DSLRs a dying breed? Interesting video with Trey Ratcliff

[Black Pearl]

Got a Fuji REAL 3D W3 camera in my bag right now, been playing with it for about a week and I have to say the results when viewed on our LG 3D TV are amazing.

Slow, not very wide and its a very different discipline to learn but I'm enjoying the experience and I've a few shots that I have never produced before....got to be a good thing for my photography.

[Hansm]

Thats exactly Sony's problem in a 'compact' market. It has a larger sensor and therefore needs larger lenses, their new 55-200mm is as big as a Canon 55-200mm....whats the point in that.

The Sony lenses are big. No discussion about that. But you can use a M Adapter and mount the Zeiss or Leica M lenses on it. Makes is more compact. You miss AF but not so sure if this is the biggest issue. I'm not talking about common PS shooters but more serious kind of photographers at this point.

[FrankMi]

Funny no-one has mentioned 3D.

Hi Peter! Until there is an easy way to view 3D images, there likely won't be much general acceptance of 3D photographs.

Over 40 years ago I had a split mirror device that would attach to my SLR and create two image 3D pictures in a single frame, but when the pictures were printed, you had to manually cut the print down the center and mount each side in a viewer to see them in 3D. But then, 3D B&W movies were the rage as well.

[Boatman]

Terrific photo Rob!

I've never owned a DSLR. I went from a 2MP rangefinder Olympus to an Dimage A2 with an EVF then a GH2. The only advantage I can see to a mirror/optical viewfinder is that with an EVF you are always about 1/10 of a second behind the action - not good for high speed action photography.

As far as lighting, coloration, detail, and most importanly in-viewer information, the new EVFs are wonderful. All that data is there anyway, why duplicate it with a complicated live, optical viewfinder? Of course, this only matters if you actually put your eye to the camera, which others have noted, most people don't!

[Black Pearl]

The Sony lenses are big. No discussion about that. But you can use a M Adapter and mount the Zeiss or Leica M lenses on it. Makes is more compact. You miss AF but not so sure if this is the biggest issue. I'm not talking about common PS shooters but more serious kind of photographers at this point.

Yeah I've tried that........NEX5n with a Leica Noctilux-M 50 mm f/0.95 ASPH on the front. Weird lens and a bit of a pain to use but fascinating experiment.

[PBelarge]

I shot for years (more than 10) with a variety of point and shoot type cameras. I moved to DSLR about 3 1/2 years ago. To me there is no better feeling than packing my bag/pack, going to shoot with a variety of lenses and a honking big pro series body. I have learned how to make the best out of different lighting with the camera/lens/filters. I also own an s95 and really enjoy using it, but it does not bring me the joy of a dSLR.

[Shadowman]

I think video and still photography will blend technologies, you often see it now in films that show four or five second landscapes and in photography with slide shows.

http://www.visionresearch.com/Gallery/

[Steaphany]

Funny no-one has mentioned 3D.

Surely this is the next frontier in cameras.

Not really, 3D cameras have been around for quite some time. Kodak made this guy back in the mid 1950's:

Kodak Stereo Camera From Wikipedia

I do not recall if it was a Kodak or some other brand, but I was given a stereo camera way back as a child, I never used it much, and don't know what ever came of it.

Back then they weren't called 3D, they were Stereo Cameras - New, maybe for digital, but for photography, no, sorry.

[Hansm]

I shot for years (more than 10) with a variety of point and shoot type cameras. I moved to DSLR about 3 1/2 years ago. To me there is no better feeling than packing my bag/pack, going to shoot with a variety of lenses and a honking big pro series body. I have learned how to make the best out of different lighting with the camera/lens/filters. I also own an s95 and really enjoy using it, but it does not bring me the joy of a dSLR.

I am happy that now more and more system cameras are coming to thr market with hybrid or electronic view finders.
The weight of my stuff is getting a pain to carry with me.
Just found a article about fuji launching their new pro-x with interchangeable lenses within the next days.
This also looks very promissing and can make the choice more difficult to go for Sony Nex7 or the new Fuji Pro.

[Inkanyezi]

I am happy that now more and more system cameras are coming to thr market with hybrid or electronic view finders.

I haven't seen a system with a hybrid viewfinder yet, but it seems as Fuji might make one. Their x100 is the only hybrid VF I know of.

But the general impression expressed by Trey Ratcliff is undeniable. The DSLR is a parenthesis in the history of photography.

[speedneeder]

...It is stange as you mention the hold we have on old technology. Having just entered the DSLR world within the last year I don't want to see it go and am already wondering if I could be retro before mastering many aspects of the DSLR and PP skills.

This is about where I am at Scott.
However, I will say that whenever I look at the 'small' cameras, and I do often, I only look at them as an addition to my dslr. Two things strike me every time I pick one up and check it out - first, the menu driven systems. There is no way I could take the photos I take now at my kids ball games with one of those!? second, I just don't like the feel of the smaller camera in my hands honestly - one of the reasons I bought a 60D over the latest rebel was that the rebels just seem to small!

That said, there are times when I wish my camera gear was smaller. It's not a problem at all for me when it's all I'm carrying, but when I'm trying to carry other stuff too it can be a bother for sure. Also not great for long hikes in the hills, which I've been known to take from time to time. So yes, I am interested in a smaller system, but I haven't found it yet.

[Hansm]

I haven't seen a system with a hybrid viewfinder yet, but it seems as Fuji might make one. Their x100 is the only hybrid VF I know of.

But the general impression expressed by Trey Ratcliff is undeniable. The DSLR is a parenthesis in the history of photography.

