Which camera would you like that is not available?

The idea of the perfect camera is a bit terrifying. First, I'd have no excuses for my failed photos. Second, all my other little darlings would languish from neglect.
That being said, however, I wouldn't say "no" to a Nikon S3 with M-mount and the MP-style .58 viewfinder and framelines. And throw in a TTL spotmeter. Not asking for much!
 
Retro-Grouch said:
The idea of the perfect camera is a bit terrifying. First, I'd have no excuses for my failed photos. Second, all my other little darlings would languish from neglect.
That being said, however, I wouldn't say "no" to a Nikon S3 with M-mount and the MP-style .58 viewfinder and framelines. And throw in a TTL spotmeter. Not asking for much!
Click to expand...

Nobody said anything about perfect cameras...
 
Maybe I am out of GAS, since nothing mentioned so far raises my pulse rate. Perhaps I have reached the state of perfect satiation with everything I have already and can’t find a reasonable use case for anything different.
Oh, wait.
A 6x6 version of the Contax 645, with lenses to match of similar quality to the 645 ones. And in this game 6x6 means 6x6 sensor, not today’s small square sensors. And huge, fat, dynamic range and color fidelity enhancing pixels in all that real estate, not a lot of tiny ones, while we’re at it. Because better.
Not at all impossible, just maybe not this year.
 
I'll play. Modern day Hexar AF (35/2 based off the w-nikkor 35/1.8) similar to a Sony RX1 but with the body size of a Ricoh GR.
The dream part? The FF digital sensor back can be swapped with a roll of film.
 
All these recently realased beautiful small VM lenses are just begging to be attached to Epson RD 2 with full frame foveon inside , surely this shouldnt be too much to ask .
 
jsrockit said:
Well this is my dream isn’t it? Also I said a Ricoh GR type camera... because i like it’s interface as opposed to say... Sony.

As far as a Bessa at $1500 to $1800, that is low end FF territory price wise. Mechanical rangefinders are not cheap to make these days. $3000 maybe.
Click to expand...

How about the idea of Ricoh bringing back the 500 line as a fixed lens rangefinder-style camera with an EVF? There's your 40mm lens, and the design cues for a nice compact that could challenge the RX1rii.
 
Michalm said:
All these recently realased beautiful small VM lenses are just begging to be attached to Epson RD 2 with full frame foveon inside , surely this shouldnt be too much to ask .
Click to expand...

Oh man, yes, you reminded me of my dream of a rangefinder with a Foveon sensor! They seem made for each other, in that rangefinders aren't typically rapid-fired enough to heat up a sensor or require any kind of processing power for AF and such.
 
Phil_F_NM said:
...
A Bolex REX4 with an integrated silent motor that can crystal synch to 24f/s.
...
Click to expand...

Good to see another Bolex Rex aficionado here. Someday I hope to have an H16 Rex 4 or 5.

AAlfano said:
If Nikon would just bring back the FM3A, I'd be happy. I'd be even happier if they changed the Nikon logo on it back to the old style...
Click to expand...

Yes to both. I bought a new black FM3a when the camera was introduced. Love it. It’s just so good I want another FM3a.

—

My impossible and unlikely dream though? It is that Leica fix, fix, fix the continual annoyances of the wonderful R8:

- Remove “OFF” from the Mode dial so that the user isn’t constantly turning the dial and therefore the mode dial just selects the mode and isn’t twirled all the time. Have on/off be a dedicated switch - maybe around the front of the wind lever.

- Remove the exposure compensation toggle switch from the back (!) (near the eyepiece!) and make it a small lever in front of the shutter speed dial - functionally, that grouping makes sense.

- Move the metering type selection switch from the front of the shutter speed dial (where it makes no sense) and place it in front of the mode dial.

I don’t think Leica ever presented this camera concept to real working photographers before they chose the existing layout.

—

But these are minor gripes compared to what I would really like to see, which is all film-related:

- Return of real-Polaroid films: 100 (pack film), 600, SX-70, Spectra, 4x5
- Return of 70mm film so I can use Hasselblad 70-backs
- Return of Kodak HIE, Tech Pan, Plus-X, Kodachrome - ha ha ha
 
I would love a digital body that meets the following specifications:

