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Track 3 · Which camera2 min read

LESSON 11

Phone, compact or system

Three kinds of camera, three sizes of sensor and lens. Each is the best tool for something.

THREE KINDS OF CAMERA

Outlines of a phone with two small lenses, a compact with one fixed lens, and a system camera with a large interchangeable lens.

The phone

A thin body means a small lens and a small sensor, usually smaller than the 1/2.3-inch type of most compacts. High-end phones carry several lenses, such as ultrawide and telephoto, and take several shots at once for night modes; the small sensors still limit them in poor light.

The compact

A compact, or point-and-shoot, is built for simple use, with a fixed lens and automatic exposure. Most have small sensors, but since 2008 a few carry 1-inch, APS-C or even full-frame sensors, and the better ones add the P, A, S and M modes, RAW and a hot shoe.

The system camera

Changing lenses is the point: one body, any lens. Mirrorless bodies are now the most popular kind; without a mirror they are smaller, lighter and quieter than a DSLR, though keeping the sensor and viewfinder powered uses more battery.

Which to pick

The phone for everyday pictures in good light. A compact with a larger sensor for travel without a bag. A system camera when you need a long lens, a fast lens or full control in dim light.

Try it today

  1. 01Shoot the same dim indoor scene on your phone and on another camera.
  2. 02Enlarge both frames to 100 percent.
  3. 03Compare the noise in the shadows.
  4. 04Repeat outdoors in daylight.
  5. 05Note where the difference disappears.

Figures from Wikipedia, 'Image sensor format', 'Camera phone', 'Point-and-shoot camera' and 'Mirrorless camera', read 2026.10.16. The steps under Try it today are working practice, not a standard.