What do you want?

[Bill Pierce]

In the prior post, all of us established our megapixel needs and, for the most part, felt current digital cameras were more than sufficient in that department. Which brings up the question, what, in your opinion, does need to be improved in modern digitals?

For me it’s simple. I want the ability to quickly change my basic settings, shutter speed, f/stop, ISO and focus and to be able to see those values without accessing a screen or holding the camera to my eye. I don’t want to take up time accessing a series of menus one at a time, one after the other. To an extent Fuji, Leica and, I’m sure others, have made this possible with external dials and rings that control these functions. But, for example, Fuji, allowing rapid access to most of the camera’s basic controls, is sadly lacking in providing distance scales on their lenses, providing none or ones that provide inadequate information at greater distances for scale focusing.

I’m amused by folks who call these controls retro rather than immediately accessible. With news, street photography, even portraiture, I really don’t want to waste time sorting through menus on an LCD screen even if it is a more modern technology. I want to be able to see and change the basic settings on my camera quickly and then raise it to my eye.

That’s what I want. More important, what do you want?

 

[ptpdprinter]

I agree that one area lacking in the Fuji lenses in distance and depth of field scales, and related thereto, the lack of tactile feedback inherent in the focus by wire schema. However, with autofocus, I really don't have a need to focus by setting a hyperfocal distance, so the lack of scales is at best a minor inconvenience for me.

Another area that could be improved in all mirrorless cameras is the EVF, so that in focusing manual focus lenses we would not have to be dependent on focus-peaking and digital zooming. The Leica SL probably has the best EVF, but I don't have any personal experience with it and manual focus lenses to know whether even it is good enough in that regard.

Bill, perhaps you can share why you feel the need to access Fuji's menus. I rarely use them. What needs to be set besides shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and exposure compensation, all of which have dedicated dials?

 

[K14]

Agree there Bill,

Additionally something more reusable. How about interchangeable CCD's? Chips that have different emulsion flavors, a technology that could lead to standardization of digital.

Of course my only reference is the film era and how that process lead to a better product for all.

Gary

 

[Vince Lupo]

Bill it sounds like the Leica M-D is the camera for you.

 

[jsrockit]

In the prior post, all of us established our megapixel needs and, for the most part, felt current digital cameras were more than sufficient in that department. Which brings up the question, what, in your opinion, does need to be improved in modern digitals?

Honestly... I just want an ISO-less sensor... meaning I can just shoot at any shutter speed and aperture combo in any light with maximum clarity and dynamic range. With this, I'd like the ability for the camera to auto-focus in almost darkness just as fast as it can in the sun. In the meantime, the Fujis will do. 😉

I’m amused by folks who call these controls retro rather than immediately accessible. With news, street photography, even portraiture, I really don’t want to waste time sorting through menus on an LCD screen even if it is a more modern technology. I want to be able to see and change the basic settings on my camera quickly and then raise it to my eye.

Yes me too...but there are a group of photographers out there that were raised with changing their settings with one hand WHILE the camera is raised to their eye. They cannot stand what we love.

 

[michaelwj]

I’m amused by folks who call these controls retro rather than immediately accessible. With news, street photography, even portraiture, I really don’t want to waste time sorting through menus on an LCD screen even if it is a more modern technology. I want to be able to see and change the basic settings on my camera quickly and then raise it to my eye.

Yes me too...but there are a group of photographers out there that were raised with changing their settings with one hand WHILE the camera is raised to their eye. They cannot stand what we love.

There are merits to each style, and they're not mutually exclusive. Being able to change setting quickly without taking your eye off the viewfinder is so efficient, but knowing the settings before you bring your camera to your eye is also great. One favours fast paced action like sports photography where the camera is constantly at your eye, the other favours more reportage style photography where the camera is brought to the eye to take the shot. The later can be gained from the small LCD on the top plate, or so the major DSLR players believe.

But back to the question, what do I want? Apart from the ability to afford the latest offerings, nothing really. There is nothing that would get in my way or limit my photography in cameras that are currently available.

 

[Godfrey]

I don't want anything at all. I have exactly what I want now ... the Leica M-D and Leica SL ... and a brace of excellent lenses for both. Both are 24 megapixel cameras, both are a delight in the hand, both make absolutely top notch photographs.

They are at opposite ends of the spectrum with respect to features and capabilities, but both have a simple and easy to understand set of controls and control paradigm. Both can be set up for a shot (ISO, aperture, shutter, focus, EV compensation) glancing down at the camera from above without need to access a menu.

I can't think of a single thing I'd change on either.

