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Comment by Magnets | Hacker News Reader

It doesn't mean there isn't any improvement. Phone cameras are getting so incredible now that you really don't need to carry a P&S and with things like HDR+, OIS, 4k video you'll get better results.

People have been saying that smartphones replaced cameras for years, but now they are not just a replacement but actually better.

There has still been innovation with dual cameras, finger print sensors, laser focus, better LED flash, USB type C and monthly Android security patches will probably encourage people to upgrade after they reach EoL for a device.

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An array of many lenses with different fixed focal lengths combined with sophisticated image processing to stitch the exposures together may finally allow smartphones to really replace P&S cameras. The new Light digital camera proves the concept works. It's actually a dedicated P&S camera itself, but the obvious next step is to integrate the technology into smartphones.

http://spectrum.ieee.org/consumer-electronics/gadgets/inside...

My $200 Canon P&S that I bought in 2013 still takes better low-light pics than my iPhone 7.

Phones are good enough, sure. But top of the line phones still can't do low-light very well.

Yes, exactly. And cameras like the Canon G9X or Sony RX 100 series are leaps and bounds better. To be sure, most people don't give a damn, but some do.

Bit better in low light, but can you edit your RAW pics on it? How about editing 4K video? Of course I'm being facetious, but top of the line smartphones are pretty great cameras generally speaking. Man I wish I could have changed the crappy OS in the P&S cameras I used to use, and now I can pick the camera/video shooting app I prefer. Plus edit & upload pics from the device.

That depends on purpose, sure, they are fantastic for "catch the moment" but there is nothing else going on for them about photography (video is a different story, at least from what I hear).

On the otherhand yeah, phone cameras getting better and enabling more and more applications is awesome.

Are there P&S cameras that are worse than than best-of-class phone cameras? Yes. Are there P&S cameras that wipe the floor with any phone camera out there? Yes (e.g. Sony RX100, Fuji X100)

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