The Last Days of the DSLR

[neverdie]

^ don't worry bout him sunshine, he's got plenty of gold bullion old mjp. He got in my car once and overloaded the suspension, old sly dog he is.

[neverdie]

ND, my memory is shot to pieces.

I'm going to hang it out a while for the D800 successor, the D810e I guess. Or see what the D4x brings us and of course how much.

Plenty of time.

D4x, would be heaps of coin if it's ever developed and perhaps massive overkill, would be for me anyway.

Sunshine is right about 24-70 nikon ( don't know bout the sigma) & we also have the 70-200vrii, which is outstanding.

Another really good lense, so damn sharp and I mean u could cut yourself on it is the 105mm macro, that on the wife's d3s is sooooo sharp, I love to see it on something more modern like D800e.

There's a lot out there, glass IMHO is so important, no point putting an 18-200mm on a d800e,waste of time. The build quality of the nikon holy trinity is exceptional, our 24-70 & 70-200 have been thru torrential rain and the very worst we could throw,at them as far as dust, heat, etc etc and they've never faulted. Still sharp and solid.......Nikons sealing system on these lenses is second to none IMO.

Anyhow we've just about trashed this thread........which only goes to support what I was saying about DSLR.... There's a few years left in them yet, I think.

[MJP]

ND, my memory is shot to pieces.

I'm going to hang it out a while for the D800 successor, the D810e I guess. Or see what the D4x brings us and of course how much.

Plenty of time.

D4x, would be heaps of coin if it's ever developed and perhaps massive overkill, would be for me anyway.

Sunshine is right about 24-70 nikon ( don't know bout the sigma) & we also have the 70-200vrii, which is outstanding.

Another really good lense, so dam_n sharp and I mean u could cut yourself on it is the 105mm macro, that on the wife's d3s is sooooo sharp, I love to see it on something more modern like D800e.

There's a lot out there, glass IMHO is so important, no point putting an 18-200mm on a d800e,waste of time. The build quality of the nikon holy trinity is exceptional, our 24-70 & 70-200 have been thru torrential rain and the very worst we could throw,at them as far as dust, heat, etc etc and they've never faulted. Still sharp and solid.......Nikons sealing system on these lenses is second to none IMO.

Anyhow we've just about trashed this thread........which only goes to support what I was saying about DSLR.... There's a few years left in them yet, I think.

Having learnt from my Pentax LBA days, I'm going to minimize the number of lenses to what I'd actually regularly use. I have 15 lenses and two bodies in my Pentax stable and only really two get used routinely, another three now and again.

Nik 14-24 - Yes (mostly work)

Sig 35/1.4 Art - Yes

Nik 50/1.2 - Yes

Nik 85/1.4G - Yes

Nik 135/2 DC - Yes (or Zeiss 135/2, but expensive)

DSLR isn't dead.

[neverdie]

Wow, 15 lenses, crikey.

As I said, you won't be sorry with any of that gear. Keep us posted. As for buying gear,,I've always bough thru authorised Nikon dealers but many times not in Thailand as I got better deals buying in Australia and bringing back to Thailand, claiming the tax back as I passed thru the airport.

I find cheap camera gear, cheaper in LOS and more expensive gear cheaper outside LOS. I'm not into grey market stuff, but each yo their own.

I agree DSLR is not dead YET, it will eventually happen.

[neverdie]

Wow, 15 lenses, crikey.

As I said, you won't be sorry with any of that gear. Keep us posted. As for buying gear,,I've always bough thru authorised Nikon dealers but many times not in Thailand as I got better deals buying in Australia and bringing back to Thailand, claiming the tax back as I passed thru the airport.

I find cheap camera gear, cheaper in LOS and more expensive gear cheaper outside LOS. I'm not into grey market stuff, but each yo their own.

I agree DSLR is not dead YET, it will eventually happen.

[Chao Lao Beach]

These full frame Nex may need a couple of more years to sort out bugs and have a better range of lenses and stuff, but one can hardly ignore them, pretty impressive & can only get better.

[sunshine51]

Wow, 15 lenses, crikey.

As I said, you won't be sorry with any of that gear. Keep us posted. As for buying gear,,I've always bough thru authorised Nikon dealers but many times not in Thailand as I got better deals buying in Australia and bringing back to Thailand, claiming the tax back as I passed thru the airport.

I find cheap camera gear, cheaper in LOS and more expensive gear cheaper outside LOS. I'm not into grey market stuff, but each yo their own.

