Dream camera for 2010

[Frankie]

Blasphemy, I know, but composition is important in my photography, which is why I don't like the approximation of a rangefinder's parallax error.

But perhaps there's a way to overlap a live-view electronic finder's display into the center portion of an secondary optical viewfinder, using a prism, so that you get the exact image framing from the electronic live display, combined with the live view of the surrounding non-image area from the optical finder. The best of both worlds. The live view electronic display would be mounted within the side of the optical finder, with a prism inside that overlaps its display onto the optical finder's image. The optical display itself would have a blacked out central portion where the electronic display is overlapped onto via the prism. So you end up seeing a live EVF display in the central (say, 2/3rd's) portion of the viewfinder, with a live optical view surrounding it.

Focusing would be autofocus with manual assist, like the u4/3 G1's, rather than using a mechanically coupled rangefinder. This frees up the possibility of adapting legacy lenses, but without the problems of loose rangefinder cam tolerances, and also permits a new line of autofocus lenses optimized for the digital sensor.

The best of both worlds: a real optical viewfinder, with the accuracy of composition from an EVF, and able to see the area outside the image-taking region, without the mechanical tolerance problems (and cost) of a mechanically coupled rangefinder.

BTW, for those who haven't tried it, focusing the G1's EVF is a cinch; the image snaps into sharp focus without the need for a split-image prism, or rangefinder's double image. Applying this type of display to the hybrid display mentioned above would be entirely practical.

~Joe

I had the opportunity of playing, freely, with the GH1, GF1/EVF and EP1/optical, side by side and one after another in a Tokyo camera super-mart last fall.

The EP1/optical is still best, albeit no manual focusing possible [rejected].

The GF1/EVF is not good enough [resolution too low, as if I am seeing a coarse ground glass].

The GH1 [G1] I would totally accept...us aging yuppies with maturing eye sights [but have money to buy toys].

I have long opined that a future RF is not necessarily even the best of Zeiss ZM, it will be EVIL.

Blasphemy.

 

[DRabbit]

A Zeiss RF digital full frame under 4K

I concur!
Or a digital back for my Ziess Ikon that doesn't increase the bulk. Should be doable these days with how small they can make these mirror-less cameras.

I'd be totally sold on a digital back with specs like you're talking about Bill... B&W only sensor is fine by me.

If I'm really going to dream...

Zeiss makes a digital RF with nearly the exact body of the Ikon. They don't do "art filters" like Olympus did... they do film modes... pick Tri-X, Fomapan, Etc. get simlar "grain", contrast, etc. If you expand it to color, you could include several of those films as well. Of course, RAW would always give you the option to not use the filters/modes at all.

Who am I kidding... I'd just be happy with any digital rangefinder as long as I can afford it! LOL... The M9 is not in my near future unless I win the lottery.

 

[Axel]

A film-sensor that can be placed in every camera body
when needed.
And that can be removed when not needed 😀

 

[jpberger]

Would love to see an interchangeable lens 645 range finder with wider/and or faster lenses than the Bronica rf.

 

[Frank Petronio]

The Leica X2 with faster AF technology stolen from Panasonic.

or...

a $1500 M8 user.

 

[Frontman]

It's funny how many people are wishing for digital versions of old film cameras. I began shooting digital back in 2000, and though I was amazed at the possibilities at that time, after a few years it became little more than a novelty to me.

Digital photography made me rather lazy and impatient, and I used my gear "machine-gun" style, thoughtlessly taking useless pics of anything which remotely caught my eye. Some mistakes could be cleaned up in post-processing, but my eyes are quickly tired by staring at pixels on a computer monitor.

By this time I had a pretty good collection of digital gear, with a couple expensive DSLR cameras and a correspondingly expensive collection of lenses to go with them.

My early film cameras had consisted of the types used by pro-photographers; the Canon F1, and Nikon F2/3/4 etc. These were wonderful cameras, but loaded down with motor-drives, fast lenses, and other accessories, they were simply a pain to carry around. This "heavier is better" philosophy was carried over into the pro DSLR field, and has been carried seemingly to extremes. The D3 is now quite a handful, even compared to my old motor-driven film cameras of the 70's and 80's.

