Whenever someone asks me what’s the best camera in the world, my answer is always the same. It’s my iPhone. It’s an answer that often raises eyebrows from avid photographers, however I stand firm by that statement because as we all know, the best camera is the one that’s with you. I know many people carry little point and shoots, but it’s still not going to be on them all the time. Let’s face it, the phone even joins you in the bathroom.

Given what I’ve just said, you’d think that I shoot on my iPhone all the time, and honestly, you’d be mistaken. I know this might make me sound hypocritical, but I never go out shooting with just my phone. It’s there as a second or even third backup, and reserved for locations which don’t allow proper cameras.

I think it’s time to put my money where my mouth is and go on a trip where my only camera is my iPhone. In this blog I will share my experience, workflow, process, and everything you could possibly want to know.

For full transparency I want to state that this blog is sponsored by Leica. While I had the idea for this trip on my to do list for a while, it wasn’t until they approached me that I finally pulled the trigger. Their involvement is specifically around me using the Leica LUX app and grip.

Why Valencia

It’s currently April, so the weather at home in London is still a mixed bag. The other day it was shorts and 25C. Today it’s back to winter and puffer jackets. We wanted a place with a warmer climate, great food, colour, cool architecture, great light, and by the sea. While there are many options, my girlfriend has never been to Valencia, and I haven’t been in over two years, so we packed our backpacks and booked the flights. I already published a detailed Valencia travel guide here.

Accessories

In theory all you need is an iPhone, but there are some essential accessories to improve the shooting experience.

Case - A case is essential given how much time the phone will spend outside your pocket. I also find the standard phone slippery, so having something solid to hold on to will save a lot of pain should you drop it.
Wrist Strap - I would never use my camera without a wrist strap, and a phone is no different. From preventing accidental drops to deterring theft, a wrist strap is essential if you plan on using your phone as your camera. For me, it provides huge peace of mind, which allows me to focus more on photography.
Anti Glare Screen Cover - The screen is a magnet for fingerprints and glare. I always buy a matte screen cover to prevent these from happening.
Leica LUX Grip - The biggest issue with using the phone is bad ergonomics, especially if shooting in landscape orientation. If you plan on shooting for extended periods of time, a grip attachment can ease wrist ache and add comfort. Pick the right grip, and you can also add extra functionality. I talk more about this specific grip in the dedicated blog here.
VND (video optional) - If you plan on shooting a lot of video with your iPhone, I suggest picking up some sort of variable ND filter and mount. I use a MagSafe mount from Amazon and an Urth VND. This will help with reducing light and removing some of that choppy look you get with high shutter speeds on sunny days.

iPhone Photography Pros

There are many things that I like about shooting with my iPhone, here are the main ones:

Minimalism & Freedom - It’s incredible how light you can travel if you don’t have any camera gear to lug around. This is by far my favourite aspect of mobile photography. The quickest way to ruin your photography day out is to carry a ton of gear. The phone is the most minimal version of photography you can have.
Workflow - We often forget that iPhones are full featured computers. Lightroom Mobile has 90% of the main features of the desktop version, so you can shoot, cull, edit, back up, export, and share your work all from one device.
Blending In - It can sometimes be difficult to blend in with a big camera, however get your phone out and you look just like any other tourist.
Access - I lost count of how many times I was asked to not use my camera, but a phone would be ok. Museums, historical sites, galleries, and many other places have a ban on physical cameras, but phones are fine.

iPhone Photography Cons

Not all is rosey, and there are some things I dislike about shooting on the phone.

Screen time - Ask anyone what they wish they could reduce in their life, and many people would include screen time as part of their answer. Like it or not, we are glued to our phones, and shooting on the phone only adds to this.
Distractions - I lost count of how many times I would be shooting on my phone and for whatever reason end up getting distracted by an app, a notification, or habit. Phones can be very distracting, which isn’t something you want in photography.
Disconnect - I can’t help but feel a little disconnected from the photography process when shooting on my phone. The best way I can describe it is it’s like driving a petrol vs an electric car. A petrol car is real, it involves you in the process and you feel it. An electric car is objectively more capable, but a lot of the feeling is lost. This is very subjective of course.
Paranoia - The main thing I don’t like about iPhone photography is the paranoia around something happening to my phone. If my camera gets lost, stolen, or damaged, it’s frustrating, especially if it’s full of photos, however it’s not the end of the world. A stolen iPhone, especially abroad, can be the start of many headaches. I am writing this from my hotel in Valencia, which is accessed from an app on my phone. If I lose my phone, I also lose access to my hotel, bank, communication, maps, etc.

Valencia Photos

Leica LUX / Grip Overview

As mentioned earlier, this blog is sponsored by Leica. I will share with you a brief overview of Leica LUX, however I also published a more detailed write up here.

Leica LUX is a dedicated photography app designed to give you more creative options as well as remove distractions. The app has two modes that offer two different experiences. The Photo mode gives you full manual control, RAW photography, and a minimal interface. The Aperture mode introduces unique lens characteristics modelled around Leica’s physical lenses.

On top of that, you get Leica Looks which give your photos that distinct Leica colour science and feel. The Photo mode is what you use for work, manual shooting, and RAW photography. The Aperture mode is for fun and stylish photos you can share right away. Furthermore, the aperture mode offers you a selection of digital lenses inspired by actual Leica glass.

Why use this app over the default camera app? The default Apple Camera app is great, however it’s more of a content creation app that offers everything under one roof. The Leica LUX app is a photography only experience that removes all other distractions. The Leica LUX app is also the choice for those wanting more control over the final image straight out of camera.

The Leica LUX Grip is designed to build on the app experience by giving you physical controls and a proper grip. You get a two stage shutter button, a dial, and two custom function buttons. The shutter allows for focus and exposure lock, as well as shooting. The dial lets you adjust settings such as exposure, and the function buttons can be customised to a number of tasks.

The grip connects via Bluetooth and attaches using MagSafe. It can be mounted vertically or horizontally, or even used as a remote trigger. The grip has a full metal build and just like the cameras, feels very premium and durable. If you plan to mostly shoot on your phone, this is a worthwhile accessory to get. I go more into the operating details here.

If you wish to give the app a go, please use the following link. It won’t cost you any extra, but it would tell Leica that people have come from me. Thank you! https://download.leicalux.app/rf0420