Re: Cold, hard reality sets in...
Guy Pyetan
wrote:
I would take issue with the fact that you appear to be ignoring
camera comfort and certain basic physical design features. Ever
since I got my first digital I realised that DC's are power
monsters. When I go out my camera bag typically has 4-5 sets of
1600Mah NIMh batterires and I also carry 2 of Olympus's special non
rechargeables. TheE10 is by no means bad when it comes to batteries
but when you're stuck in the middle of nowhere and you wanted to
get a shot and that power warning/lack of response from the camera
occurs you will get a really bad sinking feeling. OK so you should
change batteries when you get the chance not when you're forced to
but wen the batteries are dissapearing at the rate of a set every
125 shots you're going to be doing it all the time and you're more
likely to miss a shot.
As I've stated previously, that is not the way that I work. I do not go out and take hundreds of shots in a day and hope that I get a good one. I pick my subjects, and I shoot methodically. If a subject is REALLY inspirational I'll most likely have a 35mm, 6x7 or view camera available to record the scene, and the digital will just be along for the ride. In the case that I'm just "out and about" I'll still be carrying a tripod >
75% of the time. I keep two or three permanently in my car (unless I'm actually using one) . The digital is used most often for "in-house" industrial documentation shoots where I have 2 or three recharge units plugged-in all of the time. Believe me, everybody, I will never feel inconvenienced by having to change 4 batteries.
As for the shape/comfort of holding the thing well consider this.
If its uncomfortable its going to be irritating. While its new and
the novelty factor is still in evidence the camera will be used but
as the novelty factor wears off the camera will beused less. If it
make you want topick it up then you will continue to want to pick
it up. Whilst I like my E10 I must confess I find it heavy. After a
day carrying it around my neck or holding it by the handgrip and
having to heft it in front of my face mywrist gives twinges. Its
not enough tto put me off but sometimes I really wish it weighed a
bit less (a pro would put up with it but I'm a prosumer camera user
If you wish that it weighed less maybe YOU should be looking at the D7. A one pound camera tied to my N*TS might be uncomfortable, in my hands I just don't think so. For years I worked with a Mamiya RB67 with a prism, a bag of lenses and a Bogen 3050 tripod. For those of you who are unaware an RB67 weighs about 4 pounds, the prism weighs about 5, and each lens weighs 2-4 pounds. Oh yeah, the tripod weighs 13! This camera weighs less than a Leica M6 for God's sake! There's no novelty factor - it's a tool, it will be used as one.
As for tripod mount positioning etc. Well I think again when its
new these things you will put up with but after days/weeks.months
wanting to do things with the camera and hitting the design flaws
which good could easily of been ironed out I think that the camera
user will be thoroughly frustrated and swearing about the %^&
tripod mount/camera strap ring position .....
I use all of my cameras (except the view cameras) mounted to RRS plates. I will mount this camera to a plate that positions it THE WAY THAT I WANT IT POSITIONED on a tripod head. You haven't even held the camera yet and you think that the position is wrong? As for the ring position, obviously dumb. I can cut it, I can tape it, I can ignore it - I won't know which until I live with it for a while.
As for the heat thang well. On a hot day when you've been tramping
around clutching said device in your hot sticky little paw and
grilling your fingers and your hands are wet with sweat. You're
more likely to drop the camera. The heat will irritate you.
What is this an ad for "Banana Republic"? I don't live in the tropics, and I hate to sweat. The scenario that you propose would have me THROWING the camera at whoever put me in the position that you've described. NOT a problem!
Please understand I'm not rubbsihing the D7. It seems to take
lovely shots. The lense seems very nice. Its good bits are very
good but the bad ones are a tad offputting. For me the battery
issue is a killer. Fine compare your DC to a film camera. For me
one of the best points about DC's isthat they should be able to
take many more shots than a film camera before needing attention
for film changes. Now the DC's like the E10 can take 250-300 shots
on a set of batteries they fulfill this criteria for me.
Our needs/wants/desires are different. I want a camera that I can "bum around with" and get good photos. I do intend to continue shooting the "serious stuff" with film. This takes the place of 35mm when I'm too lazy to carry a kit, in an experimental mood when I want immediate feedback, when I'm too cheap to use film, when I want to be able to show prints made MY way within a few hours or days (color darkrooms stink! - literally), or when I'm doing something for money and it will do the job.
For the most part prosumers buy a camera as a package. So they look
for something that look good. Feels good and offers them as many of
the facilities of the pro cameras as they can get at the price
point. Furthermore of course it must me capable of taking good
pictures.
Reverse the order of each of your points and you have my priorties.
I don't beleive that the D7 does all of these things. It
does some of them but will it be enough - not for me! Then again
look at how. Minoltas SLR's changed design from the days of their
original Minolta 7000 to their latest in the range. They seem to go
from boxy to standard camera shape - big curvy handgrip/textured
finsih etc.
If you guys should go ahead with the D7 enjoy it. It certainly
seems to be capable of producing great shots in the right hands.
For the moment though I'll stick with my E10 and look enviously at
anything which weighs less.
If I had an E-10 I wouldn't be looking to trade either - in my mind they're both in the same "generation". But I will prefer the D7 over the E-10. Nothing is more frustrating to me than needing a few more mm's or a few less and not having them available. Getting an increased focal length range at NO penalty in image quality seals the deal for me.
Note all the comments above constitute my own opinions and mine alone.
As do mine.