I wanted to point to this one:
http://fujifilm-x.com/x-pro1/en/index.html
Will be available very soon AFAIK.

[Letrow]

Funny, reading this thread after a couple of days. I get all the arguments, including the attachment that some of the above have for a nice hefty DSLR. Actually, I am one of those
But I also remember that back in the late nineties I was glad to get a smaller camera to carry around, after years of lugging the Nikon FE2 and an assortment of lenses around. The first digital camera (a Coolpix) was great for me, although the quality was low, but at that time it didn't bother me.

In the end I think I would miss just a few photo opportunities if a good small camera came into the market and would prompt me to make the switch. And even that is questionable. Macro photos? I have done some nice macro photos with my Ricoh GX200. Not as good as the Nikkor 105mm would give me, but hey, that Ricoh camera was introduced a couple of years ago, so a lot of improvements have hit the markets since then.

M4/3 is not for me. It is lighter than the DSLR of course, but it is still a system with exchangeable lenses and the 'small' argument doesn't really apply to these cameras I think. They still don't fit into my pocket (unless you limit yourself to a small model camera and one particular lens).

I am definitely a Nikon person, but I have to say that I am curious about the recently announced Canon G1 X. On paper, with the huge sensor it sports, this could be interesting. A hefty price tag though. For that kind of money you could also buy a system camera (DSLR or M4/3).
But size could matter in this case. Smaller is better sometimes

[Glenn NK]

It is stange as you mention the hold we have on old technology. Having just entered the DSLR world within the last year I don't want to see it go and am already wondering if I could be retro before mastering many aspects of the DSLR and PP skills.

This somehow reminds me of what Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) said back in 1897;

"the report of my death was an exaggeration".

Even though it's been demonstrated that 4 megapixels will produce as good resolution as at typical colour film (same sensor/film sizes), there are people that think my 8.1 MP 30D is outdated, and ask why don't I upgrade?

For those who worry about their current DSLR's being soon outdated, I suggest that the worrying is needless - at least for the next ten days.

I can readily see the move to cameras without moving mirrors for size, weight, and durability reasons (could add noise to that too), but based on physics (not wishful thinking or the blind trust in endless technology):

a) larger sensors will produce better results than smaller ones no matter what the technology,

b) larger sensors require larger lenses,

Show me a way out of this.

Glenn

[Markvetnz]

I can hold the thing in both hands and it feels good and solid. I took a few snaps for people last week using their CSC cameras and they all felt light weight and "plasticky" to me.
I hate liveview - always lags behind a bit and because I have fiftyitis (Presbyopia), I can never see the thing
without specs on.
I can change settings blindfold in an instant and not miss too many shots.
I can easily get into spots that would be inaccessible carrying a CSC. No one asks too many questions when I'm there with a 1D iv and a 400mm lens. Not even the pros there - they just assume I'm a freelancer. Love it!! In fact some of them ask me for my opinion from time to time.
Some shots I just wouldn't get with a smaller lens. Can you put an 800mm lens on a CSC? - genuine question.

I think for Joe Public the new CSC's will be more than adequate but for people serious about photography and producing quality images then the DSLR will rule for a while yet.

[Black Pearl]

The Nikon 1 has a F Mount adapter available meaning you can put SLR lenses on it.....including a 800mm.....except it will then be a 2160mm lens on a body that can focus faster than a D3x (Nikon have said this) and run at 60fps. You could of course crop the centre from a D3x image to get the same length but you'd end up with less pixels.

[thequacksoflife]

Robin....

http://www.sansmirror.com/newsviews/...pdate-110.html

tells you something about the limitations of the FT1

[thequacksoflife]

I can easily get into spots that would be inaccessible carrying a CSC. No one asks too many questions when I'm there with a 1D iv and a 400mm lens. Not even the pros there - they just assume I'm a freelancer. Love it!! In fact some of them ask me for my opinion from time to time.

I think for Joe Public the new CSC's will be more than adequate but for people serious about photography and producing quality images then the DSLR will rule for a while yet.

and of course some things you can't easily do with a big dSLR - street photography? why people use Leica's ! try negotiating the tube in London...... horses for courses!

as to the last point....http://www.sansmirror.com/articles/gain-and-loss.html I think the pic at the end of this is pretty damned fine!

As to

[Shadowman]

I can hold the thing in both hands and it feels good and solid. I took a few snaps for people last week using their CSC cameras and they all felt light weight and "plasticky" to me.
I hate liveview - always lags behind a bit and because I have fiftyitis (Presbyopia), I can never see the thing
without specs on.
I can change settings blindfold in an instant and not miss too many shots.
I can easily get into spots that would be inaccessible carrying a CSC. No one asks too many questions when I'm there with a 1D iv and a 400mm lens. Not even the pros there - they just assume I'm a freelancer. Love it!! In fact some of them ask me for my opinion from time to time.
Some shots I just wouldn't get with a smaller lens. Can you put an 800mm lens on a CSC? - genuine question.

I think for Joe Public the new CSC's will be more than adequate but for people serious about photography and producing quality images then the DSLR will rule for a while yet.

Not sure if this relates to your camera but I have the Olympus EPL1 and it has an adapter that allows you to use third party and Digital 4/3rds lenses. The micro 4/3rd lenses are light weight but the standard lenses are heavy as heck. The standard lens that I bought (70-300mm) costs $400.00 with a $170 adapter, the same focal length micro lens cost $900. so going cheap costs you later in exertion. You hardly notice the weight difference when you are carrying the camera in your bag, but if you are handholding the system it takes a toll after a few hours.