Mobile Photography

The best camera is the one you have with you — and for most people, most of the time, that's a smartphone. Modern mobile cameras are genuinely impressive, but getting the most from them requires understanding their strengths and limitations. This section covers mobile photography techniques, the apps that extend what's possible, and the accessories that make smartphone shooting more capable and intentional.

Hasselblad's Best Feature Isn't the Camera, It's This App

Most camera companion apps are an afterthought, slow, clunky, and quick to disconnect the moment signal drops. Hasselblad's Focus Mobile is the rare exception, and it finally runs on Android after living on iPhone alone.

 

We Review the Latest Huawei Flagship Smartphone: The Pura 90s Pro Max

Huawei's smartphone imaging innovation has come a long way since the introduction of XMage color science four years ago. The Pura series, previously known as the P series, has held its title as a photography flagship for even longer, consistently packing in all the greatest imaging technology. This year is no different with the introduction of the Pura 90s Pro Max.

Is the Huawei Pura 90s Pro Max the Ultimate Telephoto Flagship? Here is What We Know

For years, telephoto performance on smartphones has felt like a compromise, often forcing photographers to choose between reach and image quality. With the global launch of the Huawei Pura 90s Pro Max, Huawei is looking to shift that narrative and establish a new standard for mobile photography by bringing some of the latest imaging tech to the smartphone.  

Equipment vs. Skill: What Happens When a Professional Shoots on a Phone

Spend enough time on Fstoppers and you'll notice a pattern. We talk about gear. I'm here to tell you one thing: gear isn't going to make you a better photographer. 

If you're relying on expensive gear, it could even be holding you back. If you think a lens is going to do the job for you, you'll stop doing the job you're supposed to be doing.

Photographers Will Be Impressed With the New Photo Features in iOS 27

After some false starts, Apple has gone all out for the upcoming iOS 27, due this fall. There's a greatly improved Siri, based on Google's Gemini, and a host of AI features. Our readers will be most interested in the new photo-taking and editing features in iOS 27, and I was able to download the developer beta for a quick look around. 

 

I Still Shoot With an iPhone 8 in 2026 and I Don't Plan to Upgrade

Let's get this out of the way: this is not nostalgia. 

I'm not trying to "bring back" anything, especially a smartphone. I'm not interested in retro aesthetics for the sake of it. And I'm definitely not here to argue that older technology is somehow superior.

The Free App That Navigates Perfectly With Zero Cell Signal

If I told you that there was a free app that allows you to navigate flawlessly without needing a cell signal, you'd be interested, wouldn't you? Given that I am a night photographer who frequently navigates in the dark, this is particularly useful. I wanted to share this in case it helps you as much as it has helped me. 

The Honor Robot Phone Brings ARRI's Cinema Expertise to Your Pocket

Camera brands collaborating with mobile phone companies is nothing that is particularly new. We saw this with Zeiss, with Leica, and even Hasselblad. But even this collaboration took me by surprise. That is, between Honor and none other than ARRI, with the Honor Robot Phone. 

vivo X300 Ultra Puts a Cinema Camera in Your Pocket, Redefining Mobile Videography

The narrative of smartphones launched every year has honestly been quite dull, mainly focusing on still photography — better cameras, more resolution, sharper images, and better low-light image quality. Being dull is not necessarily a bad thing; if anything, it means that we might have successfully reached the point of sufficiency for smartphone photography imaging systems.

We Review the DJI Osmo Mobile 8, a Much-Needed Update for Smartphone Videographers

The DJI Osmo Mobile 8 is the latest smartphone gimbal from DJI, and while it still looks primarily the same, it quietly fixes and updates everything you wished the predecessor would have. The gimbal now supports 360° pan rotation, updated intelligent tracking, and access to Apple’s intelligent subject-tracking technology.

Is the iPhone a Good Street Photography Camera?

There have been so many times when I've forced myself to bring my iPhone 16 Pro (and 14 Pro, and 13 mini—you get the idea) as my only camera on an excursion, whether a trip to the city or an extended family vacation to someplace beautiful. Here's how it goes with the latest model. 

Should Your Next Point-and-Shoot Be an Old Smartphone?

I think I've been thinking about old cameras all wrong. At least, this video from James Warner of Snappiness has me rethinking how I look at old smartphone cameras, as he talks about the three best "vintage" smartphones to use exclusively for photography. 

Hollyland Launches the Lark A1: Affordable Wireless Mic for Mobile Creators

For mobile-first creators, capturing good audio can be challenging, often being more expensive and complicated than the point-and-capture nature of mobile video. Hollyland is aiming to solve that problem with its new Lark A1, a dual-channel wireless microphone system designed specifically for mobile devices that prioritizes simplicity while keeping costs impressively low. 

Apple Announces iOS 26 With a Range of New Features and Appearance Updates

Apple has announced iOS 26, previewing its major new software update for the iPhone. The update features a significant design refresh, expansive AI features, additions to CarPlay, Maps, Apple Music, Wallet, and the introduction of "Apple Games," a new hub for games on the platform. 

Locationscout Could Be Your Photography Best Friend

Locationscout is a sort of Swiss Army knife for all kinds of useful photo information. It comes in a variety of flavors: iOS, Android, and a full-featured web app. 

What Does It Do?

When you open the app, you'll see a selection of countries and places to explore.

Transforming Mobile Shots With Leica's Lux Grip

The Leica LUX app brought some fresh tools to mobile photography, but handling your phone like a real camera? That’s where the LUX Grip steps in. This isn’t just a Bluetooth shutter button. It’s an ergonomic extension that is meant to give you a DSLR-style hold while unlocking full control over your iPhone’s native features and LUX app functionality. 

