Modern smartphones have evolved to a stage where images captured on them can rival those created using a dedicated point-and-shoot camera. It might not be a digital SLR, but your smartphone is punching well above its weight when it comes to photography.

That's why the lens and sensor combination that spends most of its life in your pocket is probably the best you own. Don't believe us? Here are six reasons to leave your old point-and-shoot at home.

1. It's Always on You

Many have said it, and some have even used it to sell books: the best camera is the one you have with you. This is true whether you're using the most expensive Nikon or Canon full-frame SLR, or Nintendo's nostalgic Game Boy Camera.

The smartphone slots neatly into this equation by virtue of the fact that most of us cannot exist without one. They're always in our pockets, on the desk in front of us, or charging on the nightstand, ready to drip feed us information and—when the opportunity arises—capture that photo you wouldn't otherwise have taken sans camera.

Even if you did happen to bring the family SLR and collection of lenses, most SLRs are expensive enough to warrant camera bags. Not everyone lives life with a big fat 5D round their neck looking like Flava Flav. When you need to take a photo in a hurry, reaching into your pocket and activating camera mode pretty much wins every time.

This is further evidenced if you watch the news. Smartphones are no longer simply used to call emergency services or send concerned messages to loved ones, they're being used to capture the news. Some of the most remarkable news footage was shot with a smartphone—from the attacks in Paris on Charlie Hebdo's head office to the worsening Ukraine crisis.

2. Size and Discretion

Certain types of photography demand certain types of equipment. Street photography is fun and the results can be remarkable, but for many, it's also a source of unease and anxiety when standing on street corners with a chunky DSLR and long lens. Check out Hannibal Renberg's Instagram feed to see his impressive iPhone street photography, and gather some inspiration.

Compared with an SLR, your smartphone is small and innocuous. It might be the perfect stepping stone to shooting street photographs with bigger equipment, and it may enable you to capture moments you wouldn't have otherwise caught if you're busy messing with camera settings or changing lenses.

The size of your smartphone is also handy in a tight space, where traditional SLRs simply do not fit. Think taking photographs through fences, with small gaps barely larger than your lens surface. You can also cram your camera into dashboards, cupboards, and even bushes to get a different perspective.

Covert photography (the art of taking photos and videos where you shouldn't) is also possible using a smartphone. The makeshift pocket camera you see above was used by VICE in a 2015 documentary and created using a cigarette packet, lighter, and sticky tape. We're not suggesting you go breaking any laws, but if you need some footage for your investigative journalism piece, this is one way to do it.

Finally, your smartphone's camera makes taking selfies so much easier and more convenient than using a professional camera—and you can do it in a fraction of the time. That goes for taking individual and group selfies, too.

3. There's an App for That

Our smartphones are brought to life through our choice of software, and if there's one type of app that many new users look for almost immediately, it's a better camera app than the one on their device.

Though it's not yet possible for iPhone users to replace Apple's default offering, there are some viable options for when the time comes. Camera+ is one of the most user-friendly of the bunch, with separate exposure and focus points, scene modes, and other aids including a horizon level.

Download: Camera+ for iOS ($4.99, offers in-app purchases)

ProCam 8 takes things to the next level and includes manual control over everything from shutter speed to white balance, complete with lossless TIFF image support, too.

Download: ProCam 8 for iOS ($9.99, offers in-app purchases)

There are also apps that challenge you, like Carbon, which is a black and white photo editor that offers a myriad of features. Some of these include support for raw photos and a split tone effect for some filters.

Download: Carbon for iOS (Free, offers in-app purchases)

On Android, Google's plain old camera app is one of your best options, just ensure you get it on your phone first—here's how to get Google Camera on your Android phone. If you're yearning for manual control, Camera FV-5 has been described as a shutterbug's dream, offering features like exposure bracketing that are normally only found on digital SLRs.

