The Biggest Let Down

[rumbliegeos]

I bought an inexpensive 16mp Panasonic point and shoot, and I wasn't expecting a lot from it. But its image quality was not just substandard, it was dreadful, and I experimented with a lot of settings trying to find a sweet spot that simply was not there.

 

[Pablito]

Konica Hexar RF, rangefinder impossible to algin

Konica Hexar AF, most inaccurate frame lines of any rangefinder-type camera ever.

Minolta CL, useless averaging meter, battery compartment opened by itself repeatedly spilling batteries and leaving the camera inoperable. Manual exposure metering super-awkward.

 

[DCB]

Nikon D7100... like my D40 better.

Traded it for a Fuji GSW690 III...can't wait for it to arrive.

Peace

 

[santela]

Nikon DF. Hideous.

 

[Pioneer]

The biggest let-down is living in a golden age when digital cameras have become astonishingly competent, diverse and affordable, the best film cameras can be had for a relative pittance, film and paper are still widely available, expert guidance on technique (even for nearly extinct techniques like wet plate) is only a tap away, and yet people still complain and complain and complain about photographic equipment.

That's the biggest let-down.

That, and the termination of Kodachrome.

This is a great observation semilog. Guilty as charged (not about the Kodachrome 🙄) but I will remember this whenever I feel disappointed about something. Thank you for the reminder.

 

[Scrambler]

Konica Hexar RF, rangefinder impossible to algin

Konica Hexar AF, most inaccurate frame lines of any rangefinder-type camera ever.

Minolta CL, useless averaging meter, battery compartment opened by itself repeatedly spilling batteries and leaving the camera inoperable. Manual exposure metering super-awkward.

I don't doubt the disappointment, but my Hexar RF has an accurate RF and my CLE doesn't have a broken battery compartment and it's centre-weighted meter works as advertised. I do agree with the stupidity of not metering the manual mode but this was a Minolta "feature" well before the CLE. So for me no disappointment with those cameras.

 

[rolfe]

I second the Canon 5D Mk III.

 

[CK Dexter Haven]

What's wrong with the 5DMkIII?

For me, maybe the NEX series. The 7 seemed like it was something i could have wanted, but the moment i touched one, i realized it was 'just' a digital capture device. I just don't like the feel of any of the digital cameras. I've used the 5D1 and 2 when i had to, but even they just don't have the tactile/sensual of film cameras.

Digicams keep getting more and more 'capable.' But, i've never heard anyone wax poetic about how they feel. On the other hand, people go nuts for their favorite old M, Pentax ME, OM, Nikon F-something, etc. Who has a love affair with a digital camera?

I also never really loved my Hexar AF. In the few rolls i shot with it, the lens did nothing 'magical,' and i always felt stifled by the shutter speed limitation.

 

[2WK]

Leica M240.

 

[cz23]

....For me, maybe the NEX series. The 7 seemed like it was something i could have wanted, but the moment i touched one, i realized it was 'just' a digital capture device. I just don't like the feel of any of the digital cameras. I've used the 5D1 and 2 when i had to, but even they just don't have the tactile/sensual of film cameras.

You've got to let go of preconceptions of what a camera should feel like and give the Nex some time. It then grows on you with its size, weight, maneuverability, and file quality. At least that's been my experience.

Most disappointing? I've tried many small sensor compacts and have finally given up.

John

 

[rolfe]

What's wrong with the 5DMkIII?

For me, maybe the NEX series. The 7 seemed like it was something i could have wanted, but the moment i touched one, i realized it was 'just' a digital capture device. I just don't like the feel of any of the digital cameras. I've used the 5D1 and 2 when i had to, but even they just don't have the tactile/sensual of film cameras.

Digicams keep getting more and more 'capable.' But, i've never heard anyone wax poetic about how they feel. On the other hand, people go nuts for their favorite old M, Pentax ME, OM, Nikon F-something, etc. Who has a love affair with a digital camera?

I also never really loved my Hexar AF. In the few rolls i shot with it, the lens did nothing 'magical,' and i always felt stifled by the shutter speed limitation.

Nothing is "wrong" with the 5D Mk iii, but it just wasn't much of an upgrade to the 5D Mk ii -- people were expecting much more.

