# Smartphone beats Nikon Z8 in America's State Parks Photo Contest

> iPhone 16 Pro wins $10,000 prize at America's State Parks Photo Contest.
- Title: Smartphone beats Nikon Z8 in America's State Parks Photo…
- Summary: iPhone 16 Pro wins $10,000 prize at America's State Parks Photo Contest. Dianne Slotten's iPhone 16 Pro photo won the Grand Prize at the 2026 America's State…
- Keywords: iphone 16 pro, nikon z8, catalina state park, america's state parks photo contest, grand prize, 2026, Smartphone, beats, Nikon, America's, State, Parks
- Source: Digital Camera World — https://digitalcameraworld.com/photography/awards-and-competitions/smartphone-pips-nikon-z8-to-top-prize-in-americas-state-parks-photo-contest-who-needs-a-high-end-camera-to-win-awards-eh
- Published: 2026-10-12T09:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: iphone 16 pro, nikon z8, catalina state park, america's state parks photo contest, grand prize, 2026
## iPhone 16 Pro wins contest
Dianne Slotten's iPhone 16 Pro photo won the Grand Prize at the 2026 America's State Parks Photo Contest.
## Grand Prize prize money
The winning photo earned $10,000 (approximately £7,500/AU$14,300).
## Contest description
America's State Parks Photo Contest showcases natural beauty across all 50 U.S. state parks.
## Nikon Z8 features
Nikon Z8 has a 45.7MP CMOS sensor and 493 phase-detect autofocus points.
## Other winners
Chris Dahl won the Shores & Waterways category with a Hunting Island State Park shot.
## Contest organizers
The contest is hosted by America's State Parks with NASPD and ReserveAmerica/Aspira.
## Key takeaway

Dianne Slotten's iPhone 16 Pro photo won the Grand Prize at the 2026 America's State Parks Photo Contest, beating Nikon Z8 entries.