|
Happy New Year 2004!
Year
In Review
Exactly
a year ago, we took a snapshot of the "state
of the union" as far as consumer digital
cameras were concerned. We had some fun
and tried to predict what the Year 2003
would bring us as far as digital cameras
were concerned.
How accurate were those predictions? We
specifically zeroed in on the five challenges
we believed the camera manufacturers had
to concentrate on: low-light focus-assist,
higher ISOs, noise reduction, shutter lag,
and better 'digital' lenses. Here is what
we said and what actually transpired
in 2003.
Low-Light Focus-Assist
This neat feature fires a burst of infrared
light (or green/blue light depending on
the type of AF used) at your subject to
allow autofocus in dim situations. Without
it, it is almost impossible for the camera's
AF to gain a positive lock, and blurred
pictures usually result. We are increasingly
seeing this feature in low end digital cameras,
so expect to see all digital cameras worth
your consideration sport this feature. It
doesn't have it, you say? Well, we say,
forget it and go for one that does!
Well, regretably the majority of camera
manufacturers continue to lack low-light
focus-assist in most of their digital cameras.
Though we saw it introduced in one or two
models (e.g. Nikon Coolpix SQ, Fujifilm
FinePix S5000), it's still an unfortunate
trickle. The technology cannot be that difficult
to implement and the advantage is crystal
clear, so there must probably be some patent
issue at work here that is preventing more
adoption of this simple feature. Should
you avoid those cameras that do not have
low-light focus-assist? Well, we won't be
as categoric as we were a year ago, and
this time we'll just say, "avoid only
if you take low-light pictures mostly."
Higher ISOs
The most common complaints we hear from
beginners are that their indoor shots are
blurred. The reason is, of course, that
without adequate lighting, the camera will
open up the aperture to its maximum opening
(thus decreasing depth-of-field)
and use a slow shutter speed (thus increasing
the chance of blurred shot due to: 1) camera
shake and 2) not using a shutter speed fast
enough to stop action).
By using a higher ISO, e.g. ISO 400,
indoors, the camera can select a smaller
aperture and/or faster shutter speed. The
problem the current crop of digital cameras
face is that at higher ISOs, noise becomes
a problem: the colored pixels that make
up the digital picture becomes painfully
visible to the naked eye. Digital cameras
therefore use various noise reduction techniques
to deal with this problem, but, as can be
expected, the best ones are found in the
higher-end DSLR professional digital cameras.
Expect to see better noise reduction in
compact digital cameras, and hence the availability
of higher ISOs.
Since we wrote that piece above, we have
come to understand that unless camera manufacturers
start using larger image sensors, the issue
of noise at higher ISOs will continue to
be a problem. Instead, we saw ever more
megapixels being crammed into the same size
image sensor. Though the resolution increases
(and that's good), the closer proximity
of the pixels to one another introduces
image quality problems, including noise.
We saw Nikon buck the crowd and introduce
the D2H, a dSLR with 'only' 4 megapixels
resolution in an APS-sized image sensor
-- giving a clear message to those of us
who are ever chasing the 'more megapixels
is better' mantra that it just ain't so.
For consumer digital cameras, 4 megapixels
are plenty enough, and what we now need
is those 4 megapixels on a larger image
sensor.
Noise Reduction
As mentioned above, we can expect to
see better noise reduction in compact digital
cameras. This is important not just when
using higher ISOs, but noise is also a problem
when using slow shutter speeds, e.g. 1/30
sec. and slower.
You might have situations when you want
to use a slow shutter speed while still
using a low ISO, e.g. when taking landscape
scenes where you stop down the aperture
for maximum depth-of-field and the camera
compensates with a slow shutter speed for
proper exposure. If you're into night photography,
then slow shutter speeds are de rigueur.
So, better noise reduction is a desirable
feature that you can expect to see available
in the better compact digital cameras.
Again, the issue is not so much better
noise reduction firmware, but the need to
use larger image sensors. Most consumer
digital cameras use 1/1.8 in. image sensors
(approx. 7.2x5.3mm). A few high-end models
use 2/3 in. image sensors (approx. 8.8x6.6mm).
But from what we have seen so far, noise
starts to be tamed when we use an APS-sized
image sensor (approx. 24x15mm). So, this
issue of noise will continue to be with
us until APS-sized image sensors start to
be cost efficient and find their way into
consumer digital cameras.
Shutter Lag
The dreaded shutter lag has frustrated
many a digital camera user to tears. It
might take a good 2 full seconds from the
moment you press the sutter release button
to the actual recording of the picture by
the camera. Of course, meanwhile, little
Susie has already wandered off the screen,
and the basketball is on the rebound.
