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Dumb Things Camera Companies are Still Doing

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Re: Dumb Things Camera Companies are Still Doing

#161
post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They're not choosing to compete with smartphones - smartphones are eating into their market thus forcing competition. As smartphone cameras have improved the more they've eaten into the market. Note that this argument does not require that all users of their cameras would ever consider using a smartphone instead.

What market? Smartphones and high end cameras aren't really comparable. They compete in the sense that they're both able to take pictures, but they don't compete across all possible dimensions. I mean, I could be wrong, but these don't look like substitute goods. Smartphones and crappy cameras certainly are, but not not smartphones and high-end cameras. But using cheaper parts does make cameras crappier, so doing so…

The point is that as software improves, phone cameras are starting to compete in the traditional dslr arena. On my last vacation I took a roughly 50/50 split in pictures between my dslr and iphone7+.

Of course the dslr can do more, but the ease that a phone + software can make a wide range of really nice pics is eating into the consumer level dslr market. I like taking pictures, so I don't mind fidgeting on my dslr for the perfect shot. Meanwhile my wife has taken multiple great looking pics on her phone is wondering what I'm doing ;)

Re: Dumb Things Camera Companies are Still Doing

#162
post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

DSLR camera bodies aren't cast aluminium; they're cast magnesium (which contain 10 % aluminium or so).

Which DSLRs? All the ones I've seen and handled have been PC-GF30 or something very similar.

The low-end ones are wound around some folded sheet steel core; but higher end DSLRs have cast cases. Gripping surfaces are rubberized.

Re: Dumb Things Camera Companies are Still Doing

#163
post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Given that you're often hand holding a camera, being lighter is a significant advantage, it can often be the difference between a stable or a blurred shot. Lighter camera ~ more vibrations.

Not when you hold it in you hands, which is the clearly stated premise.

No. Hand-held a heavier camera gives you less shake, unless it is too heavy to hold continuously without quivering.

Re: Dumb Things Camera Companies are Still Doing

#164
As said in this [1] article, one of the worst thing camera makers are guilty of is not slapping Android on their cameras to open up th instant publication, photo manipulation, etc. It's a shame that a professional camera is 90% of the time simply not as useful as a smartphone, even ... as a camera.

[1]: https://mondaynote.com/memo-to-camera-makers-put-android-in-...

Re: Dumb Things Camera Companies are Still Doing

#165

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The BMPCC has a rolling shutter. Some other Blackmagic cameras have global shutter. I don't personally think there is a huge difference unless you're doing fast camera movement` I think the video quality is down to reasonably high dynamic range sensor, and RAW sequence capture, meaning you can actually access all that dynamic range

I thought they added a switchable global shutter mode, no? Maybe i'm getting it confused with another model. Probably! I'm only now looking into DSLR's for a low-light option. Funnily enough, the ones that stand out to me are the Samsung NX1 and the Fuji XT2. Samsung oddly has great motion cadence, but awful macro-blocking. Fuji, unsurprisingly, has beautiful colours. Unfortunately both are only 8 bit, which is kind…

Sony A7r ii is the low light king, there is a new version due in the next couple of months.

I am not going to be buying another camera with 8bit video, so will be holding out until there are more 10bit options out there. HEVC has a 10bit profile and it will be everywhere because of HDR TV's and phones, but might take a year or two to get popular in cameras.

Re: Dumb Things Camera Companies are Still Doing

#166
post #164

As said in this [1] article, one of the worst thing camera makers are guilty of is not slapping Android on their cameras to open up th instant publication, photo manipulation, etc. It's a shame that a professional camera is 90% of the time simply not as useful as a smartphone, even ... as a camera. [1]: https://mondaynote.com/memo-to-camera-makers-put-android-in-...

If Android is on a camera, I want some sort of a hypervisor situation where it does not interfere with real-time operations. My Canon T4i will very responsively snap a picture once I have locked the focus, aperture, and shutter speed. I do not want to lose that and "gain" lagdroid.

Re: Dumb Things Camera Companies are Still Doing

#167
post #164

As said in this [1] article, one of the worst thing camera makers are guilty of is not slapping Android on their cameras to open up th instant publication, photo manipulation, etc. It's a shame that a professional camera is 90% of the time simply not as useful as a smartphone, even ... as a camera. [1]: https://mondaynote.com/memo-to-camera-makers-put-android-in-...

Battery life could be a concern. While using my Nikon DSLR I won't turn it off at all until I'm done for the day and that seems to barely affect the battery. I can leave it in a drawer for months, pick it up and snap a hundred pictures and put it back in the drawer for a few more months and the battery is still fine. In fact, I'd be surprised if I charge it more than once a year (mind you, since phone cameras became good enough I have very little use for my DSLR.)

I love Android (I've only had Android phones since my first smartphone), but battery efficiency is definitely not its strong suit, even on a clean install on a flagship phone.

Re: Dumb Things Camera Companies are Still Doing

#169

I love 1/4-20 sockets. Attach my camera to a flash bracket? Yep. Attach an eyebolt to attach a carabiner to attach a neck strap? Yep. Attach a hand strap or a 40mm, 80mm, or 200mm Arca Swiss plate. Yep. Yep, Yep and Yep. There's nothing stopping a photographer from permanently attaching an Arca-Swiss plate to the bottom of a camera body with a bit of cyanoacrylate or some screws if it makes better photographs. For me…

No kidding on standard components. When we have family gatherings and want to take a self timer group shot and I don't have a tripod, the shade attachment screw at the top of a lamp usually fits into my camera's tripod socket. The shade mount is sturdy enough to hold A small camera in place while also allowing enough pivoting and turning to frame up the shot.

Re: Dumb Things Camera Companies are Still Doing

#170
post #117
post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What market? Smartphones and high end cameras aren't really comparable. They compete in the sense that they're both able to take pictures, but they don't compete across all possible dimensions. I mean, I could be wrong, but these don't look like substitute goods. Smartphones and crappy cameras certainly are, but not not smartphones and high-end cameras. But using cheaper parts does make cameras crappier, so doing so…

but these don't look like substitute goods I know lots of people who used to carry DSLRs everywhere but who now only carry their iPhone.

I'm actively trying to become one of those people. The weight alone is a pain while traveling/hiking.
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