One of the vaunted features of the new iPhone 4S is the improved camera, which includes a 60 percent increase in megapixels, a sharper and faster lens, as well as a new illumination sensor. TIME asked White House photographer Brooks Kraft to take the camera out for a test run.

After photographing around the District, Kraft says he would use the 4S on the job. “I like it because it lets you work quickly and  inconspicuous,” he said. “When I use professional looking cameras, it can attract attention, and impact what I am trying to capture. But with the 4S, you pull a phone out of your shirt pocket, and generally nobody notices.”

The ability to manipulate the images with various apps will also be an added bonus of the 4S, Kraft says. “It’s not going to replace by professional gear, but it is another tool you can put into your bag—or your pocket.”

Read Kraft’s full review of the iPhone 4S here.