Well, 2007 has arrived! CES and Macworld have both taken place and showed us technology that I can't wait to get my hands on (the iPhone, specifically :)
but what's next in the camera world? mostly in the DSLR world? there wasn't much said at the CES about photography, sure exilim had a few booths and a new compact with a big zoom...but no huge advances. is there anything exciting to look forward this year in the way of Digital SLRs?

what do you think will be the big advancement this year?

what would you like to see happen this year?

Originally Posted by rosselliot ... is there anything exciting to look forward this year in the way of Digital SLRs? what do you think will be the big advancement this year? what would you like to see happen this year?

It's only January 12, where I live anyway. Plenty of year left for lots of new and expensive stuff.

I'm personally hoping for the new 64 gigabyte imaging chips which fit the new quantum worm-hole lenses. These contraptions can photograph a gnat from two miles away, and then zoom back to encompass the equivalent of a 3mm lens on a full-frame medium format camera. Apertures are rumored to be from f.5 to f256 with perfect bokeh at all openings. Prices haven't been announced, but if you have to ask ... (Wicked problem with singularities apprearing and sucking up the camera and user.)

OK, I took the "other" meds now.

The truth is that there will undoubtably be more pixels in the near future, I would guess a Canon 5Ds with 16 MP is not too far away. The Canon 1D series is about due for something new, but anybody's guess what that might be.

Nikon has been rumored to have a newer D2 series camera in the works. Thom Hogan is the Nikon fortune teller, and you can check his predictions for accuracy:

http://www.bythom.com/2003predictions.htm
http://www.bythom.com/2004predictions.htm
http://www.bythom.com/2005predictions.htm
http://www.bythom.com/2006predictions.htm
http://www.bythom.com/roadmap.htm

(While Thom has been fairly accurate in his predictions, only one thing appears to be sure; that he will have more predictions.)

I am also wishing that this is the year of the "affordable medium format". I would not be too surprised to see this market explode at some point as the 35mm crop dSLR market gets more congested and true earnings erode for the major players. A much larger format under $10,000USD could be very interresting.

One thing I am pretty sure will happen in the next few years is the ability of a digital camera to map planes within the image using distance information, and then record that mapping for software to convert into layers. Imagine mapping a "subject" as a seperate layer automatically, so that the subject layer can be further refined, or seperated out, or ... (the mind wanders here.) That information could also be used to make multiple instantaneous flash exposures, so that each layer receives a more appropriate illumination.

Lots more but, I digress,

ziggy53

Personally I would love to see true flexable focusing (such as my KM A2 had)....where the focus pont could actuall be moved pretty much infinitely around the view finder and not just a series of stationary ponts that are nver exactly where you need them...

Originally Posted by Art Scott Personally I would love to see true flexable focusing (such as my KM A2 had)....where the focus pont could actuall be moved pretty much infinitely around the view finder and not just a series of stationary ponts that are nver exactly where you need them...

Hi, Art, they have a new concept which has just hit the market....

It is called "Manual Focus" and you follow your subject and use the ring on the lens to keep the subject in focus as it moves. Never have to worry about the right "pont" then. I have been using it in the beta version and I love it. Easiest focusing I ever tried. Also makes lenses a lot less expensive and the price can then be put back into better optics. How about a f .5 300 mm tele for under $300.00? Yeah, I wish.

Originally Posted by mikeb380 Hi, Art, they have a new concept which has just hit the market.... It is called "Manual Focus" and you follow your subject and use the ring on the lens to keep the subject in focus as it moves. Never have to worry about the right "pont" then. I have been using it in the beta version and I love it. Easiest focusing I ever tried. Also makes lenses a lot less expensive and the price can then be put back into better optics. How about a f .5 300 mm tele for under $300.00? Yeah, I wish.

Michael,

I use manual focus a lot, but the simple ground glass finder and darker, reduced image of the average crop dSLR camera make it pretty difficult without either a focussing aid, like a replacement focus screen or viewfinder magnifier, and/or focus confirmation, like many cameras allow or which you must purchase in a seperate product, like Canon forces you to do.

Focus screen:
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=49285
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=20676
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=48954


Viewfinder magnifier:
http://www.dgrin.com/showpost.php?p=166174&postcount=21


Canon Focus Confirmation:
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=35188
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=38398

ziggy53

Originally Posted by mikeb380 Hi, Art, they have a new concept which has just hit the market.... It is called "Manual Focus" and you follow your subject and use the ring on the lens to keep the subject in focus as it moves. Never have to worry about the right "pont" then. I have been using it in the beta version and I love it. Easiest focusing I ever tried. Also makes lenses a lot less expensive and the price can then be put back into better optics. How about a f .5 300 mm tele for under $300.00? Yeah, I wish.

I don't think I was being unrealistic....the KM A2 has true flexable focus and it made life a lot easier at times for me, when shooting thru obsticles that made even manual focus very hard.....now manual focus....I too have been using it for just a tad over 40 yrs...so now I am ready to upgrade and make my life a little easier at times....one of the reasons for me shooting KM DSLr's is where the MF button is located...basically directly above my right thumb when I am shooting and I do find myself using manual focus a lot especially when it is not really bright outside....

And as ZIGGY mentioned without spending extra (sometimes a lot extra) on different ground glass, etc etc.... focusing in can be very difficult even in manual mode......

So to get waht I need for those really tricky to focus shots I will probably find me another A2 or A200 and settle for that.

Originally Posted by Art Scott ...... So to get waht I need for those really tricky to focus shots I will probably find me another A2 or A200 and settle for that.

Art,

I plan on keeping my KM A2 until one of us dies (could go either way.)

I still regard it as the best of the "shooters" 8MP advanced digicams. All of the 8MP digicams were compromises in design, but FlexFocus and image stabilization and a decent manual zoom and decent accessories make it a camera I continue to have "fun" with.

A single bag holds everything I need for most informal photography. (I use a Vivitar 285HV for that camera on a side-handle bracket. The Minolta flashes were a bit pricey for what they were, and the Vivitar works predictably in either auto or manual mode.)

I'd love to see you back in the "club" of happy A2 owners.

ziggy53

Originally Posted by ziggy53 ... I am also wishing that this is the year of the "affordable medium format". I would not be too surprised to see this market explode at some point as the 35mm crop dSLR market gets more congested and true earnings erode for the major players. A much larger format under $10,000USD could be very interresting. ... ziggy53

Re-reading my comments, what I really meant was not just under $10,000, but "considerably" under $10,000.

ziggy53

Originally Posted by ziggy53 One thing I am pretty sure will happen in the next few years is the ability of a digital camera to map planes within the image using distance information, and then record that mapping for software to convert into layers. Imagine mapping a "subject" as a seperate layer automatically, so that the subject layer can be further refined, or seperated out, or ... (the mind wanders here.) That information could also be used to make multiple instantaneous flash exposures, so that each layer receives a more appropriate illumination. ziggy53

Imagined Layered Mind Mapping? Nah, I gave that up in the '70s!

One thing I am pretty sure will happen in the next few years is the ability of a digital camera to map planes within the image[/QUOTE]
And this will lead to no more OOF shots one day

Originally Posted by Andy Originally Posted by ziggy53 One thing I am pretty sure will happen in the next few years is the ability of a digital camera to map planes within the image And this will lead to no more OOF shots one day

Focus Bracketing is one concept that is coming of age for macro work, but has ramifications for the future in general photography as well. Imagine a portrait with an f1.4 of f1.2 lens that has focus bracketing at fine increments of maybe 10 steps fore and aft. Of course, the mirror will probably be locked up, but it will be cool. (Assuming dSLRs even have mirrors in "that future".)

ziggy53

I would like to see a new 12MP sensor with the dynamic range and sensitivity equal to that of the human eye. Is that too much to ask?

Also, I'd like to see an extremely sharp 10-500mm constant f/1.8 lens that is compact as Nikons 18-200mm VR. Again....too much to ask? LOL Ok I'm dreaming...but maybe sometime in the future we can have something like that.