I agree DSLR is not dead YET, it will eventually happen.

Ran outta likes ND....grey mkt stuff to me stays on the shelf.

The D4x....well.....deep subject that...well's I mean....akin to the

D3x (I sold mine not long ago)....the D4x (or whatever) will most

likely cost not just an arm & a leg but perhaps a head & torso too.

Somewhere in this thread, some time ago, I posted my thoughts

on what camera makers need to do instead of what they currently

do; meaning...please don't give me 100 Gigapixels, I have enough

at 36 Mp. Give me synthetic apertures and an easy to understand/run

through menu. I mean...if the now retired SR-71 could zip over

a continent at Mach 3+ and grab pix with a res of inches (read

newspaper headlines....seriously) in oh so sharp clarity, nearly

fully automated....why can't a new Nik D whatever give me

something akin to that on a civilian scale? Don't try & impress me

with pixel counts...impress me with practical features baby!

I don't want a new camera with 1000 autofocus points that wrap

around each other...perish the thought. How about 3 AF points that

stay focused no matter where I point me dam_n lens. How about

eye control also....like the old Canon EOS50E (film jobber)...

wherever your eye was looking...it was in focus....razor sharp

focus. And the Canon 50E was a cheapo jobber as well! Compared

to the EOS 1 that is. And here's one for y'all...Nik's numbering

system of these days....what are they gonna do after the D900

comes out? And what are they gonna do when they pass the

D10 mark? I'm sure the clever folks at Nikon will think of

something....just what though I haven't a clue....

NB....15 lenses....crikey2!!!

Edited February 12, 2014 by sunshine51

[neverdie]

I'm definitely in you 'camp' Sunshine. We don't need more megapixels we just need better megapixels.

Even at 16mp of the flagship, not another thought goes to mp, the useful stuff, like ISO and being able to shoot in darker conditions without messing (or trying to mess in my case) with speed lights and so forth is far more important that a squillion mp. A fast and accurate auto focus. Buttons that are programmable and lead straight to settings rather than dIgital menus that need to be selected and scrolled thru. A camera that allows for speed and accuracy and of course solid construction and sealing.

Anyway in good time mirror less cameras will lead the way and in doing so will remove some of the very parts that are holding the DSLR back.

Personally, I will probably, actually most certainly never be able to use my DSLR camera to its full potential, so everything's already perfect for me, changing camera won't help me........I'm a lost cause. The only thing for me to gain by changing camera would be 'street cried' and whilst many of us know how important this can be especially in modern Thailand, it's not important to me, I gave up along time ago caring about what other people think go me. LOL.

[MJP]

I'm definitely in you 'camp' Sunshine. We don't need more megapixels we just need better megapixels.

Even at 16mp of the flagship, not another thought goes to mp, the useful stuff, like ISO and being able to shoot in darker conditions without messing (or trying to mess in my case) with speed lights and so forth is far more important that a squillion mp. A fast and accurate auto focus. Buttons that are programmable and lead straight to settings rather than dIgital menus that need to be selected and scrolled thru. A camera that allows for speed and accuracy and of course solid construction and sealing.

Anyway in good time mirror less cameras will lead the way and in doing so will remove some of the very parts that are holding the DSLR back.

Personally, I will probably, actually most certainly never be able to use my DSLR camera to its full potential, so everything's already perfect for me, changing camera won't help me........I'm a lost cause. The only thing for me to gain by changing camera would be 'street cried' and whilst many of us know how important this can be especially in modern Thailand, it's not important to me, I gave up along time ago caring about what other people think go me. LOL.

It's more to do with lenses and tripod and settings. This is 16mp but on a sturdy Induro tripod and oversize head, mirror lock-up . . . .

[neverdie]

True MJP, But it's also about the user, the users vision, the users ability etc etc.

Some people (this is not directed at you or anyone here) just are gear junkies, they must keep updating, they want the next model and it never end. There are pros and other advance photographers that will always benefit from equipment advancements.

It does amuse me though, often people approach my wife in order to show of their latest and greatest point&shoot or prosumer camera and educate her about why their camera is better than a DSLR. I've heard people say things like, "my camera has 500x zoom and 4500000 squill ion megapixels, you don't need a big camera anymore".

THEN

there's the people that walk around with highish end FX DSLR's and they stand in front of a landscape shot over a large canyon in low light and as they take their shots their inbuilt flash pops up (so it's likely the cameras in full auto setting) and they click away slapping the flash down between frames, somewhat confused as to why their expensive camera isn't capturing the scene ahead - LOL.

