Damien Demolder
Obi-Tharg-Koala
Reged: 22/08/2001
Posts: 1660
Loc: Essex born and badly-bred
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If I owned a car-manufacturing firm, I’d build a machine with a modern engine and a body shape that recreated the age when cars really had character and personalities. Modern cars seem all the same to me. I can appreciate that certain shapes use less fuel, but why does everything appear to be based on the original Ford Mondeo?
Cameras have been going the same way for some time. The basic SLR shape, with its slim body, bulbous prism head and cylindrical protrusion of a lens at the front obviously works, and we’ve been looking at it again and again over the past 50 years. Canon recently celebrated a half-century in the SLR business and displayed a cabinet of major models throughout that age. As interesting as I found them, it struck me that not much has changed.
I have a limited collection of cameras, none of which is really worth anything but all of which are interesting from a visual or innovation point of view. They are, on the whole, beautiful and inspiring to look at and to use. If this new Olympus Micro Four Thirds body (see News this week) really does resemble the wonderful Pen half-frame cameras of the 1960s, it will be a very welcome change.
To take part in our poll What kind of camera design would you prefer? head to the homepage.
Thanks for playing
Damien
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See my photographs at www.wordsonpictures.com
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Hotblack
Dead Horse Flogger
Reged: 07/03/2006
Posts: 8741
Loc: Upstairs in the spare room.
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There's no 'I don't mind as long as it works' option.
I have a medium format TLR and a modern DSLR. I like both and have no preference over design as long as they work.
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Cheers
David
David J White Photography
An over-equipped, over-sensitive, self-important, cliquey nerd who feels inadequate and inferior.
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Barney
Baht 'at
Reged: 16/12/2005
Posts: 11487
Loc: Harrogate, North Yorks
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What kind of camera design would you prefer? Modern and sleek? Retro and cool? Hmm, how about modern, sleek, with retro references amking it uber cool? 
At the end of the day, good design is the combination of form and function. In the past, manufacturing costs often shaped design over and above other considerations. These days, design can lead manufcaturing, look at Apple products to see how good design can rejuvinate an entire brand.
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"Wrong on so many different levels."
Blog - Contre Dour - Capturing the ordinary for posterity.
Flickr
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Barney
Baht 'at
Reged: 16/12/2005
Posts: 11487
Loc: Harrogate, North Yorks
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Quote:
There's no 'I don't mind as long as it works' option.
I have a medium format TLR and a modern DSLR. I like both and have no preference over design as long as they work.
But the way something works depends on how it has been designed. 
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"Wrong on so many different levels."
Blog - Contre Dour - Capturing the ordinary for posterity.
Flickr
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Wheelu
addict
Reged: 31/10/2007
Posts: 568
Loc: UK, up North
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Modern DSLRs are too large, heavy and unwieldy. My favourite camera type is the very compact SLR with an excellent clear viewfinder, as per the Pentax ME/MX,Olympus OM1. I still prefer the experience of using these cameras to my DSLR, but, sadly, the results from the DSLR are technically better. If only it were possible to pack a FF sensor into that size of body; until that happens I'll struggle on with the Canon - while having fun with film. 
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Web Site
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Fen
BAD WOLF
Reged: 12/03/2002
Posts: 25738
Loc: London'ish
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I have one word to say on this...
EPOCA!
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Fen .......... My Fen's AP Galleries - My Blog - My Flickr
"Apologies to right-eyed shooters. You're screwed."
- Joe Mcnally
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beejaybee
Marvin
Reged: 18/07/2007
Posts: 6283
Loc: Really Here In Name Only
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Quote:
Modern DSLRs are too large, heavy and unwieldy. My favourite camera type is the very compact SLR with an excellent clear viewfinder, as per the Pentax ME/MX,Olympus OM1. I still prefer the experience of using these cameras to my DSLR, but, sadly, the results from the DSLR are technically better. If only it were possible to pack a FF sensor into that size of body; until that happens I'll struggle on with the Canon - while having fun with film.
Agree wholeheartedly.
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Hotblack
Dead Horse Flogger
Reged: 07/03/2006
Posts: 8741
Loc: Upstairs in the spare room.
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Quote:
Quote:
There's no 'I don't mind as long as it works' option.
I have a medium format TLR and a modern DSLR. I like both and have no preference over design as long as they work.
But the way something works depends on how it has been designed.
The question is 'What kind of design do you prefer?' (modern/sleek or retro/cool). I'm just pointing out that I don't have a preference.
Edited by Hotblack (08/06/2009 13:24)
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jchrisc
Reged: 20/01/2003
Posts: 6098
Loc: Ampthill, Bedfordshire
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Quote:
Quote:
Modern DSLRs are too large, heavy and unwieldy. My favourite camera type is the very compact SLR with an excellent clear viewfinder, as per the Pentax ME/MX,Olympus OM1. I still prefer the experience of using these cameras to my DSLR, but, sadly, the results from the DSLR are technically better. If only it were possible to pack a FF sensor into that size of body; until that happens I'll struggle on with the Canon - while having fun with film.
Agree wholeheartedly.
Me too
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Chris
My memory is getting worse . . . and my conscience clearer
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Barney
Baht 'at
Reged: 16/12/2005
Posts: 11487
Loc: Harrogate, North Yorks
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Modern DSLRs are too large, heavy and unwieldy. My favourite camera type is the very compact SLR with an excellent clear viewfinder, as per the Pentax ME/MX,Olympus OM1. I still prefer the experience of using these cameras to my DSLR, but, sadly, the results from the DSLR are technically better. If only it were possible to pack a FF sensor into that size of body; until that happens I'll struggle on with the Canon - while having fun with film.
Agree wholeheartedly.
