HolidayIQ Insights: 67% Young Indians Prefer Smartphones Over DSLRs For Taking Pictures On A Holiday

Chandigarh, January 25, 2016: On the HolidayIQ app for photo review submitted, 56% are submitted via a smartphone and 44% via desktop. Relatively everyone with a smartphone can produce a shot what, only a few years ago, would have been considered a professional quality photograph. This sheer increase in the number of smartphones, camera quality and photo editing apps has made the smartphone an integral part of a holiday.

 HolidayIQ, India’s largest travel community, recently concluded survey amongst its 12 million-strong traveller community has ended this battle between smartphones and point-and-shoots, with a large number of travellers who argue that photo quality of a smartphone camera could come close to matching that of a DSLR.

 We connected with our reviewers seeking their opinion on the growing popularity of smartphone photography in India and whether it is now slowly becoming the preferred weapon for travel photography.

 Listed are startling results that the survey unveiled:

 More than 67% of HolidayIQ travellers said they prefer smartphones for capturing travel photos, 16% travellers used both smartphones and DSLRs, 11% are DSLR purists, while 3% used a digital point-and-shoot camera.

 Reasons Indian Travellers Prefer Smartphones for travel Photography:

•         I can share photos instantly - 81%

•         I can capture the moment before it passes - 74%

•         Easy to use - 21%

•         Low maintenance & I can use it more than my DSLR - 32%

•         Fits in my pocket and I can take it anywhere - 38%

 From a community of 12 million travellers, most of the Indian travellers admit to uploading photos from their smartphones immediately onto their social media, online communities, whatsapp groups and personal portfolios to share their content with friends and family. With 81 percent of youth taking photos and sharing them instantly and 74 percent youth who admit to never-missing a great live moment while trying to take the perfect photo. 21 percent of travellers state the smartphone is a better preference being the most convenient option. 32 percent swear by the smartphone as its maintenance free while a 38 percent feel it’s most handy and can be used at any time to treasure the best of memories.

  Male vs Female

35% Men

41% Women

 41 percent of Women admitted to taking ‘selfies’ compared to just 35 per cent of men.

This is part of a broader trend, whereby travellers are increasingly looking to do more with their smartphones than just make calls, with photo taking top of the agenda when it comes to travellers choosing their ideal phone.

 Popular Smartphone Photography Accessories

• Selfie stick- 21%

• Tripod / stands - 9 %

• Sturdy waterproof cases & mounts - 7%

• Others include: Pocket Spotlight and Lenses

 OS Share

Android Vs iOS:

 65% Android

25% iOS

 Android OS Version

 Kitkat - 43.65%

Lollipop - 37.85%

Jelly Bean - 17.75%

There are many pictures being taken today, more than the percentage taken before. The conundrum to this is the influx of smartphones with built-in cameras; smartphone users are ditching their standalone cameras and shooting pics with their phone cameras, instead. A noteworthy aspect here is that 65% share of travelers prefer android smartphones in comparison to Apple handsets for smartphone travel photography.  Among Android users, Kitkat tops the charts and is used by 43.65% Android users.

 Top smartphone brands used for Travel Photography:

• Samsung

• Micromax

• HTC

• Sony

• Lenovo

• Add Mi and one plus one etc too

While the smartphone can almost certainly take good photographs, it might need a little help to be the best camera it can be. 21 percent teenage travellers carry a selfie stick and 9 percent travellers use tripods/ stands. The other 7% use sturdy waterproof cases and mounts in order to facilitate that picture perfect setting.     

Hari Nair, Founder and CEO, HolidayIQ says, “With travel becoming more social, sharing experiences via mobile devices is gaining popularity. On the HolidayIQ app we have witnessed over 56% travellers submit photo reviews via a smartphone and 44% via desktop, sharing them instantly through ‘’Social Travel” the travel feed feature on HolidayIQ that is developed to enhance travel experiences; giving every traveller the ability to share, follow, review and like various other feed; that in turn inspire fellow travellers to travel. 74 percent admit to never-missing a great live moment, hence the need to capture it in a photograph. With these numbers, we see that travelers are now curating their own experiences using social media and travel apps, this proves that photography has now become another reason to travel and the photographs taken from photo apps - the best souvenir from any travel undertaken.”