Excitement for digital cameras dying...

[FujiSigmaNolta]

...personally. I hear about all these new digital cameras and it's all great but I don't feel that excited anymore about new digital cameras. The last time I was really excited by news of new digital cameras was with the Nikon D700 and Sony A900. But what I now really get excited about is film cameras and the last time I was really really excited about a camera was when I got my Zorki, my first rangefinder and I find myself going out with it all the time now.

May be it's just a phase but these days when I go surfing the web for cameras I find myself looking at classic film cameras and wishing to get a Nikon F100 or a Minolta Dynax 9 or a Nikon F5 and find plenty of time and cash to develop film. I now these days go out with a DSLR in the bag but it only sees the light of day for stuff that is either news worthy or stuff I feel that I need to put out there imediately. I have been using the Zorki and my now repaired (WD40ed) Fujica ST605 more than anything else. I received my process paid Sensia trannies yesterday and I was both amazed at the quality of the lenses, film, the color and excited. I just don't get exactly the same buzz anymore with digital, except maybe when I shoot with my Minolta 7D.

I think may it's just that using film and manual cameras just remind me of what photography is really about, taking great pictures, enjoying it, switch off from all the technicalities and trusting your instincts.

[sillyconguru]

Ditto.

[Barney]

I think may it's just that using film and manual cameras just remind me of what photography is really about, taking great pictures, enjoying it, switch off from all the technicalities and trusting your instincts.

I thought it was all about the fit birds, innt?

[nspur]

I think that's rubbish. I'm TREMENDOUSLY EXCITED about the new Olympus Micro FourThirds (and so is Barney) and I can't wait to get one.

This, you should know, is from someone who has over 100 mechanical cameras with many more times that in lenses and collected over a number of years and many of them still used. I think I'm going to put some XP-2 in my Pen-EE2 tomorrow in anticipation.

[Benchista]

I'm quite excited by that, and even more excited about my IR-converted DSLR, and also about DSLR video, and sadly, not remotely excited about film right now. That'll change, it goes in phases somewhat.

[DaveG40]

Commercially I have no doubt that all the manufacturer's are all excited, personally I look at the cameras currently available and think; And ?. Take the latest Nikon, the 5000, would I buy that or the D90?,it just seems to be a belated clone of some cameras that came out a while ago, the Eos 50d, was it a vast improvement over the 40d?, the new Alpha's coming out don't excite me at all. it seems to be a case of same old........ and with the exception of image stablization and anti dust, most cameras seem to be on a par/very similar once you look inside, is a canon really better than a Nikon, better than a Sony. etc.etc, surely it's the photographer that makes the difference ?. I could have the most expensive camera on the planet and still not produce a better composed photo than a pro with a cheap p&s.

I like my d-slr and the photo's it produces but for sheer fun & excitement I love using my little TZ3, no worries over what lens to fit just point and shoot, I'm like a big kid with that in my hands but as soon as the d-slr's picked up, I get all serious.

I think you're enjoying film because it encompasses what photography is all about; "you" producing a memory without the aid of the latest "lazy" tech.

[FujiSigmaNolta]

I think that's rubbish. I'm TREMENDOUSLY EXCITED about the new Olympus Micro FourThirds (and so is Barney) and I can't wait to get one.

Why is it rubbish? It's only my personal opinion, it's like rubbishing someone favouring apples over pears. It's good that you are tremendously excited about it, but I'm not.

[FujiSigmaNolta]

Commercially I have no doubt that all the manufacturer's are all excited, personally I look at the cameras currently available and think; And ?. Take the latest Nikon, the 5000, would I buy that or the D90?,it just seems to be a belated clone of some cameras that came out a while ago, the Eos 50d, was it a vast improvement over the 40d?, the new Alpha's coming out don't excite me at all. it seems to be a case of same old........ and with the exception of image stablization and anti dust, most cameras seem to be on a par/very similar once you look inside

That's part of the reason why I am not that excited about all these new digital cameras. Even though the cameras may suit and excite many, I have a slight feeling that the manufacturers have kind of turn to each other in a war of specs. The video thing for example, I am still not sure if I would prefer that over a camcorder, but again that is me, I'm the type of person that prefers to have a PDA and a phone instead of a Smartphone for example.

[FujiSigmaNolta]

I think may it's just that using film and manual cameras just remind me of what photography is really about, taking great pictures, enjoying it, switch off from all the technicalities and trusting your instincts.

I thought it was all about the fit birds, innt?

Of course it is! They do tend to look more when I am lugging my Kiev 6C and it can help kick off a conversation.

[Barney]

I'm quite excited by that, and even more excited about my IR-converted DSLR, and also about DSLR video, and sadly, not remotely excited about film right now. That'll change, it goes in phases somewhat.

I have to say that the only excitement I've ever had with film has inevitably led to total underwhelment when I got the prints back.

[Barney]

I think that's rubbish. I'm TREMENDOUSLY EXCITED about the new Olympus Micro FourThirds (and so is Barney) and I can't wait to get one.

I'm more excited than a chav with Elizabeth Duke vouchers.

[GeoffR]

I have to agree, none of the current crop of DSLRs has so far prompted me to run out an exercise my plastic. I wouldn't mind a D3 but only when the price falls below £2,000, new or used. Otherwise, I don't want Video, an articulated screen, live view or most of the other new technologies even a built in flash is extraneous as far as I am concerned.

[jeallen01]

I'm the type of person that prefers to have a PDA and a phone instead of a Smartphone for example.

Having had, about 3yrs ago, both a PDA and a basic mobile phone, but now having a (now quite old style) HTC K-Jam smartphone, I can certainly say that I would not go back to the older pair! Two units to carry around (and lose!), different battery/charger/memory card types versus one unit that does all I need in a smaller (albeit not tiny - the K-Jam is definitely not that) package with more facilities.

No way would you get me back to the old pair of devices, but - OTOH - not going to go the other direction and get an I-Phone etc., just yet (unless the company buys me one - which I doubt!).

John

& PS - Get more use out of my GX10 & A720 than I ever got with the older MZ-5, fewer duff prints, and at a lower print cost. OTOH - ain't buying the latest CaNikonPentax either!

[FujiSigmaNolta]

But then if you lose one device you are actually losing two!
There goes you phone AND your PDA!
But there is more to my PDA than just that. My PDA has SD and CF slots,WiFi,Bluetooth and a 3D graphics card and I also have a selection of devices I can connect to it (CF Mobile card for voice calls/mobile broadband if I need and a 1 port CF USB Host adapter which I haven't yet received) as well as a wireless keyboard. I use it for when I really want to travel light (with no laptop that is). I like modularity in devices. As you can see I like advances but only when they offer substantially more advantages and tangible useful ones at that, even if I have to rely on separate devices.
But I don't really feel the same for the current stage of things with digital cameras, as I said I think the manufacturers are more interested in the pi****g contest. That coupled with the fact that I do feel more excited with film when I get my frames back or when I develop my film at home and I always get something useable from them.

[Simon_King]

I think that's rubbish. I'm TREMENDOUSLY EXCITED about the new Olympus Micro FourThirds (and so is Barney) and I can't wait to get one.

Why is it rubbish? It's only my personal opinion, it's like rubbishing someone favouring apples over pears. It's good that you are tremendously excited about it, but I'm not.

That's rubbish I much prefer apples, don't like pears at all

But seriously I think a lot of things go in cycles at a social level and a personal level. In terms of cameras I got excited when the Canon 40D came out and when the 5D MkII. I think it will be a while before I take a serious look at camera bodies. At the moment I'm going through cycles in terms of what pictures to take.

All good fun though!

Cheers
Simon