Skookumchuk Narrows

This panoramic photo of Skookumchuk Narrows shows the Roland Point viewing area. While the primary camera used at this location was the D800, see last Friday's photo of the day for an example, it was not used for this image. The image was not taken with a DSLR or mirrorless camera either. What camera was used then? An iPhone 5c rear camera, using the panorama mode.

While some might scoff at those using a cell phone camera, under the right conditions these little cameras can perform extremely well. The lenses are sharp and offer more than enough depth of field for this type of image. Due to the overcast conditions, and thus soft light, the iPhone camera performed well. Note that the image you see here is not right out of the camera, it was edited using Aperture 3 and Nik Software plug-ins. Now would I have tried this shot with the iPhone under different conditions, such as a bright sunny afternoon? Not likely, even with the HDR mode the camera's sensor lacks the required dynamic range. In any case, do not discount using a smartphone camera, as long as you understand the limitations and know how to work within them.