Five favourite feature-packed camera phones perfect for digital photography enthusiasts and casual photographers alike. 

Tuesday 2nd November, 2021

A wise photographer once said that the best camera is the one that you have with you.

Camera phones in 2021 are capable of truly extraordinary things. Much of their appeal, however, lies in the fact that they’re lightweight, streamline and rarely stray too far from our palms or pockets…

Meaning they’re always on hand to capture the action!

While the quality of mobile phone cameras might not have been up there with the best digital cameras on the market just a few years ago, the current crop of smartphones have surely bridged the gap.

Simply put, the technology has progressed in leaps and bounds over the past few years in order to meet demand.

Most individuals, these days, would be hard pressed trying to justify owning a stand alone digital camera, due to the quality of the photographs that can be taken, stored, edited and uploaded almost instantaneously from modern smartphones. 

When you take into account the razor sharp displays, fast processing speeds and computer-assisted image processing capabilities built into current devices, the only hard decision is which brand and model suits you best.

Whether you’re searching for the ideal device to take group shots and selfies for social media, capture sharp landscapes, explore astro, macro or moody low-light photography, or simply an all-rounder for family and holiday happy snaps, one of the following five handsets will surely fit the bill.

If you’re looking for a high-powered Android handset that can do the lot, then it’s very hard to look past the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. This is a hefty phone with a large 6.8” screen - perfect for properly viewing your photographic captures on the fly.

The Galaxy S21 Ultra is fitted with a gutsy 40MP front camera for snapping high definition selfies plus a selection of four (4!) rear facing cameras enabling users to capture just about any style of image imaginable.

The main rear camera is 108MP, has an f/1.8 aperture, and is capable of shooting ultra sharp, impeccable quality images.

The phone also features a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide camera as well as dual 10MP telephoto cameras - one equipped with an f/2.4 aperture and 3X optical zoom, and the other with f/4.9 aperture and 10X optical zoom.

If you can’t take a decent looking shot with this unit, you might need a new hobby…

Check them out on VitiKart HERE

For the dedicated Apple fan, or those deep within the Apple ecosystem already using multiple synced up Apple devices, the iPhone 13 Pro is an obvious choice.

It’s the best iPhone ever made. And that’s saying a lot, given the impress specs of the 13 Pro’s predecessor (iPhone 12 Pro scores the next spot on this list).

The 13 Pro features several useful upgrades including a new macro mode, ideal for extreme close-ups and product photography, as well as the addition of an ultra wide camera, which makes shooting quality images in low-light situations a breeze.

The new iPhone sports a solid 12MP front camera that’s more than capable of capturing high definition self portraits, group shots and more.

What’s truly impressive is the array of rear-mounted cameras and lens options. Each of the three rear facing cameras is 12MP; one is fitted with a ‘standard’ f/1.5 aperture lens, one with a f/1.8 aperture ultra wide lens and the last boasting f/2.8 aperture telephoto glass.

Available from Vodafone Fiji soon!

This was the one to watch, for committed Apple enthusiasts who’d been patiently waiting for ‘the photographer’s camera phone’. A slick new unit with enough fresh features to blow previous models out of the water.

The 12 Pro offers users a significant boost in image shooting capability in just about every aspect, boasting a range of new features clearly implemented with serious enthusiasts in mind.

The 12 Pro is fitted with a 12MP, f/2.2 TrueDepth front-facing camera that reliably snaps sharp, well-balanced images, whether in low light, at night or under harsh midday sun.

This was the first iPhone to feature a slew of three rear-facing cameras with different lenses. The rear-mounted cameras are all 12MP, with one wearing a wide f/1.6 aperture lens, another an ultra wide f/2.4 aperture lens, and the last a telephoto f/2 aperture lens.

The iPhone 12 Pro is packed with new features, but one that really stands out is the ability to use the new Apple ProRAW file format, allowing users to combine Apple’s photography effects with highly editable RAW files, elevating phone photography to truly new heights.

Check them out on VitiKart HERE

Google Pixel 6 was globally released last month. The Pixel 5 is a reliable workhorse that’s well equipped for shooting quality photographs, day in and day out.

The Pixel 5 offers a number of handy features including wireless charging and a long-lasting battery and sports a capable 8MP front-facing camera fitted with an f/2 aperture 24mm lens.

The rear dual camera unit is comprised of a 12.2MP unit with f/1.7 aperture wide angle lens plus another 16MP camera with f/2.2 aperture ultra wide angle lens.

Google’s latest handset is equipped with a Snapdragon 765G chipset that matches well with the Android 11 OS to provide users with seamless functionality and snappy operation.

While the Galaxy S20 Ultra might not be the latest in its lineup any longer, don’t let the fact that it’s been superseded by the Galaxy S21 Ultra stop you from seriously considering this nifty handset for your next camera phone purchase.

The S20 Ultra 5G is equipped with a slew of photographic features that continue to beat out most of the competition, and it’s now possible to pick up handsets online for much more reasonable prices.

Samsung has equipped this model with a fast 40MP front camera with a f/2.2 aperture as well as three rear-facing cameras.

The primary rear-mounted camera is an ultra powerful 108MP unit with a f/1.8 aperture 26mm lens. This is matched with another 48MP camera with a f/3.5 aperture telephoto lens and a final 12MP camera equipped with a f/2.2 aperture ultra wide angle lens.

Check them out on VitiKart HERE