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Comment by Frogfish posted on Am I (we) deluding ourselves? at 05/09/2012 - 10:29
McGregNi wrote:
I'm just thinking about the different technologies and the kind of photographers that will actually spend the money on them. Perhaps there are some key differences between countries and continents? (We all know that camera makers call the same camera a different name in different countries.)
No doubt the marketing people do their research thoroughly, so they must believe they're on to something with the new Compact Systems. I am aware that the largest camera chain in the UK went through a financial crisis in recent years, largely due to the shift (in the lower end of the photography market) away from compact digitals to people using their mobile phones instead. I don't think this loss has been made up by corresponding sales of DSLRs and the accessories needed to go with them.
I believe that a global perspective is needed in order to understand the strategy of camera manufacturers. I'm just thinking about the different technologies and the kind of photographers that will actually spend the money on them. Perhaps there are some key differences between countries and continents? (We all know that camera makers call the same camera a different name in different countries.)
No doubt the marketing people do their research thoroughly, so they must believe they're on to something with the new Compact Systems. I am aware that the largest camera chain in the UK went through a financial crisis in recent years, largely due to the shift (in the lower end of the photography market) away from compact digitals to people using their mobile phones instead. I don't think this loss has been made up by corresponding sales of DSLRs and the accessories needed to go with them.
The USA and Europe are still large markets and will remain so but the amazing growth in huge countries such as China, India and Brazil has lead to an abundance of exceedingly affluent people with a huge, and growing, middle class. Usually these people will buy well known or 'designer' brands and often (females) anything with a high 'cuteness and usability' factor.
These will be major markets (for camera manufacturers), with large disposable incomes, that will exceed that of the USA within 5-10 years (in many other markets - cars for example - China already has). It is my belief that these are the markets that are going to dictate the future of camera design, not that the USA/Europe markets will be ignored, but they are mature markets with relatively conservative buyers who generally know what they want.
Comment by Frogfish posted on Am I (we) deluding ourselves? at 05/09/2012 - 06:12
McGregNi wrote:
As I hinted at above, it seems that the '2nd tier' manufacturers are pushing more and more into the CSC arena - presumably they think it's going to take off? I have my doubts, as most of this equipment (eg. Olympus OM, Fujifilm X-Pro, the high end Lumix range), are actually seriously expensive sytems to buy into, and most will be starting from scratch.
Who is going to be buying all this stuff in great numbers? Surely not the 'masses' taking pictures for facebook on their phones - so if not them, then it must be current or potential DSLR owners. This will surely hit the DSLR market, impacting Canon & Nikon mostly.
Could the tradional DSLR be about to become a more limited and specialised item than it currently is?
You seem to be judging on the basis of e.g. the UK, think global.As I hinted at above, it seems that the '2nd tier' manufacturers are pushing more and more into the CSC arena - presumably they think it's going to take off? I have my doubts, as most of this equipment (eg. Olympus OM, Fujifilm X-Pro, the high end Lumix range), are actually seriously expensive sytems to buy into, and most will be starting from scratch.
Who is going to be buying all this stuff in great numbers? Surely not the 'masses' taking pictures for facebook on their phones - so if not them, then it must be current or potential DSLR owners. This will surely hit the DSLR market, impacting Canon & Nikon mostly.
Could the tradional DSLR be about to become a more limited and specialised item than it currently is?
Comment by Frogfish posted on Am I (we) deluding ourselves? at 04/09/2012 - 17:41
These are superb lenses and IMHO I'd take this over the 50-135mm any day of week. The silent, fast, HSM a big plus.
Comment by Frogfish posted on FS: Sigma 50-150mm at 04/09/2012 - 13:56
Smeggypants wrote:
A Q wouldn't have been able to take some of those great shots.
I wouldn't consider many of these just snapshots
http://bendavisphotography.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/naadam-festival.html
Or this
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OWnv-hpYGT8/UB6nKo3g_II/AAAAAAAAAhg/GsTCtwarwd0/s1600/BEN_2221.jpg
but you were kidding right?
Actually I wasn't ! I hadn't been through the whole blog - just the initial link you gave me : http://bendavisphotography.blogspot.co.uk/A Q wouldn't have been able to take some of those great shots.
I wouldn't consider many of these just snapshots
http://bendavisphotography.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/naadam-festival.html
Or this
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OWnv-hpYGT8/UB6nKo3g_II/AAAAAAAAAhg/GsTCtwarwd0/s1600/BEN_2221.jpg
but you were kidding right?
which is about 100 mainly snapshots, hence my comment. Those new links are much finer work.
