A new record in the game of "Leap To Conclusions".
If I spent 1100 bucks on the camera in the UK, I'd convince myself it was a briiliant camera, and I'd tell everyone, and I'd defend it.... but then the wife would also have something to say about spending that prestige amount on a very average product too ;-) be afraid...be very afraid... LOL... Gregs a brave man!
I can pretty much agree with all that
That's where I think you've veered off a bit. One thing you have to take into account with the GRD is how small it is. The Canon cameras that are similar in size to the GRD are the SD series. Now lets compare the GRD to Canon's wide angle offering in that size class, the SD870 IS. The GRD sensor is 1/1.75", SD870 is 1/2.5". GRD lens is f/2.4 (despite the significantly larger sensor), sharp across the frame, and has virtually no distortion. The SD870 lens has corner/edge softness and barrel distortion on the wide end. Even if one looks into less compact (A650/G9/S80 size) cameras, there are none with a wide lens (28mm or wider) that is distortion free, as fast as the GRD, and sharp across the frame. There is a significant gain that comes with acceptance of a fixed focal length lens in the GRD. There are also other niceties like the RAW buffer, build, controls, etc.
and
No. It's probably "best" that he gets rid of it and not think at all about other people's attitudes toward it. No matter how well it might suit other people, it did not suit him, and apparently not just by a little bit.
The DP1 afficionados wax prosaic in their evaluations of the camera based solely on image quality. Potential image quality isn't the only thing one buys a camera for. Basic functionality is important to any fair cross section of potential users, and only a minority of folks will suffer an expensive camera with excellent potential image quality in a slow, primitive, and expensive compact camera package. Other folks tout the inherent quality of film view cameras with the same call to ignore the incovenience, enforced slowness, and price. That's fine for a select group of users. It's not for many interested bystanders.
Notice that it's his girl friend who didn't like it... no ideal of what she seeks in a camera, but thus I assume it's not image quality as a primary quality...
I don't find it 'slow, primitive' true it's more (US$799 than other cameras), but it has some unique qualities. The photos are really, really good. I buy a camera for the photos. Plus the DP1 is really small and light, lighter than any lens I own. It's like an excellent prime... that's a camera... that fits in my purse. And did I say that the photos are excellent?
Well, bully for you that the DP1 is your photographic cup of tea. It still does not diminish the OP opinions or impressions (which I also share), of the DP1's shortcomings.
Yes, it certainly did. It drove home the point that it's foolish to dismiss a camera after a few minutes of use.
Why? That sounds rather foolish.
Just because we like to offset the endless discussions saying "the LCD is poor", or "the contrast AF is not as fast as my DSLR".
Greg - I didn't mean for this to be quite as flippant as it ended up being, and I apologize if you felt slighted at all (at one point below I mistakenly called you a troll not recognizing your name).