1. Accepts all older Nikon SLR 35mm film manual focus lenses without loss of diaphragm or meter functions. (I have 12 prime Nikkor lenses from 14mm to 1000mm that I would like to continue using)
2. Uses a digital sensor that has the same 43.266mm diagonal as the 35mm film format
3. Uses a 36x36mm digital sensor that allows the user to select a 24x36mm rectangular format or a 19x24mm rectangular format or a 30.6x30.6mm square format. It also allows the user to select portrait or landscape orientation for the rectangular formats.
4. Offers resolution equal to or greater than 35mm film.
5. Digital sensor is user upgradeable.
6. Camera software is user upgradeable.
7. Derives its power from standard-sized AA batteries (I would hate being stuck with an obsolete camera that relies on obsolete batteries)
8. Uses either an SLR or rangefinder body design
9. Body cost $600 or less.
10. Has twin memory card slots.
11. Digital sensor is protected from dust.
12. Has a 100% viewfinder coverage.
13. Ability to hide the image LCD screen so that it is not visible.
14. Body and controls are ergonomically designed.
15. SLR design uses a glass pentaprism.
16. Eyepiece has built-in diopter adjustment.
17. Provides “B” (bulb) and “T” (timed) exposure options.
18. Provides white balance control.
19. Provides contrast and color saturation control.
20. SLR design has interchangeable viewfinders.
21. SLR design has interchangeable view screens.
22. SLR design provides mirror lockup.
23. Rangefinder design has totally silent mode (no beeping or whirling sounds during picture taking).
24. Built to withstand daily usage.
25. Ability to shoot RAW and jpeg image files.
26. Has both hot shoe and PC flash connection for standard flash units.
27. Minimal warm-up time when unit is turned on.
28. Minimal delay when shutter is pressed.
29. Ability to shoot at least 2.5 images per second.
30. ISO light meter settings from 50 to 6400.
31. Manual and auto exposure control.
32. Manual and auto focus control.
33. Camera does not have stupid sounding name like “CoolPix” or FinePix.”
34. Built to withstand daily usage.
35. Built around the Nikon F2, F3, F4, and F5 SLR film bodies.
36. SLR has true mirror lockup
37. Has fully articulating LCD screen
 
I'm pretty fine with existing cameras, I'd like to see lenses get shrunk a bit. The big hype of the mirrorless bunch is how much lighter and smaller they are but then the lenses ruin this by being nearly as big as the DSLR ones are. Particularly the Fuji lenses, I have the 12mm Zeiss and on my X-E4 I can barely fit my hand in-between it and the grip. Same deal with the Z series, the more common lenses are as heavy and bulky as the camera if not more so. I can get some relief by using my M mount lenses but focusing manually on them is a bit of a pain.
 
narsuitus said:
I would love a digital body that meets the following specifications:

1. Accepts all older Nikon SLR 35mm film manual focus lenses without loss of diaphragm or meter functions. (I have 12 prime Nikkor lenses from 14mm to 1000mm that I would like to continue using)
2. Uses a digital sensor that has the same 43.266mm diagonal as the 35mm film format
3. Uses a 36x36mm digital sensor that allows the user to select a 24x36mm rectangular format or a 19x24mm rectangular format or a 30.6x30.6mm square format. It also allows the user to select portrait or landscape orientation for the rectangular formats.
4. Offers resolution equal to or greater than 35mm film.
5. Digital sensor is user upgradeable.
6. Camera software is user upgradeable.
7. Derives its power from standard-sized AA batteries (I would hate being stuck with an obsolete camera that relies on obsolete batteries)
8. Uses either an SLR or rangefinder body design
9. Body cost $600 or less.
10. Has twin memory card slots.
11. Digital sensor is protected from dust.
12. Has a 100% viewfinder coverage.
13. Ability to hide the image LCD screen so that it is not visible.
14. Body and controls are ergonomically designed.
15. SLR design uses a glass pentaprism.
16. Eyepiece has built-in diopter adjustment.
17. Provides “B” (bulb) and “T” (timed) exposure options.
18. Provides white balance control.
19. Provides contrast and color saturation control.
20. SLR design has interchangeable viewfinders.
21. SLR design has interchangeable view screens.
22. SLR design provides mirror lockup.
23. Rangefinder design has totally silent mode (no beeping or whirling sounds during picture taking).
24. Built to withstand daily usage.
25. Ability to shoot RAW and jpeg image files.
26. Has both hot shoe and PC flash connection for standard flash units.
27. Minimal warm-up time when unit is turned on.
28. Minimal delay when shutter is pressed.
29. Ability to shoot at least 2.5 images per second.
30. ISO light meter settings from 50 to 6400.
31. Manual and auto exposure control.
32. Manual and auto focus control.
33. Camera does not have stupid sounding name like “CoolPix” or FinePix.”
34. Built to withstand daily usage.
35. Built around the Nikon F2, F3, F4, and F5 SLR film bodies.
36. SLR has true mirror lockup
37. Has fully articulating LCD screen
Click to expand...

I have to assume that you have looked at Nikon's Z line, the 7II in particular. A great deal of your wishes are available or are very close to. $600 won't buy you a decent P&S, so that's unreasonable.
 
narsuitus said:
I would love a digital body that meets the following specifications:
...

  • ...
Click to expand...



  • Aside from the user-replaceable (upgradable) sensor, everything on your list seems fully possible today.

    A “snap-out” / “snap-in” sensor socket and tool required for users to do the replacement, while not existing today, would require an investment on the part of both sensor and camera-body manufacturers which would have to be reflected in the price of the camera. However, I think this is a very desirable feature.
 
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