Pages: 1 [2] 3   Go Down

Author Topic: Do we still want better cameras?  (Read 15512 times)

Justan

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1928
    • Justan-Elk.com
Re: Do we still want better cameras?
« Reply #20 on: September 08, 2010, 09:48:21 am »

This thread blends the ideas of consumerism with the more utilitarian goal of suitability to a particular task.

Cameras are largely a consumer product, and as long as people have wants there will always be a market. Especially for those who are in the endless pursuit of “better” whatever that actually means.

But someone who is good with a camera tends to seek specific goals. As examples, does the camera work well in low light, does it offer a large sensor and produce a large enough image for the print size desired, is it light weight, yada, yada…

As long as a camera is suitable to a task or a number of them there is no utilitarian need to replace it. For some, the cost (more the better) and bling appeal *are* utilitarian needs. But of course those are really examples of consumerism.

If one identifies a part of them-self closely with a camera, they may well have an endless pursuit of having the “best” camera they can get. It may be based in utilitarian need or the need may the perfect confluence of consumerism and suitability to a particular task, when the “task” just may be little other than the appeal to vanity.

Anywho, people desire “better” in all things, so the answer to the OP’s question is an unequivocal yes.

BernardLanguillier

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 13983
    • http://www.flickr.com/photos/bernardlanguillier/sets/
Re: Do we still want better cameras?
« Reply #21 on: September 08, 2010, 11:41:40 pm »

This thread blends the ideas of consumerism with the more utilitarian goal of suitability to a particular task.

Cameras are largely a consumer product, and as long as people have wants there will always be a market. Especially for those who are in the endless pursuit of “better” whatever that actually means.

But someone who is good with a camera tends to seek specific goals. As examples, does the camera work well in low light, does it offer a large sensor and produce a large enough image for the print size desired, is it light weight, yada, yada…

As long as a camera is suitable to a task or a number of them there is no utilitarian need to replace it. For some, the cost (more the better) and bling appeal *are* utilitarian needs. But of course those are really examples of consumerism.

If one identifies a part of them-self closely with a camera, they may well have an endless pursuit of having the “best” camera they can get. It may be based in utilitarian need or the need may the perfect confluence of consumerism and suitability to a particular task, when the “task” just may be little other than the appeal to vanity.

Anywho, people desire “better” in all things, so the answer to the OP’s question is an unequivocal yes.

Thanks. :)

Cheers,
Bernard

NikoJorj

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1082
    • http://nikojorj.free.fr/
Re: Do we still want better cameras?
« Reply #22 on: September 09, 2010, 09:12:07 am »

Not a tiny camera, tho.
I reckon - but for the moment, I didn't find something really less bulky that could still have a ground glass viewfinder. I can't really use a screen as I work more often than not in the sun. 8)
And yeah, I still could buy a newer Rebel X-something and save one hundred grams, but mine f* works! I may have some scottish genes.
Logged
Nicolas from Grenoble
A small gallery

francois

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 13769
Re: Do we still want better cameras?
« Reply #23 on: September 09, 2010, 11:00:23 am »

Logged
Francois

stamper

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 5882
Re: Do we still want better cameras?
« Reply #24 on: September 09, 2010, 11:46:48 am »

I reckon - but for the moment, I didn't find something really less bulky that could still have a ground glass viewfinder. I can't really use a screen as I work more often than not in the sun. 8)
And yeah, I still could buy a newer Rebel X-something and save one hundred grams, but mine f* works! I may have some scottish genes.

I hope you mean that as a compliment? If not I know of some wild highlanders who are handy with claymores and are looking for something meaty to practise on.  ;) ;D

Rob C

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 24074
Re: Do we still want better cameras?
« Reply #25 on: September 10, 2010, 04:15:34 am »

I reckon - but for the moment, I didn't find something really less bulky that could still have a ground glass viewfinder. I can't really use a screen as I work more often than not in the sun. 8)
And yeah, I still could buy a newer Rebel X-something and save one hundred grams, but mine f* works! I may have some scottish genes.


Too late for you, Niko, but if you have a delightful eighteen-year-old daughter... wait: according to Jerry Lee's song, 17 to 25 is around perfect.

