Settled in Beijing again, I never cease to marvel at the iPad’s popularity as a camera in China. Usually wielded by women, according to my observations, the iPad is an awkward, heavy and bulky means of taking tourist snaps. Over this week’s Ching Ming national holiday the iPads were out in force around central Beijing. Not only is the big tablet unwieldy and fairly inappropriate as a photography tool, it isn’t even that good as a camera. Unlike the iPhone, which is a device that is quite capable of producing some stunning results provided you don’t want to print to A3 size. For this tourist and for hundreds like her in China, the iPad is held up with pride as the photo is composed on the enormous screen.
by Mike Evans, 7 April 2013