comparing digital cameras to smartphone cameras

carlowplayer

have a finepix z110 and my friend has an iphone 5s
The digital cameras specifications are:
http://www.fujifilm.com/products/digital_cameras/z/finepix_z110/specifications/

and the iphone 5s specifications are
8-megapixel iSight camera
1.2 megapixel front facing camera
f/2.2 aperture and a larger sensor with 1.5 micro pixels

Not really tech savvy so could someone give me basic understanding of megapixels and different specifications and of course which is the better camera overall and are smartphones becoming better than digital cameras

magicbastarder

the main difference i'd see with bare specs is that the larger sensor will give better control over depth of field.

your main criterion should be how a photo looks out of one camera vs. the other. you should try taking a photo while your friend takes the same photo on the iphone 5, and see how you fare.

pete4130

Anything over 6MP doesn't really mean much for the average user who isn't going to print over A4 (if they print at all).

8MP on a sensor the size of a match head through a tiny lens with fingerprints, grease, dirt and scratches on a smart phone.

Compare that to a 5MP on a larger sensor, more controls, better lens etc.

It all depends on what you want to use it for. Smartphones are great for snaps with software to enhance and make everything look good. They struggle in low light to focus, their flash has a really short range, slow to capture image etc...

If a smartphone suits your needs then go with it. If you want something more then get a real camera.