Last Updated on 08/29/2013 by Felix Esser
I have used camera phones for a very long time. Actually, they played an important role in my evolution as a photographer. Though camera phones have improved greatly over the years, I have never been happy with them. Enter the Eye-Fi card and my Olympus E-P1. I experimented with the two, and well, there was a paradigm shift. When I take a picture, the Eye-Fi transfers it to my phone and I can send it to Instagram. I found happiness.
Composition
One of my biggest issues with camera phones has been composition. I have never liked the way my images looked. It’s due to the lack of control: camera phones, in my view, are literally meant to point and shoot to capture a quick moment. With the Eye-Fi card, I am able to shoot they way I have grown accustomed to with a camera.
Two Versions of the Same Image
Using the Eye-Fi in conjunction with one of my cameras, I can save both a raw file and a jpeg file–the latter to send directly to my phone. If I really like an image that I have taken over the course of the day, I can import the raw file into my Lightroom catalog and have some fun with it. This way, I feel like I’m getting more out of my snapshots and I get to constantly keep refining my photography style.
Better Control Over Image Quality
When shooting with just a camera phone, I feel like I’m missing shots. I do not get the depth of field that I want, I have no control over shutter speed, etc. With the Eye-Fi and a camera I have the control that I want. I may not be a brilliant photographer, but I do have my particular ways of doing things. At the very least, using the Eye-Fi I’ve stopped thinking, “I wish I would have used a camera for that shot.”
Flexibility
My favorite thing to do with the Eye-Fi card is changing out cameras. As of writing this, I’ve used three cameras with my Eye-Fi card. I use an Olympus E-P1 with a 17mm f2.8, because it is small and fits in my big pockets. I also use a Nikon D90 and a Nikon D5100. They both take SD cards, and I can use my favorite lenses on them. Because photography is a part of my lifestyle, I always have a camera on me. I don’t have to wait to process a jpeg, as it goes directly to my phone so I can share images much faster.
Using Different Lenses
What I really enjoy about using the Eye-Fi is the ability to share a cool image that I took with one of my preferred lenses quickly. Also, the ability to change the lens (which you can’t do with your phone) is fantastic to me. No longer am I stuck with a little lens that does as it pleases. I am in control, and that’s nice. I can use a proper telephoto when I like, or a nice wide-angle. This is great on photo walks or events where I want to share images right away.
You can see more of my Eye-Fi exploits in my Instagram feed.
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