Digital Camera market forecast...

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: OdiN
Others can't just "go for it". I have about $5000 of glass in Canon. I also don't see the Nikons as all that "market-changing" as you say. Not that they look bad, but there isn't anything in them that is market-changing.

I find myself in your boat, Odin.

EF 16-35 f/2.8 L
EF 24mm f/1.4 L
EF 24-105mm, f/4, L IS
EF 70-300mm, f/4.5-5.6 DO IS
EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS

I also had an EF 50mm f/1.4, but it got stolen.

Just keep upgrading the bodies. Would love the auto sensor cleaner in my 5D, plus a bit more weather proofing.

 

[teatime0315]

Originally posted by: corkyg

Originally posted by: OdiN
Others can't just "go for it". I have about $5000 of glass in Canon. I also don't see the Nikons as all that "market-changing" as you say. Not that they look bad, but there isn't anything in them that is market-changing.

I find myself in your boat, Odin.

EF 16-35 f/2.8 L
EF 24mm f/1.4 L
EF 24-105mm, f/4, L IS
EF 70-300mm, f/4.5-5.6 DO IS
EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS

I also had an EF 50mm f/1.4, but it got stolen.

Just keep upgrading the bodies. Would love the auto sensor cleaner in my 5D, plus a bit more weather proofing.

Wow didn't know people stole camera gear ... That sucks!!

 

[PowerRanger]

Unfortunately, camera gear are often prime targets for thieves.

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: PowerRanger
Unfortunately, camera gear are often prime targets for thieves.

Correct! I have replaced most of the "lost" items, but here is the list of what was taken:

Items Lost/Stolen, LAX, 13 June 2007:

Canon EOS 5D Digital SLR body, S/N 0296B002[AA]
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens, S/N 0344B002[AA]
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM lens, S/N 9321A002[AA]
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM lens, S/N 2515A003[AA]
Canon Electronic Flash Speedlite 580EX

The above items were in a Lowepro "Off Road" black bag (shoulder and waist harness) with a cylindrical lens case fastened to each side.

This all happened in the Lufthansa area at LAX, and it was under construction - the entire TSA screening area was nothing short of chaos. I was carrying too many things and helping my wife, etc., and didn't realize the bag was missing until we were called to board the plane for Frankfurt.

Needless to say, I didn't sleep very well that night. I spent a lot of effort trying to contact LAX lost and found and TSA - but nothing.

I have now gone to a single backpack for camera gear and laptop, and believe me - it will never be beyond my touch again.

Also, I could not find any sort of registry for stolen items and their serial numbers Anybody know of one? As you can see, I had the serial numbers for everything but the 580EX.

 

[AndrewR]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: AndrewR

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny
I wonder how the sensor thing works. Canon does all the sensor stuff in house, from designing to fabrication. Nikon has Sony sensors, but I don't know how their relationship is:

Is Nikon designing the sensors and just contracting the fabrication out to Sony?
Is Nikon contracting out BOTH sensor design and fabrication out to Sony? Kind of an awkward relationship.
Is Nikon going to attempt to install sensor fabrication facilities of their own, or just keep on relying on Sony, a competitor?

I believe the relationship is the middle one with Sony designing and building the sensors for Nikon. I do think that Nikon has control over the design, however -- ie., designed by Sony in accordance with direction from Nikon. I'm not positive but that's what I've been led to believe in reading for awhile.

I would be surprised if Nikon would start fabricating its own sensors simply because the capital expenditure in starting a fab facility would have to be high. I wouldn't be terribly surprised to see them having an in-house design facility but then attracting the best talent might be difficult and/or expensive.

Sony makes too much off of sensor sales to ever jeopardize the relationship with Nikon. Any move would come from Nikon itself, which I can't see happening unless something occurs to make them question the wisdom of the arrangement. It seems to have worked for both so far. Sony is large enough to design for both itself and for Nikon separately.

the sensor in the D3 is made by nikon. which makes me wonder how sony is coming on it's 35 mm sensor. perhaps nikon wanted a lower res sensor (12 MP) for their high speed model (to compete with the 1D) that sony wasn't interested in producing and will use a higher resolution sony sensor for the D3x (which would also end up in a sony high end camera). though if sony is making sensors for nikon to nikon's spec then my 'perhaps' doesn't make any sense.

That's what I get for not reading anything about the D3. I'd be interested to find out where they (Nikon) are producing that sensor. The difference between the D3 and the D300 (Nikon sourced, Sony sourced) might be volume. Maybe Nikon is capable of producing low rate production sensors to satisfy their professional series, which won't sell all that many, but they don't have the resources to produce enough to satisfy the expected demand for the D300.

 

[GrJohnso]

The bottom line here, no matter your brand loyalty, the improvements in DSLR's this year are not disappointing so far. I'm curious to see how the new Sony AA camera differs from the D300, as they share the same basic sensor as a starting point. It'll be sometime in 2008 before we see how they decide to enter the pro market. In the meantime, they really, really need to start polishing some nice glass, otherwise all the bodies and technology in the world won't save them. Sure, lot's of old good Minolta glass out there, but not enough to support the "Alpha System" that Sony is pushing... Most of their consumers want to buy new, and there's just not much there for them right now..

In the meantime, love what Nikon has done to keep themselves in the game.. Good stuff all around... Every company out there is pushing the standards up... Bottom line is all good for the consumer, no matter what flavor you like..

 

[AndrewR]

Originally posted by: GrJohnso
The bottom line here, no matter your brand loyalty, the improvements in DSLR's this year are not disappointing so far. I'm curious to see how the new Sony AA camera differs from the D300, as they share the same basic sensor as a starting point. It'll be sometime in 2008 before we see how they decide to enter the pro market. In the meantime, they really, really need to start polishing some nice glass, otherwise all the bodies and technology in the world won't save them. Sure, lot's of old good Minolta glass out there, but not enough to support the "Alpha System" that Sony is pushing... Most of their consumers want to buy new, and there's just not much there for them right now..

In the meantime, love what Nikon has done to keep themselves in the game.. Good stuff all around... Every company out there is pushing the standards up... Bottom line is all good for the consumer, no matter what flavor you like..

The quality of Alpha lenses is not an issue -- the price is. The Sony macro (based on 100mm Minolta f/2.8) is top notch. The 70-200/2.8G SSM is easily a match for the Canon and Nikon counterparts as is the 300/2.8G SSM. The 35/1.4G is supposed to be fantastic, and the 135mm STF is a unique lens with perhaps the best bokeh around. Then there are the three (soon to be five+?) Carl Zeiss lenses: 16-80/3.5-4.5, 85/1.4, 135/1.8, which all are very impressive.

BUT, the prices are insane: List on the 70-200G is $2300 (Adorama) compared to Canon's (with IS) at $1700 (B&H). Until Sony can price their glass comparably, they will have significant problems.