Plastics in the camera industry

"Remember back in the days when the cameras were all metal and leatherette?". . .Yes, I remember and I used them and I still have several to day that have survived. This is one of your premises I agree with but I have to strain to cut some slack. <p>

"In case no one has noticed, almost all of today's equipments are plastic toys" . . . My computer may be a plastic toy, and the keyboard certainly isn't as majestic as my old Oliveti, and the printer seems to run quite well on plastic gears. Did you ever see a Univac? <p>

"Why? How can you guys tolerate this?" . . . Because that's the way it is! <p>

"As an engineer, I have certain respect for devices that perform beautiful tasks." . . . How did you get to be an engineer? The last I heard most states require a five year degree, several years as a registered trainee working under the supervision of a registered engineer, and passing an examination. Yet, below you say you are a college sophomore and twenty years old; could you perhaps be hyping us a bit? <p>

"But that's not the point. Learn how to debate" . . . You don't seem to have posited a valid syllogism in any of your verbiage on this forum. <p>

"I'm only a 20 years old and I don't even make any smartass comments. Please . . . I'm a college sophomore" . . . See above. <p>

"You never see plastic rack and pinion system on any device that requires exacting positional accuracy" . . . Did you ever look inside a modern Ink Jet printer? <p>

If I were grading this party (I'm a publisher and retired engineer) I would give him an A+ in English Composition and flunk him in Logic and Debate. . .<p>

Other than that my own sentiments run largely parallel to his regarding the build quality of modern cameras. However, that said, they perform to expectations and apparently pay for themselves, used professionally.

" How did you get to be an engineer? The last I heard most states require a five year degree, several years as a registered trainee working under the supervision of a registered engineer, and passing an examination. Yet, below you say you are a college sophomore and twenty years old; could you perhaps be hyping us a bit? "

 

Wright Brothers, Bill Gates, Soichiro Honda, some of the greatest minds in history never have gotten a degree.

 

And pretty soon, I'll be a millionaire due to my patent, which ironically isn't even related to my major...

 

By engineer, I meant someone with solid creativity and analytical skills in physics and mathematics, with a true ambition to change the Earth for the better or worse. Not necessarily someone with a degree yet all they do is read date off a computer and report it the boss.

... confirming the phrase "more money than brains."

You know what's really a fine camera engineering wise - the old 6x6 Rollei TLR's. They were really nice cameras. The Linhof Technika IV was also a beauty - and the old Leica's.

 

If I wanted a camera for display - an old Rollei 6x6 or an old Leica would be it.

 

I actually had a Rollei "baby grey" 4x4 TLR. Kodacoler Gold 200 was the only film available for it - and it had to be special ordered. Then it became unavailable - I don't like having cameras I can't shoot, so I sold it - but a 6x6 Rollei would be sweet to have.

Paul can very easily be a paid engineer. I was involved in GIS through college and some of the good programmers got job offers before they were juniors. The reason was because they were good. In some instances the degree is a requisite for management, not actual engineering work and employment. I have met video game programer at cocktail parties who make 100k and have a stupid IT certificate. Their job description say engineer on the company websites. Some of those guys left school early and did just fine, others waited to finish. Its all about what field you are in. Secondly I belive the patent thing becuse it happened to an automotive engineer in my family. He had a patent and proved in court that he was not paid for it. He got a couple million and he continued to go to work. He wasn't a brilliant, he just understood the industry he was working in. For every brilliant engineer that gets nothing for his creation there are a couple average engineers that use the law and thier buisness knowledge to force companies to pay then for thier work. Don't knock Paul to much. I'd be exited to talk about that accomplishment.

His claim to a patent is besides the point..

With his arrogance and ignorance regarding photography and other subjects, and his blatant disregard of others advice, he essentially painted a huge bullseye on himself. He deserves the reception he got based on what he wrote. If you say something like he did, expect a strong response.

OK - he screwed up.

Let's instead of rubbing it in, cut him some slack.

 

-=-

My favorite metal SLR has to be either the Nikon FE or Pentax H3/Spotmatic/Spotmatic II

 

I really liked my FE - I liked the way you could see the aperature through the viewfinder. Not a digital display - a slick way to do it. Also - the MD-11 motor drive was a great addition.

 

The Pentax M42 screwmount bodies just rock!

Unlike modern cameras that do not function well in cold weather, these fully manual cameras remain fully functional. And the best thing - they take standard cable/bulb release - like a good camera should!

Re <i>By engineer, I meant someone with solid creativity and analytical skills in physics and mathematics, with a true ambition to change the Earth for the better or worse. Not necessarily someone with a degree yet all they do is read date off a computer and report it the boss.</I><BR><BR>In most all states; one cannot advertise; practice engineering to the general public; without being a registered engineer. Most engineers are not registered; and they work for an employer; and dont do work for the public. States that are strong shut down the hacks who hawk their BS to the public; who are not registered engineers. This is for the good of the people; so bridges tend to fail less; elevators dont crash as much. In California the Engineering board publishes a list of the hacks; the crimes they commited against society; and the fines they paid for being fakes and idiots........... Physics is not the same as engineering. Physics chaps tend not to deal with production of goods; real life tolerances; material properties as much as engineers. <BR><BR>

In my day it was possible for anyone who felt qualified to apply to the state accrediting board and take the examination for engineer (various fields: mechanical, electrical, structural, chemical, etc) and upon passing, pay the required fee and become licensed to practice that profession in that state. The requirements have been tightened over the past decades, and for all practical purposes it is impossible to become registered in any of those professions where public safety, health, and welfare are concerned without a degree or diploma from an accredited educational institution which is a prerequisite for eleigibility to take the examination. The terms 'architect' & 'engineer' are often used internally in business organizations to describe the the functions cerain personnel perform, and do not require state registration; but whenever services involving public safety, health, etc are offered the law requires that some individual be designated the responsible party for the redering of those services. Admittedly, if one wants to call himself an engineer because he makes Lego toys I suppose there is nothing to prevent it.

>By engineer, I meant someone with solid creativity and analytical skills in physics and mathematics, with a true ambition to change the Earth for the better or worse.< In this case it seems the "analytical" skills are markedly deficient! However, whatever this may have to do with the ability to judge the suitability of commercial products is certainly not evinced in this thread!

I have a selection of both Plastic and metal cameras.

 

You can have both and really enjoy both.

 

I dont like any of the plastic rebel type cameras because critial parts are made with poor designs.

Like battery door hinges which are made of plastic which just bends no pins or pivots.

 

This is just inferior functional design.

 

THe closest thing to plastic I really like was the Canon EOS A2 series..

Now that is plastic fantastic.

 

The Canon T-90 is a hybrid and a real masterwork camera.

 

Similarly the T-70 is a good one with a mix of Metal plastic light weight and automation.

 

Where the metal and heft count,

 

Falling down a hillside with a canon F-1 and finding at the bottom that I was damaged worse than the camera.

 

When you want to take that shot hand held at 1/15th The F-1 will have inertia the rest wont.

 

The best justification for a Mechanical camera is actually Reliability.

 

The work without Batteries.

 

When I travel I carry both but I would hate to be in some place I spent thousands to get to and find I had limited time and a dead battery or failed circuit.

 

That fully manual Canon F1n will take the picture.

 

And the Picture will liely be very sharp and crisp.

 

Yes its about Taking pictures ,, But the machine matters.

Every design is a balance of compromises.

 

If you want the best of both worlds in a Film Camera look at the Canon EOS 3 or the EOS 1N

 

Heavy Reliable Automated and smart.

 

Take pictures enjoy know there is a camera available now which you can afford which you could never have afforded 20 years ago.