Leica Lux App: Leica Looks on Your iPhone

In a sense, the Leica LUX app brings Leica’s look and feel to the iPhone. It offers a less convoluted UI, a more tactile shooting experience, and access to custom Leica color profiles. It doesn’t try to mimic pro cameras through gimmicks and the like—it leans into what the iPhone can already do and gives you more control over it.

Transform Your Smartphone Into a Tool for Inner Peace

Mindfulness and photography can work together, creating an immersive experience that pulls you into the present moment. When you struggle with anxiety, depression, or simply feeling disconnected, this combination offers a powerful way to shift your perspective and find inner calm. 

Shot on a Budget Vivo Phone: These Portraits Look Like Studio Work

Vivo’s new V50 smartphone is making a point: great photography doesn’t have to come from expensive camera gear. 

Vivo's “VLOVE Portrait Gallery” event in Bangkok featured photographer Jimmy Marble using the V50 to capture a series of striking images that look like they were taken with a high-end camera.

Adobe Brings Photoshop to iPhone, Expanding Mobile Editing Capabilities

Adobe has announced the launch of Photoshop on iPhone, bringing its well-known image editing tools to mobile users. The app is designed to provide a streamlined, mobile-first experience while retaining essential Photoshop features such as layering, masking, and Adobe Firefly-powered AI tools. An Android version is expected later in 2025. 

Why Camera Snobs Hate Smartphones (and Why They’re Wrong)

Smartphones have come a long way as imaging tools, yet some still argue they aren’t “real” cameras. Traditionalists insist that only dedicated cameras count. But the reality is, smartphones are fully capable imaging devices, and dismissing them is more about personal bias than technical limitations. 

Hasselblad's New Mobile App Feature Is Incredible

Hasseblad's companion mobile app, Phocus Mobile 2, has just received a new update which has added a powerful and impressive feature that could profoundly improve your images in certain circumstances. 

Hollyland Lark M2S Announced: The Ultra-Mini Wireless Microphone

Hollyland has officially unveiled its latest wireless mic solution, the Lark M2S microphone. Tailored for content creators who demand excellent audio quality without compromising convenience or dominating the shot, this sixth-generation Lark Series microphone delivers on multiple fronts. Here’s why this ultra-mini wireless microphone deserves a spot in your production toolkit. 

Leofoto’s MT-04 Mini Tripod: The Best of the Tabletop Tripods?

When even a compact tripod is too large, photographers don’t have many options for supporting their gear outside of tabletop tripods. In that narrow market, the offerings can feel gimmicky or cheap. In contrast, Leofoto’s MT-04 brings their CNC-machined aluminum build quality and feature-rich ball head to the smallest total tripod package I’ve tried.  

Vivo X200 Series: Smaller Sensors, Bigger Performance

Vivo has launched its latest flagship smartphones, the X200 and X200 Pro, to the global market. The most notable change is that Vivo has used a smaller camera sensor this year compared to the X100 Pro models. 

Mobile Creators Rejoice: Lexar’s Go Portable SSD Can Save You Money

If you’re creating content on your iPhone, Apple’s storage pricing can make it very difficult to justify using storage-heavy workflows like ProRes. Lexar’s Go Portable SSD, however, is specially designed to be the perfect external storage pairing for iPhones and other USB-C mobile devices. 

How to Shoot While Tethered to Your iPhone or iPad

Shooting tethered can be useful for so many things, from having a better screen to view an image on, to being able to record what your camera sees for real behind-the-scenes footage. In this video, Jiggie Alejandrino shows you how he does it and how valuable it can be. 

Everything You Need to Know About Making Videos With the iPhone 15

Even if you're a professional videographer, the chances are that you utilize your phone from time to time. And if you're not a pro, your phone can be a valuable tool for anything from behind-the-scenes footage to part of your shoot. So, here is everything you need to know about making videos with the iPhone 15. 

OWC Announces New CFExpress A Cards and External SSDs

OWC has announced a number of new storage products in advance of the NAB Show in Las Vegas. Their new products include industry-leading CFExpress Type A cards with support for the 4.0 standard, the new Envoy SSD for a compact external SSD with a USB-C interface, and new capacities for their Envoy Pro Elektron and Envoy Pro Mini SSDs. 

Elevate Your iPhone Photography: Tips and Techniques from a Pro

With the incredible advancements in smartphone camera technology, it's no surprise that more and more photographers are turning to their iPhones for both personal and professional photography. Learning how to maximize the capabilities of your iPhone camera can open up a world of creative possibilities and allow you to capture stunning images wherever you go .

A Beginner's Guide to Shooting in Raw With Your Cameraphone

Shooting in raw with your smartphone is a simple tweak that can significantly enhance your smartphone photography. We're diving into how this feature can improve the quality of your pictures, offering more detail and better color accuracy. It's a practical look at how this tech can upgrade your everyday shots. 

Is the Apple iPhone 14 Pro a Good Camera in 2024? — Fstoppers Review

As an avid advocate for iPhone photography, I have written a ton of articles on the matter. However, I never reviewed the actual device I am using for my photos. Having had it for a year, it's time to give the iPhone 14 Pro a long-term review, as well as answer the question of upgrading to the 15 Pro. 

Who Makes the Best Smartphone Camera?

The smartphone camera market is a fiercely competitive arena, where manufacturers constantly vie to produce the best camera. This fantastic video takes a look at some of the best to help you choose the right option for you.  

Could You Go a Year Without Your Smartphone?

In an age where smartphones are practically extensions of ourselves, the idea of living without one for an entire year is both intriguing and daunting. This concept is particularly interesting for photographers, who often rely heavily on technology for both their work and daily lives and who might need a break from all that.