Testers used two smart phones that perform well in Consumer Reports tests: the iPhone and a T-Mobile G2x. For comparison, testers also took pictures with two top-performing cameras: an SLR that costs more than $1,000 and a point-and-shoot that costs about $300.
The results? Well, the pricey SLR camera did the best, with vibrant colors and lots of detail in the shadows.
The point-and-shoot photos were also pretty good, with nice color. But the camera couldn't get as many people in the picture because it doesn’t have a wide-angle lens.
The smart phones didn't have a wide-angle either, and the zoom and flash were not camera quality.
That said, with both of the smart phones, testers were still able to get some OK shots.a good choice for an SLR camera is the Nikon D3100. It costs about $600. It delivers great image quality and is very easy to use. If you want a point-and-shoot camera, Consumer Reports recommends the Canon Powershot SD940 IS Elph for about $200. It takes very good flash photos, and the video quality is also very good.
