Monday, May 21, 2012

The ultimate DSLR system.

In the film era, modular systems ruled in professional camera systems. Having a main body with components that fit into that system to provide a camera system that works for the user rather than current DSLR's which try to please everyone. As the old saying goes you can't please everyone. But this is what the major camera manufacurers are attempting to do.
Nikon and Canon have their all in one super high tech cutting edge dslrs with loads of features that are supposed to appeal to everyone all the time.

Cameras like the Nikon F3 were the pinnacle of hardware. Completely modular with the main body providing the base for all the extras.

I miss this modularity. Sure, I can keep with film and for the most part I do just that. But I would love to be able to exchange parts of my camera for differing jobs rather than struggle with the set systems the manufacturers currently offer. I really feel that pro cameras now are status symbols for doctors and lawyers. Real photographers have to struggle with locked down designs the manufacters have decided upon.

I haven't put in a megapixel requirement as the interchangable backs could be used to offer differing MP counts. Ideally it should come with a 12mp sensor with a large pixel pitch around 8 microns. There is a lot of debate that says the tonal gradiations and noise control is better with larger pixel pitches.

So what would make the ultimate DSLR for me?
This:

  • Styling to follow the 'classic' camera designs of the 60's ala Nikon F series, Canon AE1 et al.
  • Modular design as MFSLR. Replaceable sensor module similar to MF digital backs. Making the main body of the Camera more valuable and taking less resorces when upgrading.
  •  O-rings for full weather sealing.
  • Manual controls for shutter speed, ISO and Apeture.
  • Physical knobs for each of the main functions, ISO, apeture, Shutter speed, Exposure compensation.
  • White balance button to cycle through presets.
  • ISO hotshoe with safety lock. 
  • Flash sync X port with flash sync to 1/250, higher with hybrid shutter mode.
  • 1/10000 to 30 seconds shutter speeds, stepped in 1/3, 1/2 and full EV stops. 1/4000th in standard mode 1/10000 in hybrid mode.
  • Standard Tripod socket on sensor plane.
  • Tripod socket on side of camera for portrait shooting also on sensor plane.
  • Battery grip with main functions duplicated.
  • Batteries to be readily available type also holder for AA's
  • Self timer button, user definable.
  • Audio input for note taking recorded with shots.
  • Knob to change modes between P A S M.
  • Program shift modes to be available for P A and S.
  • Front roller for settings changing. Rear thumb roller for settings changing. Must retain same functions throughout all the program modes.
  • Dedicated Mirror lock up switch.
  • DOF Preview button.
  • Multiple exposure switch along with speed mode switch
    -5 to +5 EV exposure compensation.
  • -1 to +19EV detection range @ISO50
  • TTL flash metering across all metering modes.
  • Front and rear curtain sync with slow sync.
  • Quiet shutter mode.
  • Rear screen to be multitouch based with pinch to zoom for focus checking and so on. