Andrew Fildes wrote:
> The different LCD format would not only allow the use of standard display
> modules but the 'dead space' allows for an information bar at top or bottom.
> That was one thing I liked about the Leica M8 - instant readout of the
> shutter speed, aperture and ISO on a strip across the top of the review would
> be nice.
>
Just went through the dpreview preview. It does exactly what you want
with a status bar along the bottom and can be wet to any of the three
formats.
> Designs have gone very conservative in recent years - in effect, almost all
> the cameras now available are VERY similar to the last of the film cameras,
> in both SLR and compact designs.
Exactly. Where form truly follows function, that's fine with me, but
where it avoids finding new forms to match new functionality, it's
frustrating.
> The exception are the handbag compacts like the Oly mju 1040 sitting on my
> desk right now and I suspect that the ultraslim large LCD designs are
> acceptable to the public because of the prevalence of devices like cell
> phones, Palm Pilots and iPods which are not dissimilar.
>
I suspect this is a case where the form made posible by new technology
is so compelling that it breaks through previous norms. At least
initially, the buyers for these designs were young people with no sense
of traditional camera forms, or at least no attachment to them.
The Oly D-460 sitting on my desk is certainly a slavish copy of the
stylus film cameras, although bigger. Hard to blame them for trying
reduce FUD to make digital seem just like the cameras their customers
were used to.
> This is one of the reasons that I'm collecting (rather haphazardly) the weird
> designs of the mid-nineties to early noughties - I do not think that we'll
> see their like again. The opportunity to really rethink and redesign the
> camera as we know it has perished under the storm surge of consumer market
> conservatism.
I'm more optimistic than you. I'm hoping one of the smaller players,
especially if share is slipping, will take a risk on something new.
> If there is to be something clever done with micro-TwoThirds, a rangefinder
> is my last, best hope.
>
This is something I've heard a lot. I'm not sure I understand. Do you
mean, in effect, a mechanical rangefinder camera with digital sensor in
place of the film? Or something that emulates the small size and form
factor of classic rangefinders, and uses an optical viewfinder (fixed
magnification?), with or without LCD, but with AF?
It's my impression that AF is more accurate than a mechanical
rangefinder, but I've never used any of the premium rangefinders. I use
only the central AF spot on my digital cameras and they seem to be very
accurate.
Its also my understanding that WA coverage with a rangefinder depends on
the overall FOV of the optical finder or requires an auxiliary finder;
and that tele framing is simply a small frame in the center of the fixed
magnification viewfinder.
None of that seems very appealing to me. One of the reasons I've never
been attracted to rangefinders compared to SLRs.
I think micro 4/3 should be able to emulate the size, noise, quickness
and unobtrusiveness of the classic rangefinder cameras, but can also
improve on them by taking advantage of new technology. I honestly think
that twist and tilt LCDs are far superior for candid/street photography
to any sort of viewfinder that requires sticking the camera in front of
your face to take the shot. Their ability to extend viewpoints over the
edge of things, over head and down to ground level without acrobatics
also seem to be an advantage over conventional rangefinder design. I
certainly find them wonderful to use.
Is this a nostalgia thing that has nothing to do with facility in
capturing images? I can understand that, although if that's what it is,
why not just shoot film with the real thing?
I've combined bits from two Oly Sixes into one that appears fully
functional and acquired some 120 film. The GE and Weston meters are
still accurate enough. I also found out how to calibrate the Walz
auxiliary rangefinder reasonably well, too. Now I just have to get out
and try it. That's harder than I thought, so far. ;-)
Moose
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