There is no disputing that smartphone cameras are getting better all the time. Technology from some of the best camera manufacturers in the world is being applied to the devices we carry in our pockets every day.
And what easier way to capture travel experiences on the fly than with a smartphone?
They may be the perfect devices for taking selfies, live social media video and sharing the little moments of your trip, but there are photo ops that are beyond the scope of your smartphone's capabilities.
From safari trips to whale watching, from the Statue of Liberty to the Parthenon, there are times when you need a real camera, not one that you also use to make phone calls.
Fireworks Displays
There are entire books written about photographing things in the night sky. It's a complicated process, even for the best photographers. Fireworks are usually too fast and too far away in the vastness of the dark sky for your smartphone camera to do you much good.
Whale Watching
Here's how a lot of whale watching goes: You enjoy a lovely boat ride and maybe see one whale relatively close to the boat. All the rest of the sightings are often hundreds of yards away.
And while boat captains want to get you in close, they usually have strict rules they must adhere to when it comes to keeping their distance. (Not to mention the fact that chasing whales is bad for the whales.)
Your smartphone simply does not have the zoom capability to get the whale shots you crave.
African Safari
You will see animals on safari, but often the best safari photos are of animal interactions that are not likely to take place near you. (Think: Lionesses grooming their cubs, or herds of animals drinking from a watering hole.)
Again, you have a zoom problem. The bigger and more powerful the zoom, the more you are going to enjoy the memories of your safari.
If you don't own a good digital DSLR camera and a powerful zoom, renting camera gear from a company like Lens Pro to Go should be budgeted as an integral part of the trip.
Snorkeling and Scuba Diving
Oh sure, there are phones that can get wet and there are cases for those that can't get wet. But the facts are indisputable: Not only can you not take your smartphone very deep under water without risk of damage, but underwater photos taken with phones are bad. They have no means of compensating for the way light (and therefore color) changes as it goes through water.
The average person should probably use an underwater point-and-shoot camera or a GoPro with an appropriate filter during a snorkeling or diving trip.
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Stargazing
Just try to get one of those fabulous shots of the Milky Way with your smartphone. It's not going to happen. Even the smartest smartphone cameras don't have the ability to adequately capture the galaxy.
Northern Lights Watching
Seeing the northern lights is on a lot of people's bucket lists. If it's on yours, you probably shouldn't trust the memories to just your smartphone camera.
This would probably be another must-rent moment when it comes to your choice of camera equipment.
Alaskan or Artic Cruises
A fellow travel writer I know went on an Alaskan cruise a couple of years ago, then came home and bought a better DSLR camera.
He had it backward. Rent or buy a better camera before any trip to Alaska or the Arctic. You want to capture the wildlife and the expansive scenery with the best equipment you can get your hands on.
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European Trips or Cruises
The limitations of smartphone cameras in Europe involve size and distance.
When you are on land, the scope of massive buildings in cities like Athens, Rome or London is impossible to capture adequately with a smartphone. And while on the water-whether on the ocean or on a river cruise-you will likely sail past stunning scenery that is just beyond the distance your smartphone is able to zoom.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
If you're privileged to visit the culturally important sites that have been designated by UNESCO, you need a camera that is up for the challenge. Your smartphone may be adequate for closeup photos of the details of the site, but for buildings and landscapes, a good DSLR with a wide-angle lens will give you the best results.
You simply won't come home from Machu Picchu with the iconic shots you want if you trust only your phone.
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