Last year things changed somewhat when I bought an Olympus OM film camera. I had never deigned to own anything other than a Nikon or a Canon, but I had heard good things about the OM cameras. I picked up the OM and put a few rolls of film through it, and I found myself quite happy. Here was a high-quality, compact, and lightweight camera which took pictures at least as good as my old pro film gear. I loved the pictures I was getting on film with this camera. I enjoyed them so much in fact, that my digital gear now sees little to no use.

I picked up a few other simple film cameras, and have had nothing but fun with them. I find that there is a lot of truth to the "less is more" philosophy.

As for my dream camera of 2010, I bought it last week, it is a Leica M4. I love it, and I would not trade it for an M8 or M9 (except to sell, so I could buy more old M film cameras).

 

[Avotius]

Honestly I am surprised camera companies have not heard the call for optical viewfinders and a simplification of modern cameras. many people say there are so few people lookking for that kind of camera so they would never do it. Really? Everyone I talk to would love to have a simple compact camera with pro results that has a real viewfinder! The EP1 and GF1 are not there yet. Fuji still makes those great Klasse cameras, decent viewfinder, simple controls, good fast lens which I might add is smaller that the ones on the X1 or Sigma offerings yet is faster and covers full frame, who here would buy one if it had a digital sensor in it???

Camera companies are lost in their own mess. Maybe I should go talk to some companies here and get something rolling and that can be my new job haha.........

 

[shadowfox]

Camera companies are lost in their own mess. Maybe I should go talk to some companies here and get something rolling and that can be my new job haha.........

Actually, that's not half-bad an idea.

Find a chinese enterpreneur who loved classic cameras (shouldn't be too hard, there's a lot of love for photography there) then get him to buy Kodak's digital camera division. 😛

It'll be like Lenovo who bought Thinkpad laptop brand from IBM, or whoever bought the Hummer brand from GM.

 

[dmr]

I would like to see {grabbing whip and looking for a dead horse to beat} a decent camera, RF or compact SLR, that has both film and digital options. I would LOVE for one of those {looking for another dead horse to beat} "digital film" things to actually make it to market!

 

[Frankie]

Actually, that's not half-bad an idea.

Find a chinese enterpreneur who loved classic cameras (shouldn't be too hard, there's a lot of love for photography there) then get him to buy Kodak's digital camera division. 😛

It'll be like Lenovo who bought Thinkpad laptop brand from IBM, or whoever bought the Hummer brand from GM.

A hybrid joke I have heard:

All good products are conceived by Englishman, engineered by Japanese, styled by Italian, manufactured by Korean, QA by Germans, marketed by Americans, financed by Chinese...and managed by a benevolent dictator.

 

[Ronald_H]

Sometimes I lie awake at night and I dream...

- State of the art hi-ISO performance, think Nikon D3s. This is my personal holy grail in a small camera.
- 35mm equivalent sensor size
- Interchangable lenses
- Fast primes
- Mirrorless design, so no SLR
- No optical rangefinder
- Compact and rugged build
- Intuitive user interface, RAW based approach, not too much needless features and menus
- The viewing system of the Panasonic G1 brought to the state of the art, the best EVF possible and the best screen
- A big battery, allowing 500 shots or more with all bells and whistles on
- Possibility to mount Leica M and Nikon F glass
- HD-video, built in microphone, sufficient sample rate for audio
- Autofocus

A M9 optimized for hi-ISO would already come very close, but would be too purist for what I really want. Although I shoot 95% manual focus, I sometimes need AF. Video is a welcome addition. The G1, is an outstanding design, but is too 'consumer' for me.

 

[BillBingham2]

I think you could accomplish many of your goals with relative ease on the new GXR platform.

I agree with the optical view finder option but as optimal for me but would suggest that they have two EVF options. One low cost acceptable resolution, the other higher cost very high resolution and faster response times.

While I would suggest dropping autofocus to help reduce price a small focus confirmation light (you could turn on and off) on the top like the Bessa L light meter LEDs would be most helpful. I think a 4x view of the center focusing spot when you touch the shutter release on the LCD or EVF would be important to have and also to be able to turn off.

B&W only would be fine, actually preferable as long as it shot only RAW and did not post capture processing in camera at all. Even as good as they think they are, I want to develop and tweak it myself, please just give me all the data.

