around the net 20 , red hot DSLR wars
The SLR wars are blazing. First, the Canon 50d and it’s 15.1 mega pixel sensor was introduced earlier this week. The next day Nikon’s 12.3 mega pixel D90 with groundbreaking HD movie mode was introduced. The internet is awash in information on these two new cameras. And there’s also talk of Canon introducing a 5D mkII with 21 mega pixel sensor and full HD movie mode. Things are moving fast all of a sudden, in anticipation of the Photokina 2008 trade show in Cologne, Germany.
I have a whole bunch of thoughts on each camera and we’ve been discussing gear a bit more often here prophotolife. Here are some great posts that communicate much of what I’ve been pondering:
1. How will the new movie making capabilities of the Nikon D90 affect the future of digital SLRs? Well, this DSLR shows the way the industry is changing, not just with the features of the product but also in the way it was released. David Hobby at the Strobist presents a bunch of info and a thought provoking editorial on the D90 release.
2. I had never visited foto-biz.com until today and I really like their concise but informative posts. The one that first attracted me was titled Groupies and the D90, where they point out finding 641 indexed sites mentioning the Nikon D90 just 4 hours after the camera’s announcement. Hmmm, does that qualify as hysteria?
3. With Canon releasing excellent $1400 cameras like the new 50d, is there a still a need for an $8000 1Ds mkIII, even for professionals? Mike Fox, professional photojournalist, shares his perspective in STOP THE MADNESS!!! (thoughts on camera gear).
Add in the cool lenses being released: the Canon 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 IS and the Nikon 18-105mm f3.5-5.6 VR and you have a big week in photography. The top photo suppliers are already buzzing with pre-orders for these new goodies, including prophotolife site affiliate Calumet (get Free Shipping Over $75 at Calumet Photographic).
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Nikon has come on really strong in the last year, closing the gap on Canon with stellar releases like the D300, D3, D700 and now the D80. And look here, they’re also now partnering with Microsoft, whose Photosynth technology we discussed earlier in the week. Expect more new technology from this partnership.
Olympus, Pentax and Sony have yet to leak info on their new models for next month’s Photokina but I hope they’re able to make a great leap forward to keep up with the “big 2”. It will be interesting to see what they present.
Monday is a national holiday here in the U.S. but count on a new video being posted for your enjoyment, the third in the portrait series. I’m actually taking a much needed and long overdue vacation from the studio next week (hours have been long) but I’ll be posting to prophotolife, as usual, maybe from the road on a little trip. We’ll see. Sooner or later I’ll work in a little vacation from blogging, too, but one step at a time…
Have a great weekend, see you on Monday!
- Jim T.
While Nikon’s D90 definately looks like winner, Vincent Laforet raises some valid concerns in his blog (http://vincentlaforet.wordpress.com/) about what kind of impact video feature might have to sports photographers life at events, where television companies are jealous about their rights to be sole provider of video stream.
Seems like an interesting time for DSLRs.
The Megapixel wars continue. It seems like noise is the new megapixel, as far as wars go.
I *just* bought a 40D. I decided not to wait for the 50D. I have used a 350D (Digital Rebel XT) for 2 years.
Now, it could be that my view is skewed coming from the 350D, but the 40D noise, even at ISO1600 equivalent is *really* low.
I understand that from a technological viewpoint (and an engineering standpoint) you can almost always make a system better.
From a photography viewpoint though, isn’t this the “too much is never enough” mindset?
One (though somewhat suspect) analogy is the cell phone business (handset makers). Cell phones can do a dozen things, but a dozen mediocre things usually. Each life cycle they want to cram more and more features into a cell phone. It’s not a perfect comparison, to be sure, but there’s still a potentially valid point in there somewhere.
I’ll stop rambling now….
I’m glad to hear you’re able to take a vacation, Jim! They often come too late. Hopefully you find yours relaxing and enjoyable.
The news of both cameras is pretty exciting for sure! It’s fun to watch the wars going on.
I wonder how useful video recording will turn out to be on dSLRs… As of now, it’s certainly not anything I care to have included in my next camera upgrade. It won’t have much influence on my decision when it’s time to upgrade. Lens mounts, low noise and probably full frame are going to be top priorities.
I really appreciate hearing the thoughts on current cameras you all have shared (I wonder if any manufacturer reps have been listening?). It’s amazing to me that so many DSLR models are out there. How many flavors of camera does the world really want? Do we really need Diet Vanilla Caffeine Free Cherry Vanilla Flavored Coke?
The cell phone analogy is a good one…will some DSLRs become more like electronic appliances (video, mp3)? And will others evolve on a different path for the serious hobbyist with better dynamic range, lower still noise?
The bottom line is that any $600 DSLR you buy today pretty much smokes anything available (at any price) from 4 years ago. But does it enhance our photographic experience? I’m excited to try some of these different cameras but all of these new features are making it harder for me to figure out what to buy, not easier!
Enjoy a lot your vacation
!!! relax and enjoy it a lot B-)
I am really more excited that Nikon did the movie feature not because I want to see it in more digital SLRs, but because it could be the start of film cameras with big sensors using 35mm lenses DOF control! without needing to sell your kidneys to have it
where is new 5d?
Thanks for the round up on gear news. I’m not so interested in all the itty bitty technical differences each camera touts but the video capability is certainly a first and seeing the sample clips is really eye-opening. I’m almost regretting getting my HD handycam that’s only a couple hundred $$’s less than a D90! Much smaller though and better audio…but still… small sensor. I’d rather have another SLR body.
Yea, stop the camera “war”. What i would like to see is something more like a simple, plain camera without all the bells and whistles, made to be used fully manual, but yet very high quality. I stumbled across this image of a camera a month ago or so, probably just someone playing in PS. But if that could be bought for money, any money, i guess me and my bank would get happy, and my wife not..
Give me a fully manual aperture/shutter speed Pentax K1000 with a digital sensor. Leave the film advance lever on it, too. Now, there’s a camera for the serious photographer!
Agreed on the K1000 (D). I seriously considered getting a K200 (and using my manual lenses) instead of the 40D. But, I just couldn’t pull the trigger.