PS: nice shot m

Edited February 12, 2014 by neverdie

[MJP]

True MJP, But it's also about the user, the users vision, the users ability etc etc.

Some people (this is not directed at you or anyone here) just are gear junkies, they must keep updating, they want the next model and it never end. There are pros and other advance photographers that will always benefit from equipment advancements.

It does amuse me though, often people approach my wife in order to show of their latest and greatest point&shoot or prosumer camera and educate her about why their camera is better than a DSLR. I've heard people say things like, "my camera has 500x zoom and 4500000 squill ion megapixels, you don't need a big camera anymore".

THEN

there's the people that walk around with highish end FX DSLR's and they stand in front of a landscape shot over a large canyon in low light and as they take their shots their inbuilt flash pops up (so it's likely the cameras in full auto setting) and they click away slapping the flash down between frames, somewhat confused as to why their expensive camera isn't capturing the scene ahead - LOL.

A wealthy friend has around £15-20k in Nikon/Nikkor FX. Doesn't know what RAW means. Didn't even know about post-processing.

I do a lot of his marketing work including the photography and he had been wondering why the skies were always blue and his fleet of diggers so yellow!

[sunshine51]

@ MJP & ND....I'm outta still likes from yesterdays short TVF session.

Nice pic M. ND....yes...high ISO free of noise or at least very little of it

and by golly get me outta the menus...worse than being lost in the

Smithsonian that....and I have been lost in the "Smith"...it was enjoyable,

which is more than I can say about any camera makers menus.

Way back in the early 90's & for broadcast TV cameras, Sony invented

the Hyper HAD sensor. These sensors were 2/3" and the optical block

had 3 sensors on it...one each for R, G, & B....I don't remember the

pixel count on the sensor but it was very high, somewhere in the millions.

However....what made this CCD sensor so extraordinary was that Sony

patented a method of having a tiny "lens" etched above each pixel and

this lens would guide the photons striking it smack onto the substrate

of the sensor layer responsible for making the sensor do it's job. Sony

was so proud of their new sensor they even released a few SEM photos

showing the lil lenses and telling how well it/they all worked to produce

gobsmacking broadcast video. Believe me....the results of this new

sensor were game changers in TV production...at least the shooting

end of it anyway. Another item that Sony addressed at the same time

was in regards to user settings and the ability to transfer said settings

between cameras....so....back when a 128 MB MMC/SD card cost 130

USD or more, Sony build a card reader into the new cameras and we

finally had the ability to rapidly change camera settings...anywhere,

anytime....and we loved that more than a neat chip whose name translated

to Hole Accumulated Diode.

New & Improved is an oxymoron friends!

I want to see some real innovation & that's why i've been keeping an

eye on the Panasonic Lumix cameras vice the Canik's. With that

said...most makers still include a menu that calls for the user to

receive a PhD from a reputable university to enable even a fraction

of understanding.

Plus....it's my birthday on the 28th and I could really care less...HAH!

No matter what...Keep Shooting!

Edited February 13, 2014 by sunshine51

[sunshine51]

For ND.....

"It does amuse me though, often people approach my wife in order to show of their latest and greatest point&shoot or prosumer camera and educate her about why their camera is better than a DSLR. I've heard people say things like, "my camera has 500x zoom and 4500000 squill ion megapixels, you don't need a big camera anymore".

THEN

there's the people that walk around with highish end FX DSLR's and they stand in front of a landscape shot over a large canyon in low light and as they take their shots their inbuilt flash pops up (so it's likely the cameras in full auto setting) and they click away slapping the flash down between frames, somewhat confused as to why their expensive camera isn't capturing the scene ahead - LOL."

I reckon that on cameras of "semi-pro & pro" labels...say starting at Nik's D7K & Can's EOS 5D...the AUTO setting

should be removed completely. Save for auto ISO & WB that is....

[taotoo]

slapping the flash down between frames

LOL

[Fiddlesticks]

For ND.....

"It does amuse me though, often people approach my wife in order to show of their latest and greatest point&shoot or prosumer camera and educate her about why their camera is better than a DSLR. I've heard people say things like, "my camera has 500x zoom and 4500000 squill ion megapixels, you don't need a big camera anymore".

THEN

there's the people that walk around with highish end FX DSLR's and they stand in front of a landscape shot over a large canyon in low light and as they take their shots their inbuilt flash pops up (so it's likely the cameras in full auto setting) and they click away slapping the flash down between frames, somewhat confused as to why their expensive camera isn't capturing the scene ahead - LOL."

