My thoughts on Trey Ratcliff's 3rd gen camera bombshell
Friday, January 6, 2012 at 2:19PM Trey Ratcliff recently posted an article about why the DSLR is going to become a thing of the past. He really gets into the nitty gritty of what's good and bad about our 3rd generation camera future and I think he's mainly got it all right but there are a couple of points where he and I differ.
First of all I'm not sure I can put my hand on my heart and say I won't buy a Canon 5D mk3 when it comes out. Trey says he won't buy any more DSLR gear because this 3rd gen thing is coming in the next couple of years. I agree with his timescale - heck I think 3rd gen cameras are good enough NOW and I said so last year. I'm serious about picking and buying into a system like micro four thirds. But I think I'll need to get comfortable with that before I let go of my DSLR. Aparrently I lack Trey's bravery. ;-)
The other point where Trey and I differ is on the subject of time spent in Lightroom. He quite rightly says that in future our cameras will be able to shoot many more frames quickly and we'll be able to pick the good ones from perhaps 200 instead of 20. I fear he's right about that but I won't be thanking Nikon or Canon for the extra post processing work. I teach photoshop and lightroom so you'd expect I love doing that stuff but what I enjoy is shooting and making great images. Picking through a big batch of pictures is to find the ones I want to keep is work to me. It's not much fun. Once I've found that one I want to work on - THAT'S the fun part. So honestly I think he's right that we'll shoot many more pictures and have to spend time picking out the good ones. But Trey says he enjoys sitting in Lightroom and picking the winners. He's clearly derranged. (Just kidding Trey - you rock man).
Reader Comments (3)
When Smug Mug mentioned Trey's post, a few people went nuts against these "mirrorless" or 3rd Gen cameras. I'm not exactly sure why people who seem to be technologically savvy get so snippy about advances in technology. At the moment I own both a DSLR and a "Gen 3" camera. I have to say, I'm impressed with my NX200 and the interface Samsung developed for it. Is it "perfect?" No way; but it is a good example of where the technology is heading. At the moment my favorite perk of owning this camera is the ability to use my Nikon and old Canon FD lenses.
DSLRs are a dying breed in the same fashion as film is a dying breed. I don't think DSLRs will go away any time soon, but fewer and fewer models will be created in upcoming years (especially as improvements are made in Gen 3 algorithms for low light and focus issues). Soon Gen 3s will have full size (appx. 36x24mm) sensors; this will the the catalyst towards professionals moving away from DSLRs.
We should keep our eyes, ears and minds open to new technology and stop complaining that our expensive equipment is on the verge of be obsolesced, because it is not. Remember this: the computer eliminated the need for paper (at least that was the thinking in 1983). Now excuse me while I step away from the keyboard as I grab the grocery list off my refrigerator door.
While I agree with Trey's estimate that there will be more than capable 3rd gen cameras to completely replace DSLRs in the next couple years, I don't agree that they will make the DSLR obsolete for the average photographer. The fact is that many of us have a significant amount invested in our lenses and are skeptical that any sort of adapters will allow us to use those lenses to their true potential. Are are very few of us in the photographic world who can also let go of everything we have and start with an entirely new system. It is simply a matter of budget. Trey can never buy a new DSLR again and move into the 3rd generation without missing a beat, but photographers like I have HUGE investments in lens systems that would simply be impossible to replace.
On the other hand though, if I were getting into photography for the first time right now, or just making the move from film to digital, I would certainly put the new generation camera gear at the very top of my list to consider.
Minimisation of weight means I am addicted to my M4/3 and voigtlander. However will we all be mounting them on our tripods for landscape and studio work?.....maybe but not any time soon....I hope not I have preordered the D800. Some of the medium format camera backs are hitting 80 mp: It is hard to see how the pixel density, sharpness noise and dynamic range will of 3rd gen/mirrorless will unseat these cameras. However the mid range DSLRs certainly have some competition.