What do YOU want in a digital SLR?

My article in the inaugural issue of NatureScapes.net is about features that I think should be incorporated into the next generation of DSLRs. If you haven't read it, you can find it here:

http://www.naturescapes.net/092003/ej0903.htm

Admittedly my article is Canon centric so there are probably some things I am not thinking of that other manufacturers either have incorporated or technologies that they possess. I would love to have a dialog in this thread about other features that us DSLR shooter would like to see. Discussing the merits of my suggestions is welcome too but I like my list

Lets get the first good discussion going on the NS Digital Topics Forum...

I liked your article a lot, E.J., it helped me understand digital SLRs much better!

Other than all the great features ideas you listed, I wish the histogram was easier to see (like the yellow histogram on the back of my old D1 was pretty good).

24+ mega-pixels with adjustable cropping factor!

Histogram preview in the viewfinder before you click the shutter.

All of the features E.J. mentioned in his article are ones I would want.

Heather's point about the histogram for Canon echos my thoughts. What were they thinking???

In addition to the E.J. LIST:

Lightweight, long-lived, inexpensive, rechargeable battery pack that comes with the camera!

Flash, off-camera shoe cord with crack-proof casings!

A hand-strap that attaches on on either side!

Although I haven't written a list of best features I would like to see in a dSLR, Thom Hogan has. His dream dSLR page is very detailed and lists feature by feature things he would like to see based on the D1X and the announced D2H. I had given him some suggestions for things I thought he missed and he had added them. (See AM)

That article might give some insight into how the other half views dSLRs and what we've been waiting for.

This was more or less my wish list as well.

Not the viewfinder info, you're ahead of me there. But also I had figured out the pixels and the crop.

Did you send it? You should!

Peter

Hi all! So this is where everyone is hiding!
Glad Artie mentioned this place in the BAA bulletin or I'd never have known...

My wish list

What E.J. said, plus:

User interchangeable focus screens, even on the "lower end" models.

An electronic "level" in the viewfinder, auto switching when in vertical mode. No more lost Hama bubbles

ISO indicator in the viewfinder

This is pretty unlikely -- some user-controlled method of controlling the level of anti-aliasing, allowing a trade-off between AA and sharpness.

The Canon Eos1V in a digital body. ISO's down to ISO8, exposure speeds faster than 1/400th (1/8000th maybe?), high speed flash sync (1/500th still is probably too slow in many instances, 1/1000th would be nicer still), interchangeable crop factor (i doubt this is very feasible) but it would be nice if you could electronically change the crop factor based on the type of photography you are doing. This would have to be digitally adjusted, but may be possible in the future i'd imagine.

cfagyal wrote:The Canon Eos1V in a digital body.

Chris, the EOS 1D1Ds bodies are essentially a 1v in a digital body.

When viewed at 1:1, most digital camera images leave a bit to be desired because of the bayer color interpolation. I've been very impressed with the level of detail in Sigma SD9 photos when viewed at a 1:1 level. Take a look at some of the sample images at http://www.dpreview.com. In the photos with trees, every leaf and twig is defined. I'm really hoping that we'll see more of this 3 layer sensor technology assuming we can still get clean high ISO settings, and a good level of dynamic range. I think I remember reading somewhere that Canon has a similar patent. Imagine if canon put a 3 layer sensor in the 1Ds..... that would likely resolve detail to the limit of the glass, and would give medium format a SERIOUS run for the money. More realistically, put a sensor like that in a 6 to 8MP camera, and it'll produce results much better than the 1Ds. With the existing technology, we're not getting the best pictures possible at the given image size. With a Foveon-type sensor, we could better utilize the image area.

I would prefer no crop factor but would probably be fine with up to 1.3x. Not just for wider angle compositions, but also because it allows for a larger image size in the viewfinder without Canon having to increase the view magnification (at a loss of light in the viewfinder, as I understand it).

That Fuji concept is new to me...interesting, as that basically negates or at least mitigates a wish I had for the exposure to stop on an exposure-compensated level at the that clipping occurs on the highlights (ie: expose until the brightest pixel hits 255,255,255, with EV+/- adjustments).

I would like a 10D, as is, with just two changes. 1D autofocus and 1/500th flash sync. See I.m easy to please!

..

* Front tilt and swing.
* Enough resolution for an uninterpolated 16x20 (at 300dpi that would be about 28.8 megapixel)
* 16 bit per channel RGB
* Battery life and storage capacity to accommodate 50 raw images with no recharging/unloading.
* Weight of no more than 3lbs.
* Dynamic range of 7-8 stops
* Noiseless ISO 50, 100, 400, 800 settings

Guy

A histogram that shows each channel as well as the "Value" histogram, so you can be sure none of the channels are being clipped.

Even if things like ISO weren't shown all the time in the viewfinder, having it displayed there while changing the ISO would mean you could do it without having to take your eye from the viewfinder and losing the targetted subject.

this is an easy one.

I want everything!!

ha ha ha.

Just kidding.

But seriously, I would love to have an updated 1D with an 8MP sensor. I would like to keep the 1.3x multiplier, and I am willing to sacrifice a few frames per second for the additional pixels. Perhaps something in the 5fps range?

abiggs wrote:But seriously, I would love to have an updated 1D with an 8MP sensor. I would like to keep the 1.3x multiplier, and I am willing to sacrifice a few frames per second for the additional pixels. Perhaps something in the 5fps range?

You and every other 1D shooter is waiting patiently for the mythical EOS 1Dx/EOS 3D with these rumored specs

E.J. Peiker wrote:

abiggs wrote:But seriously, I would love to have an updated 1D with an 8MP sensor. I would like to keep the 1.3x multiplier, and I am willing to sacrifice a few frames per second for the additional pixels. Perhaps something in the 5fps range?

You and every other 1D shooter is waiting patiently for the mythical EOS 1Dx/EOS 3D with these rumored specs

No kidding. I actually have heard the same rumors, but a while back, from people in the Canon know. Things change, but I hope to see this beast before my next trip to Tanzania in January.

When the heck are we going to see the 200-400 f/2.8 DO lens?

abiggs wrote: When the heck are we going to see the 200-400 f/2.8 DO lens?

Unless Canon can figure out how to deal with the significant image quality issues with out of focus highlights using the DO technology, I doubt we will see any more.

E.J. Peiker wrote:

abiggs wrote: When the heck are we going to see the 200-400 f/2.8 DO lens?

Unless Canon can figure out how to deal with the significant image quality issues with out of focus highlights using the DO technology, I doubt we will see any more.

Yeah, I suspect their R&D costs, in conjunction with manufacturing costs, are just too high, even if the product didn't have any 'flaws'.