Comment by Frogfish posted on Am I (we) deluding ourselves? at 04/09/2012 - 11:11
Smeggypants wrote:
Nikon friend of mine recently bought a D800 and has taken a long holiday to travel across Asia ... he's updating his blog almost daily, and has taken some fantastic pics -- click on them bigger versions
http://bendavisphotography.blogspot.co.uk/
worth looking at from a purely photography POV rather than brands
Very nice blog ! Don't think he needed to cart along a D800 though. For the snapshots he's taking a Nex or Q would have been perfect Nikon friend of mine recently bought a D800 and has taken a long holiday to travel across Asia ... he's updating his blog almost daily, and has taken some fantastic pics -- click on them bigger versions
http://bendavisphotography.blogspot.co.uk/
worth looking at from a purely photography POV rather than brands
Comment by Frogfish posted on Am I (we) deluding ourselves? at 04/09/2012 - 04:51
Smeggypants wrote:
the 1D MKIII is a previous generation camera to the K5 though. It would be interesting to compare the K5 with, say, a D800. Maybe Frogfish could elaborate?
I plan to run some side by side tests of the D800 against the K5 in the near future. I fear I will not be permitted to post them on here though. Suffice to say that the resolution blows me away. the 1D MKIII is a previous generation camera to the K5 though. It would be interesting to compare the K5 with, say, a D800. Maybe Frogfish could elaborate?
However it is also true that unless you are making heavy crops (birding) or for comparative purposes (100% crops) then I agree that printed on A3 you are probably not going to notice an IQ difference to the K5 - and that A3 probably covers 95% of all togs' printed requirements.
Comment by Frogfish posted on Am I (we) deluding ourselves? at 03/09/2012 - 20:10
#1 is just gorgeous but the spider & lunch is the killer shot
Comment by Frogfish posted on Sheffield Garden Wildlife Images at 03/09/2012 - 10:40
jeallen01 wrote:
I.E. - look beyond the pretty clothes at what is underneath
Perv Alert !I.E. - look beyond the pretty clothes at what is underneath
Comment by Frogfish posted on Am I (we) deluding ourselves? at 03/09/2012 - 10:35
Having just gone dual systems (Nikon D800) this is an interesting thread to appear.
Initial observations (but note that we are taking about a camera that cost twice as much at launch as the K5) are that the K5's build quality exceeds that of the D800. Of course there are reasons, which have already proved themselves valid, for buying that camera and it is a superb tool that I am absolutely delighted with, however if you do not need those attributes (or others offered by CaNikon or specific cameras) then I would see no reason for the amateur / Semi-Pro to buy Canon/Nikon.
Service - I hear a lot of talk of this on Pentax forums. However all I hear on the Nikon forums is how bad the Nikon repair service is. Yet some Pentaxians give this as a reason to switch brands.
Product Issues - It seems no camera out there does not have issues of some nature. Probably this has to do with mass production and the complexity of today's cameras but front-focusing, back-focusing, low light focusing, knobs falling off, strange camera seizures or electronic issues that are solved by switching the camera off then on again and so on and so on ... apply to all brands. Spend some time on any other brand's forums and you'll soon realise life is not necessarily greener on the other side !
I changed to Pentax after much research, (previously being an Olympus user), for the WR, SR, AF accuracy over speed, and small size of the camera and lenses and the build quality of both. Nothing has changed in that regard and in the APS-C world I still believe there is nothing to touch the K5.
If you are into Pentax then be happy in the knowledge you have a quality camera although if you need digital FF then that is another matter entirely and you may be happier switching - but I wouldn't guarantee it.
Initial observations (but note that we are taking about a camera that cost twice as much at launch as the K5) are that the K5's build quality exceeds that of the D800. Of course there are reasons, which have already proved themselves valid, for buying that camera and it is a superb tool that I am absolutely delighted with, however if you do not need those attributes (or others offered by CaNikon or specific cameras) then I would see no reason for the amateur / Semi-Pro to buy Canon/Nikon.
Service - I hear a lot of talk of this on Pentax forums. However all I hear on the Nikon forums is how bad the Nikon repair service is. Yet some Pentaxians give this as a reason to switch brands.
Product Issues - It seems no camera out there does not have issues of some nature. Probably this has to do with mass production and the complexity of today's cameras but front-focusing, back-focusing, low light focusing, knobs falling off, strange camera seizures or electronic issues that are solved by switching the camera off then on again and so on and so on ... apply to all brands. Spend some time on any other brand's forums and you'll soon realise life is not necessarily greener on the other side !
I changed to Pentax after much research, (previously being an Olympus user), for the WR, SR, AF accuracy over speed, and small size of the camera and lenses and the build quality of both. Nothing has changed in that regard and in the APS-C world I still believe there is nothing to touch the K5.
If you are into Pentax then be happy in the knowledge you have a quality camera although if you need digital FF then that is another matter entirely and you may be happier switching - but I wouldn't guarantee it.
Comment by Frogfish posted on Am I (we) deluding ourselves? at 03/09/2012 - 05:27
Yes, I see your point - this rising affluent class you refer to is the part of the equation that I am not seeing here in Britain!
My staff don't think anything of spending a month's salary on the latest iPhone (and, like cars, they are much more expensive over here) ! The vast majority will live with their parents until they marry of course (and sometimes afterwards too) so have more disposable income than their peers in the UK !