Me too
Not me, I think that it's absolute tosh. There are DSLRs to fit all hands. To state that they're all too big is patent hyperbole for all bar the Jimmy Krankies of this world.
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"Wrong on so many different levels."
Blog - Contre Dour - Capturing the ordinary for posterity.
Flickr
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Rhys
Sasquatch
Reged: 15/01/2004
Posts: 4049
Loc: York (home of the speedbump)
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Modern DSLRs are too large, heavy and unwieldy. My favourite camera type is the very compact SLR with an excellent clear viewfinder, as per the Pentax ME/MX,Olympus OM1. I still prefer the experience of using these cameras to my DSLR, but, sadly, the results from the DSLR are technically better. If only it were possible to pack a FF sensor into that size of body; until that happens I'll struggle on with the Canon - while having fun with film.
Agree wholeheartedly.
Me too
Not me, I think that it's absolute tosh. There are DSLRs to fit all hands. To state that they're all too big is patent hyperbole for all bar the Jimmy Krankies of this world.
I agree with Barney, once held a D40 and it was like a toy.
I find hand holding an RB67 comfortable so that's one reason I got my D1x. I wanted something camera sized that I could hand hold as I aint got titchy hands. I've tried my mates D90 and that feels small as well. Mines the perfect size for me and that's the crux of it. One person will find a camera that's perfect for them but someone else will hate it. Doesn't mean to say it's any worse or better.
As for the poll, I don't care what they look like. I like old fashioned cameras as well as new modern ones as long as they do what they are supposed to who cares?
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BSRIPN (Officially full of it..)
RGMP.co.uk (My Website.. getting there at last.)
Benchinistas.org.uk The home of Benchism
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Fen
BAD WOLF
Reged: 12/03/2002
Posts: 25738
Loc: London'ish
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Quote:
Not me, I think that it's absolute tosh. There are DSLRs to fit all hands. To state that they're all too big is patent hyperbole for all bar the Jimmy Krankies of this world.
Agree with Barney. Can't be doing with small cameras. But then we've had that particular discussion before.
As for the the POLL this week... Hard to answer as by 'modern' do you mean smaller?
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Fen .......... My Fen's AP Galleries - My Blog - My Flickr
"Apologies to right-eyed shooters. You're screwed."
- Joe Mcnally
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Damien Demolder
Obi-Tharg-Koala
Reged: 22/08/2001
Posts: 1660
Loc: Essex born and badly-bred
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Quote:
I have one word to say on this...
EPOCA!
I have one of those. Fantastic(ish)
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See my photographs at www.wordsonpictures.com
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GeoffR
Reged: 31/05/2003
Posts: 5068
Loc: Bucks
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Why is there no "Some where in between" option?
I like the simplicity of modern cameras but I want some dedicated controls. An aperture ring and shutter speed dial for instance. You can make a body the size of an OM1 as long as I can have the digital equivalent of an MD2 to make it big enough to hold comfortably.
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beejaybee
Marvin
Reged: 18/07/2007
Posts: 6283
Loc: Really Here In Name Only
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Quote:
I agree with Barney, once held a D40 and it was like a toy.
Fisher-Price, creaky thin plastic.
I want a solid feeling pro grade camera substantially smaller than existing models. There aren't any on the market, even the Oly E-3 is huge compared with the OM-1. The weight bothers me less.
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Barney
Baht 'at
Reged: 16/12/2005
Posts: 11487
Loc: Harrogate, North Yorks
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Quote:
I want a solid feeling pro grade camera substantially smaller than existing models. There aren't any on the market, even the Oly E-3 is huge compared with the OM-1. The weight bothers me less.
I want to be the meat in a Kelly Brooke and Melanie Sykes sandwich but it ain't going to happen (they're far too jealous so I have to see them separately. 
The fact is that you're comparing different types of cameras. You're not going to get a full frame pro specced camera the same size as an OM-1 in the near future, one because manufacturers aren't there yet from a tenchnology stand point and two, becuase the majority of people who are prepared to pay for a pro specced body either weant a larger size (e.g. me) or would be prepared to pay the premium required minimise one and so therefore are to take the size and weight as a compromise.
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"Wrong on so many different levels."
Blog - Contre Dour - Capturing the ordinary for posterity.
Flickr
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Zou
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 05/02/2007
Posts: 3042
Loc: Edinburgh
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Modern and sleek? Like what exactly? - they're all big fat plastic lumps next to a M* Pentax or OM* Olympus.
No surprises when I say retro for me.
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Zou's Flickr Page
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DaveS
old hand
Reged: 22/06/2007
Posts: 817
Loc: Acton, West London.
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I really don't care what it looks like so long as it's fuctional and efficiant.
You could say that (D)SLRs look the same for the same reason that Ichtheosaurs, fish and dolphins look the same...well same-ish.
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DaveS's Flickr Photos
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parisian
Over the hill and far away...
Reged: 10/02/2002
Posts: 9299
Loc: Môn mam cymru
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Just while you are mentioning the OM1/2 and the Pentax MX ( both of which I have owned in the past) the classic retro body with top of the league digital innards is of course the Leica M8 series. Nowt plasticky about that in any way, a street smaller than the Pro. Nikons and Canons but just as good image wise as the best of them.
Just a reminder........
Click to view - 151k
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Hells pensioner - born to be mild
JustMono
Edited by Fen (08/06/2009 17:03)
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Dave_Cox
old'n'grumpy
Reged: 12/07/2006
Posts: 4366
Loc: The back end of nowhere!
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I answered 'retro and cool', not because they are necessarily better but because that's what I'm used to handling. I find that controls on the older style cameras just fall nicely to hand.
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Growing old disgracefully!
http://snapper56.deviantart.com/gallery/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dave2006/
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