Discontent with Digital Cameras |
I bought my first digital camera from Wal-mart for $300+ in the late 90’s. It was a Olympus 1.3 MP camera and wrote the pictures off to a small memory card. In regards to the way the digital cameras work, not much has changed.
Every year they come out with a new level of mega pixels to strike interest in the camera products, but honestly I can’t see why anyone needs anything over 10 MP. If you get a proper zoom lens, you don’t need the MP’s.
The MP are there so the manufacturers don’t have to deal with the optical zoom problems. Home bodied consumers, optical zoom is what you want in your camera [mixed with a 5MP or better camera], but anything more than that is really ‘fluff ‘and waste.
I know some are going to read this and say I’m full of crap and my reasoning is completely off-base, but for that I say there’s a another market; a professional market. Professionals or those trying to get in to a market to monetize the photos that are taken and so yes, you can go with more MP’s, but even so the zoom functions are going to be that much more important and the cost will be much higher.
For this document, I’m focusing on the typical home consumer.
Another issue is the functionality of the digital camera. I recently owned a Nikon D60. It’s an above average camera. It’s in the $700 range [w/everything it came with]. It was nice, expensive and taxed with the same issues other digital cameras have the shuttle lag time. It performed like every other camera I’ve ever had.
Generally speaking, that’s the biggest thing, the lag time between pressing the button and getting the picture. It seems everyone has become so content with predicting the future when it comes to digital cameras; you’ve to know 1 second before the shot, the shot your going to take and then hope you get that shot. It’s so insane. And yes, I know the trick about hold the button partially down and then clicking, but WHY should I’ve to?
Film cameras never had this problem. Did I not press the power button, the lens is uncovered and when I press the button, I should take a picture; NOT a second later.
Digital cameras have many advantages, none of which fix the lag issue. And while there may be cameras out there that don’t have this issue, they’re not in the general price range of the public. So, for all practical purposes, they don’t exist.
I’ve since picked up a new camera and liveing with the same issues, but a much better zoom level and that makes up for a lot, but digital cameras need an elimination the of the despised shutter lag like no other; it’s so obvious and yet so accepted.
Your welcome to comment…
Thanks for reading!
Enjoy.
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Hey Larry,
I could not agree more. I had a 8mp camera, and it was great, but for the average Joe it had a huge problem. The files were HUGE. Every time I wanted to email someone a picture, I had to re size and it was a pain. I have an Olympus now, it is 6.5mp and the reaction time is about 1 sec. You are right, we have just learned to anticipate the delay. Hopefully they will come out with one that shoots when you hit the button, that everyone can afford.
Larry, Larry, Larry.
I have to disagree with you. I have both film and digital cameras. Ranging from manual focus 35mm, autofocus 35mm, manual focus medium format, 4×5 large format, and a pro DSLR. I can tell you that not all 35mm cameras will take the photo instantly.
This lag you speak of is the autofocus trying to lock on the subject. Point and Shoots have the worst time because it’s trying to use contrast based AF and it’s tons slower.
Which 35mm cameras are you speaking of? P&S? The 35mm P&S are usually Focus-Free, so there is no focus, so there is no lag.
My two AF 35mm cameras are 100% different from each other. One is the Pro-est you can get with AF 35mm cameras. The other is a consumer model. The Pro model’s AF is faster than my Pro DSLR. The focus locks on so fast it’s amazing. The consumer 35mm is slow and hunts for focus more.
Solution: Now holding the shutter release is half the problem. The other half the problem is you are probably making the camera choose where to focus on your D60. What you should do is set your camera so you can pick the focus point yourself. This way you point your camera to where you want to focus (ie. the eyes) the hold the button half way. Your focus is LOCKED and then you can move the camera back to how you want to composition to be and then press the button the rest of the way.
Maybe this is slower, depending how good you are with this. At least what you want in focus IS in focus.
Remember, cameras are stupid. The photographer is smart (usually).
Bring the D60 to the office and I can show you
@Marc W.
Oh yeah.. about the megapixel. I’m not too worried about the MP race. I would rather have the better image quality from the newer DSLRs then a 100MP camera. I’d rather have a 6MP DSLR than a 14MP P&S any day!
Marc,
Wow. Thanks for the input. I knew you liked cameras; I didn’t realize how much… and how was the honeymoon with you and your camera? And just based on what you posted, I’m placing you in the higher echelon of photographer. But for the average Joe, the cameras are digital… where’s the speed, where’s the evolution? I’m not buying another camera unless mine gets smashed or they fix this muckery.
btw, Thanks for reading!
-Larry
David,
Thanks. My disappointment with digital cameras is huge. I think camera makers have spent too much time on MP and not enough on basic performance. I’ve a friend with a 2MP camera and he still loves it. That’s a big statement right there.
If there’s not enough to warrant an upgrade, then why do it?
Thanks for reading!