum is 32GB). The amount of space available for filming is only about 7GB. A minute of Filmic Pro footage at the highest quality setting is 250MB. You will never shoot a wedding, say, on an iPhone 5S because there is not enough space. This problem is not as acute with the iPhone 6, which has up to 64GB.
On a DSLR, the amount of space to shoot is only determined by the size of your SD card, many of which have up to 64GB of space. However, you can only fit 30 minutes of continuous video on a DSLR .
Verdict:
Canon 700D: 8
iPhone 5S: 5
EASE OF EDITING
iMovie makes it so easy to create video packages that can go on YouTube. DSLR files need to be downloaded to a laptop for editing. It is possible, using the cloud or a flashdrive, to download DSLR files to an iPhone and edit in iMovies, subject to the restrictions on space.
Verdict:
Canon 700D: 7
iPhone 5S: 9
OVERALL VERDICT
It is possible to produce really good and professional video packages on an iPhone, but the best results are achieved with a DSLR camera.
Canon: 34/40
iPhone 5S: 26/40
