# iPhone 18 Pro vs Camera Prices

> The first iPhone cost $499 in 2007, half a popular DLSR's price then. Today's iPhone 18 Pro costs $1,199 but cameras still lead.
- Title: iPhone 18 Pro vs Camera Prices · Digital Camera World
- Summary: The first iPhone cost $499 in 2007, half a popular DLSR's price then. Today's iPhone 18 Pro costs $1,199 but cameras still lead. The iPhone started with a…
- Keywords: iphone 18 pro, digital rebel xti, sony zv-e10 ii, 2007, camera price, iphone camera, real camera, iPhone, Pro, Camera, Prices, Digital Camera World
- Source: Digital Camera World — https://digitalcameraworld.com/tech/iphones/the-first-ever-iphone-cost-usd499-at-launch-half-what-a-popular-dlsr-cost-at-the-time-the-iphone-costs-a-lot-more-today-but-cameras-dont-yet-its-cameras-that-need-to-worry
- Published: 2026-10-06T10:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: iphone 18 pro, digital rebel xti, sony zv-e10 ii, 2007, camera price, iphone camera, real camera
## First iPhone Launch
The first iPhone launched in 2007 for $499, half the price of a popular DLSR at that time.
## Modern Camera Price
A Sony ZV-E10 II costs $1,099 after inflation, compared to the Digital Rebel XTi's $899 in 2007.
## Early iPhone Camera
The first iPhone had a 2-megapixel camera with no digital zoom, fixed focus, and poor low-light performance.
## iPhone 18 Pro Specs
The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199 with a 48-megapixel camera, 4x telephoto lens, and Night Mode capabilities.
## Camera vs Phone Speed
Most creators prefer the iPhone's immediate image sharing over camera transfers for social media and editing.
## Why Cameras Still Lead
Photographers should worry more about camera quality than phone prices, as the iPhone's camera has improved significantly.
## Key takeaway

The iPhone started with a basic 2-megapixel camera in 2007, but modern phones now outperform cameras in speed and convenience for creators.