What's next for Digital Photography?

<p>We've made long treks since the days of the $10,000 2.7 mp D1. Now, even our beginner dslr's (T2i) boast an 18 mp sensor, with 4fps, hd video, and anything else they can tag on.<br>

My question is, what's next?<br>

What more could a serious photographer need than is available now, considering many feel that pushing 20mp's and HD video is just overkill.<br>

Purpose of this post is to see what you guys feel will happen to the future dslr's. Possibly a built in microwave?</p>

<p>Brent:</p>

<p>While I'd love a built-in microwave and would enjoy a coffee maker even more, I suspect that the next frontier in dslr cameras will be higher bit depth and with any luck, removal of the AA filter.</p>

<p>Future? Better lenses, especially prime lenses generally need an upgrade since almost all attention have been on the zoom lenses and IS, VR etc over the last twenty years.</p>

<p>Smaller systems like micro 3/4.</p>

<p>Get away with the Bayer pattern and make sensors that capture all colors in the same pixel location.</p>

<p>No uwave, but certainly increasing use of sophisticated electronic viewfinders, possibly replacing the mirror assemblies of our DSLR/SLRs. It is already happening on the lower end (think Panasonic G1 and Olympus EP2) in the micro 4/3 cameras, with other mfrs expressing interest in the concept. I thought long ago, that somebody would take up and produce the electronic film cartridge for SLRs from that failed startup in the 1990s, but alas no.... So, how about sensors whose resolution matches, if not exceeds, the capabilities of modern high end lenses across the spectral wavelengths including infrared. What about zoom lenses which have long ranges with virtually nil distortion of any kind...no vignetting, constant apertures, 3 dimensional capabilities (without bifurcating the photos, in color, and without external viewing devices to produce their output)? Oh, my mind is swimming, I think I'll stop now and let others prognosticate.</p>

<p>Very true, so I'm guessing the consensus is overall better sensors, and lenses as opposed to adding on gimmick features.<br>

Not too sure about the electronic viewfinders though, while I do love the one on the g1, not too sure if they're developed enough YET to be used for professional DSLR's. Would be a good thing to work on so we can cost effectively get out of those .95x days.<br>

How about the elimination of 1.6 crop sensors? I would LOVE (unrealistically) to see the Canon add something in the xxd series, at an xxd price that's a full frame.<br>

A camera with 5fps, 8-10mp, magnesium alloy body, full frame sensor, and usable iso's up to 12,800 would be a godsend for general photographers, and could probably be achieved with a price tag of $1,500.</p>

<p>Not sure what's next but I would like to see a basic(as in take out all the fluff) MF that was actually in the affordable range. I highly doubt that will ever happen but wouldn't it be nice.</p>

<p>This is pure speculation, of course, but the next things to be pushed are higher ISO with lower noise and more pixels up to 25 mega-pixels with low noise in an APS sensor. I expect cameras with a top ISO at 103,000 with acceptable noise will become common in the next few years.</p>

<p>And of course ISO's 250,000, and 500,000 will be tucked away as Hi 1, and 2.</p>

<p>I've read about an in-camera HDR feature in only a few brands and models. Would like to see that more broadly offered.</p>

<p>I'm quite sure it's on every newer sensor listed as an improvement in dynamic range, unless you mean an on camera mix of totally different exposures? Do explain, sounds interesting.</p>

<p>3d stills and video</p>

<p>Some little digicams that some DSLR owners might snicker at are already pointing the way. It may be with a small sensor, but they are already doing some of that expanding dynamic range by combining different exposures thing right in the camera, all within a second or two. I've done it and it's pretty amazing.</p>

<p>What I meant was the camera literally taking three different exposures and combining them into one HDR enhanced file. Doesn't Fujifilm have this feature on some cameras and Pentax in some newer DSLRs? Either I actually read about it, or I'm beginning to think my dreaming is reality. (aging brain?)</p>

<p>Sony's tiny WX1 with CMOS sensor and all-mechanical shutter takes 6 shots of a high-contrast, low-light scene, in very quick succession (less than a second), combines them somehow, and ends up right away with a picture that has detail in both shadows and highlights, and which is also very low noise even at higher ISO ratings. Not exactly HDR as you mean it, but the same idea. I'll try to attach a picture, taken <strong>handheld </strong> at midnight, <strong>through a window</strong> and a bit of <strong>falling snow</strong> (so don't judge it by sharpness). It's just to illustrate the possibilities.</p><div></div>

<p>Get rid of all analogue in digital and make a pure digital camera with no analogue to digital conversion. I saw this in a vision.</p>

<p>I like Darin's Idea of a manual focus very basic Digital SLR with an FX sized sensor that costs around $1000. Something like a stripped down 5D Mk ll with good high ISO performance and basic metering.</p>

<p>I think the Electronic View Finder phenomena is just beginning, followed by significantly smaller cameras due to the absence of mirrors and prisms. <br>

We need more dynamic range and greater noise free ISO capability and stop with the "ever more megapixels". We need better automatic white balance for truer color out of the camera. <br>

The camera companies need to seriously scrub their user interfaces to rid them of bells and whistles and make them coherent to actual photographers (doubt this will happen, the marketing weenies have too much control). <br>

Finally, we need a common raw file format, such as DNG or it's equivalent, so that any editing software can be used to edit any camera file. <br>

Paul</p>

 

<p>I like Brent's idea of an xxD body with 8-10 (maybe 12...)mp, 5fps, mag. alloy, and full frame. I think that that's going to be a reality in the very near future, although I'd prefer it to be the xD body at the $1500-$1700 price point. I think that could be a possibility as well.</p>

<p>Absolutely love that night shot. And if there was a xd body at the 1500-1700 price point, I'd be the first on the waiting list.<br>

When will companies wake up and realize that we don't all need 25mp camera's to clog our buffer, and fill our memory cards? My 50d is 15mp, and I find myself only needing 3mp for online work.</p>

<p>Me, I don't really need any fancy, nerdy bells and whistles, and I don't even need an SLR with a mirror. I would prefer it if instead of all that and in-camera processing, we eventually had a more open system with a camera that is independent of the actual sensor, just like film cameras are independent of the actual film. There could be a standard size and connection format, and you just choose your sensor and pop it into the back of the camera. Enough with untouchable, integrated, proprietary supercomputer-as-camera black boxes that go out of date every 6 months.</p>

<p>Very interesting idea Pierre! I think I would like that idea.<br>

I predict that in the next 2 or 3 years full-frame sensors will come down in prices enough that the DX format will be phased out and pretty much all DSLRs will be made with FX format sensors.<br>

This will of course obsolete my DX lenses. What am I going to do with them?<br>

I also agree that we don't need HD video on my DSLR. I would much rather have less noise on higher ISOs.</p>

<p>In 10 years, all compact camera, both nonchangeable lens and changeable lens, would be full frame. So, lenses for analog film camera could be easily adopted in future camera. CCD or similar sensor consumes less and less power. Some miniatured cameras, like minox, could be attached somewhere in the body, eyegaless for example, and shoot photo at will.</p>

<p>In terms of memory, no long needs SD type , some built-in memory but small capacity is available for most of the captured images are sent instantly to nearby wireless network. Images and video are on live 100 miles away.</p>

<p>But died-heart film shooters still exist. So, they pay higher price to professional camera which captures image on film and CCD at the same time. Film demand, as a result, increases because people don't worry the result on film for image on CCD becomes a proof read.</p>

<p>Softwares, like photoshop or advanced stithing programmes, are built-in features. When the camera is connected (wireless, of course) with LCD monitor or TV, people can do digital retouching.</p>