I reckon that on cameras of "semi-pro & pro" labels...say starting at Nik's D7K & Can's EOS 5D...the AUTO setting

should be removed completely. Save for auto ISO & WB that is....

Now you know why I have the Canon 5D Mark III, it doesn't have a pop-up flash so my secret is safe!

[neverdie]

For ND.....

"It does amuse me though, often people approach my wife in order to show of their latest and greatest point&shoot or prosumer camera and educate her about why their camera is better than a DSLR. I've heard people say things like, "my camera has 500x zoom and 4500000 squill ion megapixels, you don't need a big camera anymore".

THEN

there's the people that walk around with highish end FX DSLR's and they stand in front of a landscape shot over a large canyon in low light and as they take their shots their inbuilt flash pops up (so it's likely the cameras in full auto setting) and they click away slapping the flash down between frames, somewhat confused as to why their expensive camera isn't capturing the scene ahead - LOL."

I reckon that on cameras of "semi-pro & pro" labels...say starting at Nik's D7K & Can's EOS 5D...the AUTO setting

should be removed completely. Save for auto ISO & WB that is....

Just occasionally I use the auto setting, normally when I'm shooting one handed for so e reason, ie: can't stop eating, perving or driving - LOL.

I have used the auto setting to see what the camera determined a particular scene should be shot at, but I'm merely a clutz, stumbling my way through, hoping to jag the occasional shot.

It amazes me how quickly my wife adjusts her setting and get several good shots, whilst I'm still fumbling with the lense cap and dropping bits here and there, tripping over and just goofing off basically. Bit like my presence on the forum.

neverdie

[neverdie]

[quokte name=sunshine51" post="7432664" timestamp="1392275238]@ MJP & ND....I'm outta still likes from yesterdays short TVF session.

Nice pic M. ND....yes...high ISO free of noise or at least very little of it

and by golly get me outta the menus...worse than being lost in the

Smithsonian that....and I have been lost in the "Smith"...it was enjoyable,

which is more than I can say about any camera makers menus.

Way back in the early 90's & for broadcast TV cameras, Sony invented

the Hyper HAD sensor. These sensors were 2/3" and the optical block

had 3 sensors on it...one each for R, G, & B....I don't remember the

pixel count on the sensor but it was very high, somewhere in the millions.

However....what made this CCD sensor so extraordinary was that Sony

patented a method of having a tiny "lens" etched above each pixel and

this lens would guide the photons striking it smack onto the substrate

of the sensor layer responsible for making the sensor do it's job. Sony

was so proud of their new sensor they even released a few SEM photos

showing the lil lenses and telling how well it/they all worked to produce

gobsmacking broadcast video. Believe me....the results of this new

sensor were game changers in TV production...at least the shooting

end of it anyway. Another item that Sony addressed at the same time

was in regards to user settings and the ability to transfer said settings

between cameras....so....back when a 128 MB MMC/SD card cost 130

USD or more, Sony build a card reader into the new cameras and we

finally had the ability to rapidly change camera settings...anywhere,

anytime....and we loved that more than a neat chip whose name translated

to Hole Accumulated Diode.

New & Improved is an oxymoron friends!

I want to see some real innovation & that's why i've been keeping an

eye on the Panasonic Lumix cameras vice the Canik's. With that

said...most makers still include a menu that calls for the user to

receive a PhD from a reputable university to enable even a fraction

of understanding.

Plus....it's my birthday on the 28th and I could really care less...HAH!

No matter what...Keep Shooting!

You know what, this is what I like about this forum, such interesting people with seemingly so much knowledge/experience.

I found your story extremely interesting, thanks for taking the time to share with me/us.

neverdie

[sunshine51]

^^^ ND....You're most welcome! Want any more trivia?

[neverdie]

^^^ ohhhh up to you! I'm one of those people that think that nobody is ever to old to learn something. Even an old codger like mjp, he can still do it.

[MJP]

Having been back at work for a couple of weeks big Nikon plans are on hold.

It's hell over here doing this. Don't want to suffer it any more. More I spend on this stuff the more misery it takes.

[neverdie]

Having been back at work for a couple of weeks big Nikon plans are on hold.

It's hell over here doing this. Don't want to suffer it any more. More I spend on this stuff the more misery it takes.

Take a hold of yourself (above the waist) old boy.

A few hours of agony at one end of the purchase could lead to endless enjoyment at the other end. Take baby steps with strength, rather than giant strides on your toe tips.

