After taking an average of 46 photos of Nicki a day with my iPhone, I took only 6 last week. SIX! Of course, that’s because baby is still sick (and so is mommy.) That just won’t do! This weekend I decided to have some of my favorite photos of Nicki printed. Aside from her birth announcement, we haven’t hung a single photo. That also won’t do!

I was so disappointed with the print quality of my iPhone.

I’m using a 4S, which means it has a 8MP camera. An 8MP camera can produce a high resolution (at least by pixel count) image up to an 8″ by 10″. The photos look beautiful on my iphone screen which is roughly 3” by 2”. But actually printed as a 4” by 6” I could see the grainy effect caused by the high iso and slight focusing issues. It was disappointing.

On the one hand it’s hard to get mad at the iPhone. I use it in very low light situations. It’s quite (no shutter sound) and doesn’t wake the baby. Since the phone less bulky, I can also position it differently which is handy when the baby is sleeping on me. So without the iPhone, I wouldn’t have those photos at all. It’s also a fraction of the DSLR cost. Maybe I’m expecting too much from my cell phone?

It does highlight the fact that maybe I’m relying on the iPhone too much as a primary camera. It’s great at capturing the moment as it happens, but I need to use my DSLR more. I want more photos that I could frame (even if I never do.) I need the option!

Oh iPhone, I just can’t quit you.