Would you buy a simple digital camera?

[Jamie Pillers]

Simply... YES. Something that emulates my Nikon F3... with some thought given to white balance... OR... the camera produces DNG files only. And, of course, I'd hope that such a simple camera would be far less expensive than all the computers-in-a-camera models out there now. M-mount would be preferred, to take advantage of the small lens sizes.

 

[jsrockit]

And, of course, I'd hope that such a simple camera would be far less expensive than all the computers-in-a-camera models out there now. M-mount would be preferred, to take advantage of the small lens sizes.

It won't be... it would still be the same computer with simpler software.

 

[Axel]

It won't be... it would still be the same computer with simpler software.

Yes.
The simple economical fact is the higher price for every additional manual work today.

Would you buy a simple digital camera?
...
Something similar to an M Leica (but without the expensive rangefinder mechanism) and in a more accessible price range...

Yes. And I did. Years ago. Afterwards I sold my Leica M6, CL and lenses.
Didn´t regret that until today. And every one of my various actual cams can do such simple things. That´s what I have them for.
I had to learn one lesson: when you get a new camera take some time to set it up to do only what you want. Don´t trap into the bells and whistles thing that could "make your photos better". There is a button or symbol you don´t know what it does? Ignore it.
There is a function active you don´t need? Disable it.

I have Fuji and Sony cameras. The menues doesn´t matter because I simply don´t use them.

 

[jmonat7]

One camera that goes overlooked is the Sony Rx1rii. Yes it is a Sony. Yes it has Sony menus that are convoluted. But once you set it up, it is an absolute joy to use and most importantly, disappears in use. It has 2 dials on top, a settings dial to switch between M and A and an exposure comp dial, one custom button, and then a nifty switch on the front near the lens for AF/MF toggling. It is small, it is simple, it shoots everything from landscape to macro, has one of the best high res sensors ever made, a half decent EVF, and a killer 35mm Zeiss Sonnar lens (I think it is the 5th best 35mm lens ever made according to DXO). The two downsides are focus by wire for MF and poor battery life. No camera is perfect, but this one comes awfully close and I know there are many others who would sing its praise as well. It's the camera Leica should have made.

 

[Bill Clark]

I use very few settings with my Canon DSLR cameras.

Maybe it’s because I use my film cameras quite often (like today, M4 walking in Fort Snelling State Park) and my film cameras have only a couple of settings I can change. That thought process carries over to my digital stuff.

Will format the cf card when starting a project.

Capture using RAW.

AV, TV and M modes.

Sometimes change ISO.

Use the histogram periodically. In camera light meter giving me good results?

That’s about it.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Also, any camera which has not too many dials could be easily made as simple by enabling firmware and software configuration to select, assign and disable menus.
It is nothing but programming, could be done now almost with any digital camera. Except Leica may be, they still don't know much about programming and thier cameras are primitive naturally.
While paid for marketing people at canosonics still stuck in the outdated doctrine what more menus are more sales.

 

[Alberti]

I have a mental block with camera instruction manuals - I would rather wade through an entire set of the Encyclopaedia Brittanica than try to make sense of the multitude of (mostly useless to me) data and information in the manuals for my Nikon DSLRs (D700 and D800).

As an architect I had similar problems doing the fine maths for the design work we did - fortunately I was an interior design specialist so none of my buildings fell down - I had to assign a junior designer who was a maths wiz to check and fine-tune all my calculations so walls, workstations, service and utilities areas etc etc etc all fitted where they should. After 20 years of this it was a geat relief to me to sell out and retire in 2012, and no longer having to spend hours poring over calculations.

A thought that has long sustained me in my digital photography, is anyone who can learn to use a Leica Barnack or an M and a Rolleiflex can somehow get by with the complex and complicated contraptions DSLRs are. I keep my Nikons set for the basics and this deals with 90% of the photography I do. The other 10% I ignore, or overshoot and hope one or a few images will suffice.
[--]
Simplicity and convenience are good for me. I dislike the annoying Lumix GF live view finder, but like so much in life, it's a new challenge, a learning curve, and I'll get beyond it.

I have a metal box with manuals. Can't read them. Mental block?
Remember the 'soul of the machine' thing? The story of the lone motor driver with his son going through America? Trying to find out how all at once he lived in a world where objects for use made no sense anymore?

last weeks I made several large photo books. Glossy real photo paper. Used Lightroom and Capture One. The latter allows more tweeking. Turns out: the Lightroom pictures are great, the Capture one prints (photo prints) not sharp. Just lack the detail. On screen no difference. How come? Well, in C1-20 I get all kinds of control but nowhere (not in help, not in tutorials) I can find information how the sharpening should be set for a glossy print 30x45. In LR is is just a simple output selector. I will probably not buy the next upgrade of C1.

 

[Axel]

Also, any camera which has not too many dials could be easily made as simple by enabling firmware and software configuration to select, assign and disable menus.
It is nothing but programming, could be done now almost with any digital camera. Except Leica may be, they still don't know much about programming and thier cameras are primitive naturally.
While paid for marketing people at canosonics still stuck in the outdated doctrine what more menus are more sales.

It´s the same problem on the "canosonics" side that their programmers always seem to win against the photographers I guess.
And it seems that we are a bit oldschool in our wishes? Perhaps we are simply a minority.