 

[2WK]

I just played with a 5D mk iii a while back and I thought it was a pretty nice upgrade over the mk ii. The autofocus and it's ability to lock on in low light was soo much better. That LCD is pretty sweet as well, and it just felt better in my hands. I was actually expecting less, and was impressed.

But, to each, his own.

 

[hepcat]

Leica M240.

SINNER!!! HERETIC!!!

ROTF!!! 😀

Please tell us about your experience and why you felt let down.

 

[Paul Jenkin]

1. Mamiya 645 1000S. My own stupid fauklt, I suppose, as I bought it without realising that it didn't have interchangeable backs.

2. Canon EOS 50e. Bought it because it had some fangled focusing method which locked onto whatever your eye was looking at in the frame. It didn't work for me and I hated the build quality of the body and some of the yoghurt pot kit lenses I could afford with it.

3. Canon A1 - I traded my OM1n and OM2n for Canon gear (on the advice of a friend who was a pro photographer). Some of the FD lenses weren't far behind the Zuikos but the A1 locked up and died on me mid shoot (a paid wedding gig) and I ended up shooting the end of it with a Mamiya C3 I had in the car as a back-up.

4. Leica M6. Fantastic camera but I never got on with the load / unload routine. Probably down to my lack of dexterity but, nevertheless, it was a pain and I always dreaded the point when I had to change film.

5. Pentax ME Super. A bit too small for my hands and the meter was faulty on the one I had.

 

[Sejanus.Aelianus]

The biggest let-down is living in a golden age when digital cameras have become astonishingly competent, diverse and affordable, the best film cameras can be had for a relative pittance, film and paper are still widely available, expert guidance on technique (even for nearly extinct techniques like wet plate) is only a tap away, and yet people still complain and complain and complain about photographic equipment.

What semilog said and...

I think my biggest let down is realising that I don't feel let down by any camera.

Does that disqualify me?

😎

 

[Frank Petronio]

Semilog's post was exceptional.

But... every compact large sensor digital I've tried has been a let down. The form factor that works with a compact 35mm camera with only a few controls becomes way too cluttered and complex when they try to cram 16 control points into a cigarette-pack-sized camera.

 

[burancap]

No real let downs because I was absolutely convinced that "it" was "it" at the time of purchase.

 

[rolfe]

I just played with a 5D mk iii a while back and I thought it was a pretty nice upgrade over the mk ii. The autofocus and it's ability to lock on in low light was soo much better. That LCD is pretty sweet as well, and it just felt better in my hands. I was actually expecting less, and was impressed.

But, to each, his own.

Sensor size basically unchanged. Ergonomics basically unchanged. If you thought the autofocus was just fine (as I did) and used it at ISO 1600 or under (as I did) you saw very little improvement. Minor video enhancements if you used it primarily for video. I think Canon realized they made the 5Dii too good, and it undermined the market for their higher end bodies so the 5Diii did't really close that gap.

OTOH, Nikon raised the bar with the D800.

 

[2WK]

SINNER!!! HERETIC!!!

ROTF!!! 😀

Please tell us about your experience and why you felt let down.

Well, I didn't own the camera personally. So my opinion should be taken with a grain of salt. 😛

Based on first impressions, web research and then playing with the 240 in the store I was disappointed with the camera. I don't like how Leica complicated things, and I don't like the change to CMOS sensor. The CCD images the M9 creates are special (to me) and I feel the M is a step in the wrong direction.

I would have preferred a refined M9. Improve on the low light abilities, a better LCD, perhaps a quieter shutter. They could have worked on the RF and kept things tighter, more accurate. Things that they did implement on the 240. But, I don't want live view, or video…especially when it is half assed. Actually, I don't want it at all. :roll eyes:

And quite frankly I feel let down by the product design. I hate the huge red dot, and I dislike the chrome buttons/scroll wheels on the back of the black camera. It is also thicker and heavier…no thanks. I feel like Leica of course are setting up consumers for the arrival of the M240p. Oh, I forgot the LED frame lines that don't work unless the machine is on.….yea….no.

I think that is all …. :angel:

 

[Cyriljay]

Dear Ronald,

Well put.

Cheers,

R.

Agree with Roger . The best way ti put it.😀