Uncle neverdie is here, if you need encouragement or perhaps a headslap.

You are a long time dead.

[NeverSure]

Who would be without a good small camera he can drop in his shirt pocket? My Canon S95 has full manual controls, or will go auto exposure with aperture or shutter priority. I have an adapter so that it will accept 37mm filters the most important which are the UV and polarizing, to me.

I tried macro filters but the quality wasn't there but the built in digital macro is acceptable.

If that camera would accept interchangeable lenses, I wouldn't be looking for another camera, and I sold a Nikon F-1 35mm film camera and a bunch of lenses to go digital.

Yes, I need a better camera and some lenses, but I wouldn't be without the one in my shirt pocket.

[MJP]

Who would be without a good small camera he can drop in his shirt pocket? My Canon S95 has full manual controls, or will go auto exposure with aperture or shutter priority. I have an adapter so that it will accept 37mm filters the most important which are the UV and polarizing, to me.

I tried macro filters but the quality wasn't there but the built in digital macro is acceptable.

If that camera would accept interchangeable lenses, I wouldn't be looking for another camera, and I sold a Nikon F-1 35mm film camera and a bunch of lenses to go digital.

Yes, I need a better camera and some lenses, but I wouldn't be without the one in my shirt pocket.

I use a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 for a point and shoot now. Also for video.

[sunshine51]

^^^ @ MJP....

Matey....try and locate this droid app....Camera FV-5. There are 2 versions; paid & free.

Either one will give you more control than Sam's camera s/w does. Google the app & try

it out....you may be surprised!

[MJP]

^^^ @ MJP....

Matey....try and locate this droid app....Camera FV-5. There are 2 versions; paid & free.

Either one will give you more control than Sam's camera s/w does. Google the app & try

it out....you may be surprised!

£2.45. It's bonkers good. Nice.

[sunshine51]

^^^ You're welcome my son...

[neverdie]

New flagship. Nikon D4s is officially announced, just a lazy $6499. USD.

Anyone?

Has night vision ability. ISO 100 - 25600 (hi to 409600). & 11fps, comes with fre second battery for. NPS members.

MJP, maybe you could pick up one of these as backup to D800 e. ?

[sunshine51]

^^^ neverdie....here's a link to many pages of info on the D4s....

Oh to be younger....I'd have it. Apparently Nik's been listening...

http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2014/02/28/nikon-d4s-vs-d4-14-things-you-need-to-know-about-nikons-flagship-dslr/

Edited March 1, 2014 by sunshine51

[neverdie]

^^^ neverdie....here's a link to many pages of info on the D4s....

Oh to be younger....I'd have it. Apparently Nik's been listening...

http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2014/02/28/nikon-d4s-vs-d4-14-things-you-need-to-know-about-nikons-flagship-dslr/

I'm not so sure they've actually tested the camera but rather written an article from the camera specs .

I believe they are wrong, the camera has a different sensor, it's the same size but it's been re-tweeked, so I'm led to believe.

My only real appeal to it is, like always, low light ability and speed. Guess I will get a go at it sooner than later as the wife sold her D3s in preparation for the d4s arrival. not sure if I will be allowed to touch it tho !

Thanks for the link.

[sunshine51]

^^^ ND....That's one thing I dislike about website reviews...who is doing real reviews versus

writers ripping off the spec sheet? NikUSA has good info though...straight from the mules

mouth so to speak. Then again I'm not one to ever purchase a new camera when it first

appears on the market...they can be buggy at that time then the factory-customer runaround

never seems to end. Back in 88 I bought 2 of the first batch of F4's to hit the market in

Hong Kong and initially they worked great....it was winter time then. When summer came

around everybody who bought the F4 was having metering problems and some AF

problems as well, including myself. After some lengthy arguments Nik replaced our cameras

free of charge but during the following summer the same problems reappeared...and

Nik replaced them also...without much argument. Then Nik introduced the F4s and admitted

that their first batch of F4's were prone to humidity & condensation problems which Nik

also admitted they couldn't fix...so for those of us in the NPS who had the early F4 Nik

did one last replacement...free of charge & the problems never appeared again.

Also during that time when Nik had F4 problems many photogs switched to Canon because

Canon didn't have the problem. Nik was hurtin....Then they launched the F5 in 96...

many onetime Nik users who switched to Canon, switched back. The F5 was, IMO,

the best camera Nik ever made save for the F2.

About your getting your mitts on your wife's new D4s....she gotta sleep sometime eh!