Over the years, we have seen many innovations, especially in the computing and gadgets arena. Some have lasted (the IBM PC concept is still much the same now as it was way back when despite limitations), the spreadsheet doesn’t seem to have any competitor on the horizon yet, ink jet printers are here to stay and the mouse has only evolved slightly in reality over the years.

Compare that to say the Dvorak keyboard (anyone ever used one?), Apple’s “puck mouse” is only in museums now I am guessing and (hopefully) laptop keyboards with the nipple joystick in the centre are gone too. These were simply bad ideas as against being evolved out if you know what I mean.

Other devices simply went the way of the dodo as something better came along; the floppy disk became the Alexander Downer “Memory Stick”, the short lived DVD camcorder was swamped by the SD/HDD based same and cassettes-then-CD became MP3.

So I am mystified why people still use phones to take photos? Sure there is a convenience angle; most people have their smartphone with them at all times, but many, many people also use their phone as their only camera.

Why when there are much better options?

Everyone acknowledges the imagery from phones (with the exception possibly of the Nokia N8 which I consider is a camera with a phone and not the other way around) is terrible in comparison to a similarly sized dedicated DSC (digital still camera). While the ‘more megapixels are better’ mantra is not the be all and end all, the quality of the lens and optics electronics is. Between a DSC and a phone there is simply no comparison in these areas. Low light is an issue and so is high speed. How many millions of shots have been taken on phones at concerts, parties or sporting events that are utterly useless?

And don’t get me started on iPhone or similar based video!

But would you believe this? Remember in Rocky Roman Numeral Something, there is a famous take of Rocky racing up a set of stairs and the camera tracking him is dead smooth. This was achieved using a ‘Steadicam’, an expensive piece of precision equipment that has spawned many competitors. Indeed the trade mark name has become synonymous with the technology as has ‘Hoover’ and ‘Hills Hoist’.

Well the company that makes the Steadicam now makes one for the iPhone. $199 will get you one. Can’t wait for the dolly and crane. And the iPhone lighting kit.

And if you think tele lenses are out of the question, there were some a few years ago (for Nokias) that stuck on the front of the existing lens!

Now that is just wrong.

By David Hague

David is the owner and publisher of AusCam Online. He has a background in media dating back to 1979 when he first got involved with photojournalism in motorsport, and went from there into technology via a 5 year stint with Tandy Computers. Following that, he ran a software distribution company on the Gold Coast and was one of the first to recognise the potential of Microsoft Windows.

Moving back to WA, David wrote scripts for Computer Television for video training for the just released Windows and Office 95 among others, and was then lured to Sydney to create web sites for the newly commercial Internet in 1995, building hundreds of sites under contract to OzEmail including Coates Hire, Hertz Queensland, John Williamson, the NSW Board of Studies and many, many more.

He went back into full time journalism as the Managing Editor for Channel 7's 'Gadget Guy', Peter Blasina's publications VideoCamera and Pixelmag, before starting Australasian Camcorder magazine when these publications were shelved. He lives at Sydney's Avalon Beaches nearly on the ocean front with dog Budweiser and in his spare time is a nut for motor sport, road safety, fishing, science fiction - especially Dr Who - and technology.

David can be contacted via david@auscamonline.com