Is a Mirrorless Camera Worth It? Phone vs. Camera Comparison

Mirrorless cameras are known for their high-quality photos, advanced features, and ability to capture stunning images. They are widely used by professionals and photography enthusiasts because they offer excellent image quality, fast autofocus, and interchangeable lenses. On the other hand, smartphones are becoming more powerful every year, with better cameras, improved sensors, and advanced software that enhances images.

Even budget smartphones today come with decent cameras that use artificial intelligence and image processing to improve photos. They can take good pictures in well-lit conditions, but they often struggle in low light, zooming, and capturing fine details compared to a mirrorless camera.

So, how does my affordable smartphone compare to my mirrorless camera? Can it take photos that are almost as good, or does the mirrorless camera still have a big advantage?

Your Phone Can Take Great Photos with a Little Effort

I always carry a camera with me, even though I have my phone. That doesn’t mean I dislike phone cameras. In fact, I believe they can take decent pictures if you put in the effort and think about how you shoot.

For this little experiment, I decided to compare my Fuji X-T20, a mirrorless camera, with my Huawei P30 Lite, a budget smartphone. Originally, I wanted to use my Redmi Note 11, which has a 50MP camera, but unfortunately, it broke. So, I had to go with my backup phone instead.

To give my old phone the best shot, I made sure to take photos in well-lit conditions and used Pro Mode for more control over the settings. I kept the ISO as low as possible to reduce graininess, which is a common issue in phone photography.

With the Fuji X-T20, I set the focal length as close as possible to the P30 Lite and iPad’s camera. I also matched the angles so the shots would look nearly identical. To make things even trickier, I closed down the aperture on the Fuji to minimize background blur since that’s often an easy giveaway.

Now, here’s the fun part—can you tell which photo was taken with which device? To make it even more interesting, there’s the challenge of image compression when uploading photos online. Since most people view pictures through social media or messaging apps, this test feels even more realistic. Let’s see how well my budget phone holds up!

Taking Great Indoor Photos with Artificial Light

Let’s start with a tougher challenge for the smartphone—an indoor setting with artificial light to help it out.

I took these photos indoors using the P30 Lite and the X-T20 with an overhead lamp. The lamp gave the phone a better chance, allowing me to lower the ISO in Pro Mode to 50 for more detail. The X-T20 handled this effortlessly, but can you spot the difference?

Capturing Stunning Outdoor Photos with Natural Light

I took this pair of photos outside using the same devices. With plenty of natural light, the P30 Lite had an easier time capturing a decent shot despite its weaker sensor. Surprisingly, the phone’s image looked so good that even I had trouble telling them apart when comparing side by side.

Sometimes, phone cameras boost colors, making the image appear more vibrant than it actually is. But is that the case here? Below is another shot of the same flowers from a bit farther away, giving you more details to make your guess.

iPad vs. Mirrorless Camera: Can You Spot the Difference?

For this last test, I compared the iPad to the Fuji X-T20. Mobile devices often brighten dark areas, which can introduce graininess as they try to capture details. This is especially noticeable in shots like this one, where the car is in shadow.

If you’re ready to see the answers for all the comparisons, keep scrolling!

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Phone Cameras Are Good, But They Can’t Replace a Real Camera

Camera technology has come a long way, but nothing beats high-quality optics and sensors. Mirrorless cameras are built solely for photography, with large sensors and quality lenses that capture the best possible image.

On the other hand, phone cameras rely on computational photography. Because their sensors and lenses are small, they use software to enhance images instantly. The result is a photo that looks good, but it’s been processed to appear that way rather than capturing the full detail naturally.

Even with the best smartphone camera, good composition and lighting matter. With proper technique, you can take great photos on a phone—but in low light or complex scenes, a dedicated camera still has the advantage.

All the photos on the right were taken with my mirrorless camera, the Fuji X-T20. Did you guess them correctly?