When you write in to forums to complain,
you get chastised for not being smart enough
to anticipate the action and pre-focus by
slightly depressing the shutter release
half-way. It's your stinking fault that
most digital cameras have unacceptable shutter
lags.
Read the last part of the above sentence
again: I said, "most digital cameras
have unacceptable shutter lags."
You were right to complain about the
long shutter lags, and camera manufacturers
will listen and improve -- or, ignore their
models and favor those who do reduce the
shutter lags of their digital cameras. Expect
shutter lag to become a problem of the past.
At last, we can report good news in this
area! Many of the newer digital cameras
introduced in 2003 have negligible shutter
lag. This is quickly becoming a problem
of the past.
Better Lenses
Camera manufacturers are starting to
come out with lenses specially made for
digital cameras. Olympus with its 4/3 System,
and Nikon with its DX Nikkor System. Other
camera manufacturers will follow.
Also, we have witnessed interesting
alliances between traditional electronics
company and traditional optics manufacturers,
such as Sony and Carl Zeiss, and Panasonic
and Leica. We wonder, though, if Carl Zeiss
and Leica are doing anything to port their
lenses to the specialized needs of the digital
cameras. It is not a trivial pursuit.
We believe that Olympus and Nikon will
come out with lens systems better suited
to digital cameras. Nikon's wide-angle DX
Nikkor is an encouraging beginning.
Other improvements are long zoom lenses
(optical zoom of 8x and higher) with built-in
image stabilization. Price has been an issue,
but the demand is so strong that we cannot
believe that someone will not take advantage
of this demand and sell a lot of digital
cameras. This one feature would sway many
customers one way or another. Put image
stabilization back into the Olympus C730
Ultra-Zoom and see if it does not start
selling like hot cake!
Lenses specially made for digital cameras
have started trickling out, but mostly for
the dSLR category.
Camera manufacturers have responded to
the demand and introduced long zoom lens
digital cameras: Olympus continues their
popular C7xx models; Panasonic has created
a niche with its image stabilized lenses;
Minolta, Fujifilm and Kodak have also introduced
models with long zooms. Interestingly, Panasonic
is introducing its image stabilization technology
in its regular zoom digital cameras to help
reduce camera shake; and Minolta has moved
the image stabilization technology from
the lens to the camera in its DiMAGE A1.
So, the challenges we faced in the Year
2003 are for the most part still with us.
It is not reasonable to expect them all
to disappear in the space of one year, and
we are seeing encouraging movement from
camera manufacturers to tackle those issues.
Predictions for the Year 2004?
- It is now too easy for anyone to make
a consumer digital camera, and so expect
to see camera manufacturers outsource
their lower end models to third party
manufacturers. Those who choose that option
run the risk of losing that market to
low-cost 'no-name' companies since there
will practically be no difference between
their low-end digital cameras and the
'no-name' ones.
- The really interesting battles will
probably occur in the dSLR category as
different manufacturers vie to set standards
in image sensor size, lenses, etc. Canon
started that battle with its EOS Digital
Rebel. Nikon has announced its competitive
model in the D70. It would be interesting
to see if other manufacturers follow suit.
I am especially interested in Sony's reactions
because the new, cheaper dSLRs are directly
encroaching into its 'prosumer' territory.
This January Issue
In this issue, we have made some much needed
design changes. It should now be easier
to navigate through the site and find what
you are looking for.
Those who may have missed the announcement:
we are also starting a newsletter to answer
the many questions we receive from our readers.
So far, we have tried very hard to answer
each and everyone individually, but it is
getting to be too much to handle. By grouping
all questions together and answering them
in a newsletter, everyone gets to benefit
from one another's questions. There are
no dumb questions, so don't hesitate to
send them in.
Thank you for a great year 2003, and we
are looking forward to doing more reviews,
writing more tutorials and articles that
we hope will be helpful to you. As always,
our focus continue to be on beginner and
serious amateur photographers. Plus, we
continue to report the news as it is relevant,
thus sparing you the chore of having to
sift through mountain loads of chatter and
static. :)
Our goal is to help you become better informed,
better grounded in what's important, less
buffeted by the doubts and constant need
for reassurance we witness so much in the
digital camera forum boards, and equip you
to know what you like, which digital camera(s)
are right for you, and how to improve yourself
in the art of digital photography. In other
words... to have fun!
We hope you enjoy this New Year issue!
We wish you all a safe year.
The Editors
|