I'd love to offer to help, but my vintage probably doesn't promise much of anything other than disappointment these days, and neither would I hold my breath in vain hope. But I suppose I could always burn a few bras for you instead; not that that might help all that much. Hey, how about seeing the gene genie?

Rob C


tokengirl

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 360
Re: Do we still want better cameras?
« Reply #26 on: September 12, 2010, 05:56:40 pm »

Not me.  Each new camera I buy seems to get crappier and crappier.  I just bought one of these:

Logged

Eric Myrvaagnes

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 22814
  • http://myrvaagnes.com
    • http://myrvaagnes.com
Re: Do we still want better cameras?
« Reply #27 on: September 12, 2010, 08:51:22 pm »

Not me.  Each new camera I buy seems to get crappier and crappier.  I just bought one of these:


;D

Eric
Logged
-Eric Myrvaagnes (visit my website: http://myrvaagnes.com)

tokengirl

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 360
Re: Do we still want better cameras?
« Reply #28 on: September 13, 2010, 02:31:18 pm »

Laugh all you want.  This camera ROCKS.  It has a 22mm fixed focus lens, an aperture of f11, and a shutter speed of 1/125 sec.  Pick your film speed based on current conditions and snap away.  No meter, no batteries, all plastic, super lightweight.  $25.00 brand new, so you can really take it anywhere.


Mangrove-Out-There003 by MsMambo, on Flickr

Logged

Dick Roadnight

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1730
Re: Do we still want better cameras?
« Reply #29 on: September 13, 2010, 03:23:15 pm »

Not me.  Each new camera I buy seems to get crappier and crappier.  I just bought one of these:


Either that is a big camera, or you are a petite lady!
Logged
Hasselblad H4, Sinar P3 monorail view camera, Schneider Apo-digitar lenses

Eric Myrvaagnes

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 22814
  • http://myrvaagnes.com
    • http://myrvaagnes.com
Re: Do we still want better cameras?
« Reply #30 on: September 13, 2010, 05:36:16 pm »

Laugh all you want.  This camera ROCKS.  It has a 22mm fixed focus lens, an aperture of f11, and a shutter speed of 1/125 sec.  Pick your film speed based on current conditions and snap away.  No meter, no batteries, all plastic, super lightweight.  $25.00 brand new, so you can really take it anywhere.


You've got some lovely images at tokengirl.com. I bet some of them were taken with a camera that costs at least $30.
Anyway, you clearly show that the eye is more important than the camera!

Eric
Logged
-Eric Myrvaagnes (visit my website: http://myrvaagnes.com)

solardarkroom.com

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 78
    • http://www.solardarkroom.com
Re: Do we still want better cameras?
« Reply #31 on: September 16, 2010, 05:18:59 pm »

I like this shot and perhaps even more because of the camera and your attitude.

I haven't shot a roll of film since 2006. Now my 5D2 feels like the last camera I'll ever need...but every now and then I take out my old CONTAX and feel like I might be missing something. I know I don't miss being hunched over a light table for hours or scanning slides so what is it? Maybe it's the feel of real metal instead of engineering plastic or the incredilby big and bright viewfinder that I took for granted all those years.
Logged

BernardLanguillier

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 13983
    • http://www.flickr.com/photos/bernardlanguillier/sets/
Re: Do we still want better cameras?
« Reply #32 on: September 16, 2010, 07:10:09 pm »

On the original question, it would seem that Michael agrees with me, he has not even mentioned the Nikon D7000 announcements in his news although it appears to be speced as the best ever value offering for a landscape shooter willing to go light. :)

I would bet that most high mountain photography in the coming 2 years will be shot with this baby. Galen Rowell would have been all over this camea, it looks like it was designed for him.

Cheers,
Bernard

feppe

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2906
  • Oh this shows up in here!
    • Harri Jahkola Photography
Re: Do we still want better cameras?
« Reply #33 on: September 16, 2010, 07:25:12 pm »

On the original question, it would seem that Michael agrees with me, he has not even mentioned the Nikon D7000 announcements in his news although it appears to be speced as the best ever value offering for a landscape shooter willing to go light. :)

Canon 550D is about 2/3 the weight and price of D7000, and is specced similarly or better when it comes to landscape shooting. Not sure how 550D, 60D and D7000 compare with weather sealing (or lack thereof).