While it would be nice to use removable lenses, I think if you came out with a reasonable set of say five or six high quality fast prime lenses you could make a very high percentage of the market happy. 21, 28, 35, 50, 90, 180 equivalents would put a serious dent into DSLRs.

I do have to agree with an earlier poster, the GRD III is IMHO as close as we got in 2009.

B2 (;->

 

[Roberto]

I want a monochrome Digital Back for my M3!

I would like a monochrome Digital Back for any of my cameras (Bessa R2A or R, Nikon F3, Nikon FE), but if someone manages to create it for Leica Ms I'll buy one...
R.

 

[elmer3.5]

Foveon

Foveon

Hi, i would like to have a digital back FF for my m`s but i`d really appreciate a sigma dp3 w/ full frame foveon sensor and interchangeable lenses!

Bye

E

 

[Ronald M]

M9 is nearly perfect. Ditch the paint finish. I wanted someyhing painted I would buy a car or refrigerator.

Develope some new modern viso lenses I could use.

One of the best things about digi is the right emulsion is always available, sun, tungsten, cloudy, color, saturated or not, monochrome so monochrome only is not something I want. I can change out mid roll too.

I would like an optional film output too.

Non of this is going to happen, so I`ll stick with my m2 to M6 models, brass cassettes, Leica enlargers, and a Nikon DSLR.

A Leica R digi cam would be nice. No electronic VF. No crop sensor. They are wasting their time and resources developing one of them as far as I am concerned. Then they will be supprised when nobody buys it and say see we said there is no demand for it.

Go to Nikon and have them put a Leica mount on their D700 or D3 and work up an auto diaphragm mechanism. Instant R10. I don`t need some ground breaking camera, just one that takes pics.

 

[jsrockit]

A camera like the Leica X1 that has manual focus on the lens and a built in viewfinder / rangefinder (basically a smaller M8/M9 with a fixed lens).

A small simple DSLR. Like a Nikon FM2 but digital.

 

[chrishayton]

My perfect ( read as possible ) camera for 2010 would be for Canon to make a camera around the size of a GF1 (or anything up to leica M) with APS C sensor that takes all ef and ef-s lenses with adapter, New pancakes and the ability to mount m lenses.

Preferably for ~£500

 

[johnny9fingers]

A Silver Hexar AF with an ASP-C sensor......
Quiet, uber fast, spectacular fixed lens,....... heaven : )

John

 

[pvdhaar]

It's amazing that none of the proposals so far break the mold from what we've seen in cameras in the past. It's basically 'we want a vintage RF/SLR style camera with some digital stuff in' rehashed in different ways..

What I think would be really neat, is a very very small camera that's got little wings (something bug size) and that you can let hover anywhere you can't get to yourself. Now, that would open up possibilities.. Panoramas, aerials, close-ups, wildlife, documentary, all from different angles and perspectives. There's so much you'd be able to do.. And yes, there are people that do kite/balloon photography but there you have such limited control over where you can go..

Although it's still largely a universities pursuit so far, the technology is there (think tiny pinhole cameras on tiny ornithopters).. it just needs to see the marketplace.

 

[Olsen]

9,000 $?

9,000 $?

What I have been hoping for, for years, is a specialized digital Hasselblad 905SWC. This camera equipped with the legendary Carl Zeiss Biogon 38 mm - in medium format, or ZM 25 mm 2,8 for Leicas, is one of the best wide angle lenses ever made. It draws practically streight lines and light distribution is perfectly evenly distributed on the picture surface. - Except for drawing remarkably sharp and with high contrast. Possibly one of the best pro lenses ever made. Originally made for 'spy' photography before WWII, it has served particularly well for all pro's photographing architecture and interior. There probably isn't a interior magazine or 'Boating/Yachting International were you won't find plenty of 'SWC-pictures.

This tool, an outstanding digital wide angle with the above properties, say, with a square sensor with - let's hope, 30 or so million pixels, must be greatly missed by all interior photographers all over the world.

Saying this; I wonder what Hasselblad is up to. They will launch a new product in April. Follow the countdown here: http://www.hasselblad.com/promotions/countdown.aspx