First, turner5078 asked:
"Will anyone join me in shouting to Sony to create a successor to the R1.
Same general spec, but with CCD stabiliser, better macro capability and slightly longer reach on the lens.
I hazard a guess that the R1 is the last of it's kind, as a successor would steal sales of A700 along with other D-SLR.
However, if enough of us wanted the product, surely Sony would have to take notice as the profits would be huge.
I know this doesn't really invite questions, but if we all subscribe, maybe someone at Sony will take note and be brave enough to endorse an upgrade of a legend."
these discussions number in maybe the scores, going back a year and
half.
There are many that want an R2....extremely unlikely its coming, Sony
has switched to interchangeable lens systems so they can sell, well,
lenses.
I don't mind adding my name and wants to another list though.
Lastly, improve high ISO only by increasing the size of the
photosites, not through processing. Thats a big please, please.
thanks
dave
ps, make an R2-L with a long lens like a 36-200 equiv and charge an
arm and a leg for it...I'll buy that too.
I'm going to side with David and additionally, suggest that most other ideas I've read are half-baked. I also don't think it's quite time for the R2 and when it appears I can assure you it will NOT be called an "R2". The next step is probably what is called an EVIL camera ("Electronic Viewfinder...Interchangeable Lens"). I say this because w/o interchangeable lenses, Sony won't look twice at the suggestions you come up with. Besides, as David says, we already made a comprehensive list of R2 ideas 12-18 months ago. I'm getting tired of holding my breath...
One interesting observation is that of all the discontinued Sony cameras, the R1 continues to attract new owners who are thrilled with the IQ. Like right now, there are 10 R1/R2 threads on the front page of STF!
SO, what is possible for an EVIL R2? Taking David's list:
1. Please don't change the lens.
Sony made a BIG investment in the T* lens from Zeiss. It's the ONLY lens like it in the world! We'd be silly to suggest that this lens not be continued, as that single-handedly would kill the project.
2. Please don't add more pixels.
This is equivalent to asking Sony to ignore all the advice of their Marketing departments. When the Marketing guys hear this, they will dig their heels in. David is right, of course. The marketing guys are idiots. But unfortunately, they run the company. Thus if an R2 appears, it WILL have more pixels.
3. Please leave the noise reduction decisions to us
I would have asked for an option to killl the in-camera NR. I think that is what David is suggesting.
4. Please greatly improve focus speed and reliability
This will require an invention. It can't be done unless Sony figures out another way to do AF. Small improvements can be affected by increasing the processor speed and using a faster AF motor. Perhaps that will be enough?
5. Please make the exposure bracket completely configurable i.e. 4
stops
That one is easy. Zero cost. But, unless they have that feature in their "big" cameras, it probably won't appear in an R2.
6. Please return the custom white balance to a one push system (like
F series)
I think that would be good. Another way would be to use the system normally done with dSLRs, which is to take a pic of a white/neutral card and then reference that pic to do the custom WB. That method has some nice benefits:
1. Each white frame signals a new WB group.
2. You can reference the white frame hours later to do the same custom WB.
7. Please improve the size of the RAW files, jpeg shouldn't be
mandatory
David has 2 requests here: 1) to losslessly reduce the size of the RAW files and 2) to allow a RAW w/o a JPEG. To do lossless compression, a faster processor is required.
8. Please increase shoot speed to 5 fps
This also takes a faster processor.
Although, with a short FL lens like the 14.3mm - 71.5mm zoom on the R1, IS is not much use, it WILL be effective for the OTHER lenses!
10. Make wireless connectivity an option, make wireless flash
control an option
@#$%, I'd be happy if they just increased the serial bus speed past 9600 baud! That is what makes the external flash worthless. But, yes, it Sony could do something comparable to what Nikon has done with it's flash system, that would go a long way to making people believe that Sony is serious. I'd love to see Bluetooth connectivity so that I can have a GPS receiver on my waist and find GPS data in the EXIF!
But David forgot a few important things:
1. Put the 2-3 second self timer back in.
2. Increase the size of the internal buffer (cache).
3. Get rid of the speed handicap on the CF slot!
I second his suggestion to create a 2nd SBF lens for the R2. I think a 50-250 would be about right. If the 1.7X tele can work on this new lens too, it would give the R2 the equivalent reach of a 425mm. Some may think that a dSLR type FL converter (ie, one mounted between the lens and body) would be better. Might be, but I'm not sure that is will be good with a SBF design. Besides, a converter located on the end of the lens doesn't reduce the "speed" of the lens by 1.7X. To get good, fast AF with long FL lenses, it's important to make the lens have a large aperture (small F:#).
--
Charlie Davis
Nikon 5700 & Sony R1
HomePage:
http://www.1derful.info
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