G

 

[shimokita]

At the moment I am okay with the digital cameras that I use (Canon 5DII and Fuji x100t), although I have been looking at the x100f because of the ability to manually adjust the ISO via an external dial. The x100t is approaching ISO-less capability so that helps... With the x100t in manual focus mode the distance is visible through the finder (as well DOF seems to be indicated), but quite frankly I mostly use face recognition for the majority of my situations.

From talking to other photographers, my understanding is that the Leica Monochrom might be the way to go for digital B&W... so no big digital wish list.

 

[Oren Grad]

Highlight/shadow clipping warnings in the viewfinder, with user-settable thresholds, based on the raw data rather than the current jpg settings. Also true raw histograms for image review after capture.

 

[Tim Murphy]

Someone to give me a Canon EOS 1D4

Someone to give me a Canon EOS 1D4

Dear Bill,

There, I said it.

I shoot nature and wildlife almost exclusively. I will be honest and say that my abilities as a photographer will never exceed the capabilities of my current cameras, but since you asked the thread title is my answer.

Regards,

Tim Murphy

Harrisburg, PA 🙂

 

[JeffS7444]

Lenses, hoods and caps which mount correctly and quickly even when you're in a hurry and not really paying attention. What if the lens hood was the cap?

Electronic viewfinders are already good at helping to see better in low-light conditions, but can't keep up in brightly-lit situations like sunlit snow where they can look dim and washed-out to eyes adapted to the bright conditions. There's probably liability reasons for not offering ultra-bright finders, but it'd be an interesting option.

Batteries, connectors and memory cards which provide their own seals to keep dust and moisture out of the camera body without the need for protective doors or rubber flaps.

Viewfinder eyepieces which can be cleaned nicely with one's tshirt, microfiber cloth or whatever, without inaccessible corners.

"Fuel gauge" on the batteries themselves, so you can tell what you've got at a glance.

 

[JeffS7444]

Oh, and where possible, why not make an Arca-type mounting integral with the camera body!

 

[Keith]

A full frame Epson RD1 would fit those requirements nicely! 🙂

 

[michaelwj]

Oh, and where possible, why not make an Arca-type mounting integral with the camera body!

Because it's unergonomic.

 

[nikon_sam]

For the Sony a6000 I would like longer lasting batteries...other than that I love it...

 

[:: Mark]

A somewhat decadent request, but a rangefinder with sufficient eye relief to see the 28mm framelines while wearing glasses would be nice. Clunky add-on external VFs do not cut it when trying to compose and focus quickly.

And yes, a genuine ISO-less sensor would be amazing. There would be no need for an ISO dial at all, giving both a simpler shooting experience and optimal image quality. That said, auto-ISO is a reasonable substitute that comes close to the ISO-less ideal.

 

[Michael Markey]

Nothing for me either.
Very happy with my two A7s in terms of performance and layout.
My Leica lenses are more useable and flexible on the Sony body by virtue of the EVF focussing.
For me it's perfect as I suspect the SL would be.

 

[Gid]

In the prior post, all of us established our megapixel needs and, for the most part, felt current digital cameras were more than sufficient in that department. Which brings up the question, what, in your opinion, does need to be improved in modern digitals?

For me it’s simple. I want the ability to quickly change my basic settings, shutter speed, f/stop, ISO and focus and to be able to see those values without accessing a screen or holding the camera to my eye. I don’t want to take up time accessing a series of menus one at a time, one after the other. To an extent Fuji, Leica and, I’m sure others, have made this possible with external dials and rings that control these functions. But, for example, Fuji, allowing rapid access to most of the camera’s basic controls, is sadly lacking in providing distance scales on their lenses, providing none or ones that provide inadequate information at greater distances for scale focusing.

I’m amused by folks who call these controls retro rather than immediately accessible. With news, street photography, even portraiture, I really don’t want to waste time sorting through menus on an LCD screen even if it is a more modern technology. I want to be able to see and change the basic settings on my camera quickly and then raise it to my eye.

That’s what I want. More important, what do you want?

Sounds like a Nikon Df with MF or AFD lenses. I already have one.😎

 

[ForestCap]

A pocketable digital P&S camera looks like Olympus Mju II, m4/3 sensor, 35mm lens, no screens, limited amount of buttons on body, AF only, having focus distance indicator inside an optical viewfinder.

 

[jsrockit]

A pocketable digital P&S camera looks like Olympus Mju II, m4/3 sensor, 35mm lens, no screens, limited amount of buttons on body, AF only, having focus distance indicator inside an optical viewfinder.

I'd have to have one of these too...