I am always curious about new technology in the photo world and was very interested in seeing how the camera in the Sony Xperia phone would perform, as it was using a lot of the Sony Alpha camera technology. I decided to take it with me on a trip to Morocco and test it out in various situations. Of course, a smartphone camera would never replace my Sony Alpha cameras, but I was curious to see what kind of images the Xperia 1 would produce. The best camera is the one you have with you, and sometimes it is your phone. Everyone knows it's easy to shoot snapshots with a phone, but I wanted to see if I could bring it to a more professional level. The Xperia 1's three lenses gave me the creative opportunity to work with it like I would with my Sony Alpha cameras, and under the right conditions I was able to produce excellent files – files good enough to make large prints.

I normally carry a Sony camera with me, however there are times when all I have is my phone. And of course, a phone is very unobtrusive – people don’t feel threatened by it. Knowing that I can produce quality images with the Xperia 1 puts an extra tool in my photographic toolbox.

"[I]t's easy to shoot snapshots with a phone, but I wanted to see if I could bring it to a more professional level."

Photo by Ira Block. Sony Xperia 1. A cameleer on a sand dune in Erg Chebbi near Merzouga, Morocco.

Photo by Ira Block. Sony Xperia 1. Camels preparing for riders at dawn in Erg Chebbi near Merzouga, Morocco.

Photo by Ira Block. Sony Xperia 1. Visitors at Rain Room in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

Photo by Ira Block. Sony Xperia 1. A street scene in Chefchaouan, the blue city in Northwestern Morocco.

Photo by Ira Block. Sony Xperia 1. A musician peeks through the door at Khamlia, Morocco. He is part of the musical group called The Desert Pigeos of Khamlia. 

Photo by Ira Block. Sony Xperia 1. A luxury desert camp in the Erg Chebbi sand dunes near the town of Merzouga, Morocco.

Photo by Ira Block. Sony Xperia 1. The lily pond at the Majorelle Garden, Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech, Morocco.