Mike Kuder
Well-known member
Hi all.
Since this forum tends to overflow with questions concerning the timeliness of purchases vs. the next "best thing" I thought I would post with my own take on the situation. As always these are my opinions and you may or may not agree. I respect that and encourage good dialog on the subject at hand.
First by way of information about me. I set up my first B&W darkroom about 25 years ago when I was 13. It was great fun and taught me tons about the art of photography. I can still remember the joy when I went to NYC one day and bought my first SLR - a Nikon FE from 47th st. photo. At the time it was the be-all and end-all to my photographic needs.
I used the camera exclusively up until about 5 years ago when, because I was expecting my first child, I decided to get with the "modern age" of 35mm. I bought a canon elanII and some lenses for about $800. It was to me the best gear I had ever used - and surely I would use it forever.
Well needless to say it was still a film camera and I caught the digital bug when I bought a coolpix 990. This digital thing was revolutionary!!! How could you ever want more? This would be the camera I would use for years and years!
Needless to say the old cp990 had some fatal flaws. The image quality was super, but forget about quick focus. And forget about sports, and, and...
So about 6 months later I decided to get a d30. I had never ever imaged spending over two thousand dollars on a camera. That to me is absurd. But I bought one. And absolutely loved it. I still do. The image quality is stunning. But the camera has some fatal flaws. AF is bad. At high ISO noise is bad. Etc. Etc. But I have learned more about the art of photography since aquiring it than I had in the past 15 years combined. And my results with the d30 are surely the best I have ever had.
So as relates to "should I buy now...should I wait" my conclusions are:
1. No digital camera you buy now will be your last. This is because with digital there has been a fundamental paradigm shift. The digi-cam is no longer an optical device. It is (only) a highly sophisticated, incredibly complex computer that is dedicated to the task of converting light waves into electronic, digital data. As such the digi-cam has entered the (straight down) rollercoaster known as obsolescence. No matter what or when you buy - you are buying old. There are ALWAYS better things to come. The manufacturers are already testing them! This is primarily because unlike a film based camera your capture medium, the sensor, is hardwired to the camera. With film there aren't really any major advances to camera design left. It is the film that has been changing, not the camera. With digital it is exactly the opposite.
2. In my experience I am not nor have I ever met anyone who is entirely satisfied with their digital camera. Regardless of cost or brand. Everyone has a gripe. And EVERYONE wants something better. Period. This is because digital imaging is still in its infancy. Such issues as exposure latitude, ISO noise,AF, color interpolation, etc. will continue to be greatly improved upon in the future. That is the nature of the electronic beast. And once again its not simply a matter of changing from kodak max800 to fuji press 800. You have to change the camera !
3. Based on the above conclusions what you and I are doing by buying anything now, Ladies and Gentleman, is providing Canon, Nikon etc with cashflow for their R&D into the cameras we all really want to have. That's not a bad thing, not at all, but we must recognize this is where we are at.
4. Therefore, buy that camera that will serve your needs as closely as possible today, in the here and now. Decide on the manufacturer that you want to build a system around. It is much more than a camera. As many of us know it is really the lenses that cost the money! If you like Canon, go Canon. If you like Nikon go with them. But make a conscious decision in that regard.
5. Enjoy what you have now and use it, use it, use it. Practice and perfect now so that when the really good stuff comes along you will be ready to take full advantage of it!
Personally, I plan on skipping a generation or two of DSLR's. Despite its shortcomings my needs are met reasonbly well enough by the d30. And I simply cannot afford to spend $2-5K every time Canon brings out their new "best." As a very serious amateur I don't like it- but I have to put up with it- because things like transportation, kids clothes and a mortgage have to take priority.
But I really want.....
Thanks for your time...good luck!
Mike
Since this forum tends to overflow with questions concerning the timeliness of purchases vs. the next "best thing" I thought I would post with my own take on the situation. As always these are my opinions and you may or may not agree. I respect that and encourage good dialog on the subject at hand.
First by way of information about me. I set up my first B&W darkroom about 25 years ago when I was 13. It was great fun and taught me tons about the art of photography. I can still remember the joy when I went to NYC one day and bought my first SLR - a Nikon FE from 47th st. photo. At the time it was the be-all and end-all to my photographic needs.
I used the camera exclusively up until about 5 years ago when, because I was expecting my first child, I decided to get with the "modern age" of 35mm. I bought a canon elanII and some lenses for about $800. It was to me the best gear I had ever used - and surely I would use it forever.
Well needless to say it was still a film camera and I caught the digital bug when I bought a coolpix 990. This digital thing was revolutionary!!! How could you ever want more? This would be the camera I would use for years and years!
Needless to say the old cp990 had some fatal flaws. The image quality was super, but forget about quick focus. And forget about sports, and, and...
So about 6 months later I decided to get a d30. I had never ever imaged spending over two thousand dollars on a camera. That to me is absurd. But I bought one. And absolutely loved it. I still do. The image quality is stunning. But the camera has some fatal flaws. AF is bad. At high ISO noise is bad. Etc. Etc. But I have learned more about the art of photography since aquiring it than I had in the past 15 years combined. And my results with the d30 are surely the best I have ever had.
So as relates to "should I buy now...should I wait" my conclusions are:
1. No digital camera you buy now will be your last. This is because with digital there has been a fundamental paradigm shift. The digi-cam is no longer an optical device. It is (only) a highly sophisticated, incredibly complex computer that is dedicated to the task of converting light waves into electronic, digital data. As such the digi-cam has entered the (straight down) rollercoaster known as obsolescence. No matter what or when you buy - you are buying old. There are ALWAYS better things to come. The manufacturers are already testing them! This is primarily because unlike a film based camera your capture medium, the sensor, is hardwired to the camera. With film there aren't really any major advances to camera design left. It is the film that has been changing, not the camera. With digital it is exactly the opposite.
2. In my experience I am not nor have I ever met anyone who is entirely satisfied with their digital camera. Regardless of cost or brand. Everyone has a gripe. And EVERYONE wants something better. Period. This is because digital imaging is still in its infancy. Such issues as exposure latitude, ISO noise,AF, color interpolation, etc. will continue to be greatly improved upon in the future. That is the nature of the electronic beast. And once again its not simply a matter of changing from kodak max800 to fuji press 800. You have to change the camera !
3. Based on the above conclusions what you and I are doing by buying anything now, Ladies and Gentleman, is providing Canon, Nikon etc with cashflow for their R&D into the cameras we all really want to have. That's not a bad thing, not at all, but we must recognize this is where we are at.
4. Therefore, buy that camera that will serve your needs as closely as possible today, in the here and now. Decide on the manufacturer that you want to build a system around. It is much more than a camera. As many of us know it is really the lenses that cost the money! If you like Canon, go Canon. If you like Nikon go with them. But make a conscious decision in that regard.
5. Enjoy what you have now and use it, use it, use it. Practice and perfect now so that when the really good stuff comes along you will be ready to take full advantage of it!
Personally, I plan on skipping a generation or two of DSLR's. Despite its shortcomings my needs are met reasonbly well enough by the d30. And I simply cannot afford to spend $2-5K every time Canon brings out their new "best." As a very serious amateur I don't like it- but I have to put up with it- because things like transportation, kids clothes and a mortgage have to take priority.
But I really want.....
Thanks for your time...good luck!
Mike
.. and the E10 will see my current museum contract through (til November)..