Download: Camera FV-5 for Android ($4.99)

One app that we simply can't help but mention is FiLMiC Pro, which allows you to shoot incredibly high-quality video at higher bitrates than Apple's stock camera app allows. There's also full manual control over settings like exposure, focus, white balance, and a dizzying array of other settings—perfect for anyone wanting to get serious about mobile video.

Download: FiLMiC Pro for iOS | Android ($14.99)

4. Accessories Abound

Anyone who has a digital SLR habit will tell you, in no uncertain terms, that it's an absolute money pit. You will throw money at new lenses, filters, batteries, SD cards, tripods, and ball heads—the list is virtually endless. This is all part of the fun, of course, which is why there's a growing market of smartphone camera accessories to choose from, too.

There's lots of room to expand your smartphone's abilities. From simple tripod mounts you can make yourself, to an array of lenses that attach to the back of your device, to purpose-built gadgets like the Camalapse Mobile, which allows you to capture 360-degree time-lapse movies.

You can even attach an LED light unit, like Ulanzi's VL-49 RGB Pocket Light, for those especially dark subjects.

If you're interested in hobbyist underwater photography, you'll find underwater housings for your smartphone to be considerably cheaper than SLR housings, which can cost as much as a brand-new SLR body.

For videographers, there are mobile-ready dolly systems like the iStabilizer and a host of gadgets designed to help you get the perfect steady shot, like the more advanced SwiftCam M4s+—which uses a motorized gimbal for ultra-smooth results.

And when it comes to sound, the iPhone in particular is compatible with a growing collection of high-quality microphones.

These accessories can equip your smartphone to deal with just about any situation, though most of them cost a fraction of what you'd expect to pay for SLR equivalents. You might not quite get SLR-quality results, but you won't spend anywhere near SLR money.

5. You're Always Connected

Our smartphones make us feel connected, particularly in the sense that you never get a moment's peace; but when it comes to photography, the immediacy is a blessing.

There are no SD cards to unload, and most smartphones actually begin transferring your images automatically without any input on your part. If your smartphone doesn't, then installing Dropbox adds this functionality.

If you're an iPhone user with a Mac, your photos are automatically sorted and scanned for recognizable faces before appearing magically within the Photos app. But who said anything about sharing your photos from a computer? These days, it's much easier to share your image straight away to your sharing platform of choice. And if you're photographically inclined, that's likely to be either Flickr or 500px.

Download: Flickr for iOS | Android (Free, offers in-app purchases)

Download: 500px for iOS | Android (Free, offers in-app purchases)

Whatever your social network—Tumblr, Instagram, Oggl from Hipstamatic, or plain old Imgur and Facebook—sharing your spoils has never been easier. Of course, you should be careful not to overshare and saturate your otherwise high-quality collection with mediocre uploads.

6. It Makes You a Better Photographer

In many ways, smartphones take photography back to its roots. You have to learn to make do with what you have because, while there are hundreds of apps and aftermarket accessories available, you're most likely to be caught snapping pictures on your smartphone in the spur of the moment, rather than doing a pre-planned shoot.

There's usually no optical zoom, forcing you to change the composition directly by moving yourself. A dearth of lighting solutions means you'll have to be more creative when it comes to portraiture, making use of available light from windows.

Smartphone photography pushes you out of your comfort zone. You might need to rethink your approach to certain situations, and you're not always going to get the shot you want. However, if you make use of a few basic smartphone photography tricks, you'll not only impress yourself, but you'll develop as a photographer.

Take Amazing Photos Using Your Smartphone

Technology is ever improving. Our smartphones are no longer just good for keeping in touch. When it comes to photography, they can produce better results than a professional camera. And they're so much more convenient, too.

If you're new to photography, smartphone photography is an easier, more affordable way to start. And if you're a professional photographer, it's a great way to switch things up and challenge yourself. Never underestimate the power of smartphone photography in the hands of someone who knows how to work their mobile phone's camera.