 

[jsrockit]

One camera that goes overlooked is the Sony Rx1rii. Yes it is a Sony. Yes it has Sony menus that are convoluted. But once you set it up, it is an absolute joy to use and most importantly, disappears in use. It has 2 dials on top, a settings dial to switch between M and A and an exposure comp dial, one custom button, and then a nifty switch on the front near the lens for AF/MF toggling. It is small, it is simple, it shoots everything from landscape to macro, has one of the best high res sensors ever made, a half decent EVF, and a killer 35mm Zeiss Sonnar lens (I think it is the 5th best 35mm lens ever made according to DXO). The two downsides are focus by wire for MF and poor battery life. No camera is perfect, but this one comes awfully close and I know there are many others who would sing its praise as well. It's the camera Leica should have made.

Nobody is overlooking this ergonomic nightmare... 😉 we are well aware of it. It is the antithesis of a Leica. The Q and Q2 is the camera Leica made instead.

 

[David Hughes]

Film cameras used to have cpu's in them but in those days cameras were designed by photographers and they told the computer people what they wanted.


Later on the computer people took over design and added, as they do, everything they could think of and a bit more to impress people as that's what computers are all about.



If you want proof look how big numbers seem to define cameras these days but what has it got to do wit making a decent print once a certain point is reached?


Regards, David

 

[Alberti]

Also, any camera which has not too many dials could be easily made as simple by enabling firmware and software configuration to select, assign and disable menus.
It is nothing but programming, could be done now almost with any digital camera. Except Leica may be, they still don't know much about programming and thier cameras are primitive naturally.
While paid for marketing people at canosonics still stuck in the outdated doctrine what more menus are more sales.

Quite agree including the rambam :bang: against the stupid canosonies. It is also the comparation sites that list points given for a camera. You have to have all features. Even though many features have no future.
In my wife's Fuji many knobs can be disabled but that is still complicated: what are the consequences. Even for me though I graduated in some techie stuff 😀

 

[jsrockit]

And it seems that we are a bit oldschool in our wishes? Perhaps we are simply a minority.

Yes, go to dpreview.com and you quickly realize that’s the case.

 

[David Hughes]

Ah - I guess you are talking about system flashes. There is no standard.
And never was. Not even brand-specific.

But standard sync, by hot shoe or cable, works from oldest to youngest across
all brands.

Yes, that was my point. It would be nice to have a (set in stone) simple standard that they all followed. Life would then be a lot simpler; as it was when I used a Vivitar flash (? 2xxx ?).


The earliest dedicated flash I've come across was with the Mamiya 135 EE of 1977; it had a flash ready LED in the viewfinder and an extra contact in the hot shoe. Finding one that worked for the collection took a long time. Thinking about "simplicity", that would be enough for me but those flashes and cameras were both set up manually...


Regards, David

 

[Sierra Club]

A digital FM2 would be ideal IMHO.

Not plasticky point-and-shoot toy looking like FM2.
Just a simple ~21MP digital sensor enclosed in FM2 without any other changes.
Same materials, same robustness, same ergonomics and simplicity.

 

[raydm6]

Other than my latest iPhone (11 at the moment), no I don't have a desire to own one although the Fuji X100V looks tempting as a carry about shooter.

My last digital camera purchase was a Canon S90 in 2009 I believe and occasionally take it out to shoot. It's the size of a pack of cigarettes with a 28-105mm f/2.0-4.9 optical lens range. It came in handy along with my phone when I traveled to Europe and I took some nice shots with it. The 28mm allowed me to get those tight spot shots. Although 10 megapixels, the quality is fine for my purposes.

 

[jsrockit]

A digital FM2 would be ideal IMHO.

Not plasticky point-and-shoot toy looking like FM2.
Just a simple ~21MP digital sensor enclosed in FM2 without any other changes.
Same materials, same robustness, same ergonomics and simplicity.

Yeah, it would, but would you spend $5,000 for it?

 

[Sierra Club]

Yes I would.

In fact I'd sell most of my digital photo gear to buy it.
I'd leave just one Leica M and and old film Nikon F to complement it.

Never had a need for matrix metering, 12800 ISO and fifty video modes.

Funny trivia, $364 in 1982 is worth $982 today.

 

[jsrockit]

Yes I would.

Good to hear... I might as well. 🙂

 

[FranZ]

It is allready in production and won'breaj the bank.

It is allready in production and won'breaj the bank.

On most Fuji's, once setup, you can set aperture, shutterspeed, iso and exposioncompensation thru dials, and move the focus point with a joystick. You czn even format your SD card without delving into the menu's.
How simple do you want to get it?
My first VW Golf had just 4 speeds,1 rear mirror, and no buttons for Radio, navigation or AC (Simply not available)
I do like simplicity, but I prefer the relitive complexity of my current car.

 

[jsrockit]

How simple do you want to get it?

Again, we all set-up our cameras as simple as we like... but this thread isn't about that. It is about a camera that is simple to begin with so you do not have to set-it up. I'm a fuji user. There is A LOT of crap I have to turn off before I like it. Since I have no other choice...it is fine. However, I can't pretend it wouldn't be really nice to have the simplicity of a film camera in digital. Pull it out of the box, set the ISO, shutter speed, aperture and use it.