Some things go for D7000, though. Its shutter is rated much higher. 550D's sensor is likely to be inferior, as well, but by how wide a margin is something we'll have to wait until objective tests come out.

Michael of TOP was lamenting the other day how Nikon and Canon seem to churn out the same cameras, and he's spot on. I don't see any meaningful differences between 550D, 60D and 7D for my use, so I went for 550D from 450D (which is currently on sale in the appropriate subforum ;) ). 550D sensor is slightly worse than the big brothers', but it's still better than my first digital camera, 30D. Finally, I'd rather have the light weight of 550D and save some money to buy a nice prime.

BernardLanguillier

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 13983
    • http://www.flickr.com/photos/bernardlanguillier/sets/
Re: Do we still want better cameras?
« Reply #34 on: September 16, 2010, 07:39:15 pm »

Canon 550D is about 2/3 the weight and price of D7000, and is specced similarly or better when it comes to landscape shooting. Not sure how 550D, 60D and D7000 compare with weather sealing (or lack thereof).

Well, that's the whole point, the D7000 is weather sealed and has a magnesium body. Its AF is also speced much higher meaning that it will be usable also for wildlife shooting.

It is a camera you can forget about.

As far as Nikon and Canon delivering the same cameras all the time... well what's wrong with them? The real innovation we would need is not in pellicular mirrors, it would be in openess... as described by Thom Hogan a few months back. Sony is just as bad as Canon and Nikon in this regard because they don't understand the business model.
 
Cheers,
Bernard

NikoJorj

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1082
    • http://nikojorj.free.fr/
Re: Do we still want better cameras?
« Reply #35 on: September 18, 2010, 09:53:00 am »

I would bet that most high mountain photography in the coming 2 years will be shot with this baby.
I believed real men used a Canon, though? ???

On a less serious note, I think it has already been posted around here, but the magnesium is no warranty of resuistance, and the ability of plastic to withstand impact is not to be underrated. Question of rigidity and mass, I'd think.
And speaking of mass, you always hate when there is more in high altitude...
Logged
Nicolas from Grenoble
A small gallery

Dick Roadnight

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1730
Re: Do we still want better cameras?
« Reply #36 on: September 18, 2010, 10:05:51 am »

I believed real men used a Canon, though? ???
Real pack animals use Large Format or Medium Format Digital View Cameras.
Logged
Hasselblad H4, Sinar P3 monorail view camera, Schneider Apo-digitar lenses

BernardLanguillier

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 13983
    • http://www.flickr.com/photos/bernardlanguillier/sets/
Re: Do we still want better cameras?
« Reply #37 on: September 18, 2010, 07:06:57 pm »

On a less serious note, I think it has already been posted around here, but the magnesium is no warranty of resuistance, and the ability of plastic to withstand impact is not to be underrated. Question of rigidity and mass, I'd think.
And speaking of mass, you always hate when there is more in high altitude...

Yes, valid points indeed.

Cheers,
Bernard

stamper

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 5882
Re: Do we still want better cameras?
« Reply #38 on: September 19, 2010, 04:16:45 am »

I believed real men used a Canon, though? ???



I believe real men can use any type of camera?

kers

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 4388
    • Pieter Kers
Re: Do we still want better cameras?
« Reply #39 on: September 19, 2010, 04:49:05 am »

My D3x is a a well made camera and I can tell a lot of different stories with it.
I am sure that if it could talk it would have a lot of recommendations for me to improve…
Still I have some things to wish for.

a better autofocus and sharpness spot- especially performing better with wide angel lenses and subjects at some distance
Build in wireless triggering
Overall faster data handling
More dynamic range
More high iso sensitive - like the D3s
200 gram lighter
far less noisy ( do not try shooting at violin concerts!) - being able to keep the mirror up while shooting
shooting 4000k movie with an external microphone

---
Logged
Pieter Kers
www.beeld.nu/la
Pages: 1 [2] 3   Go Up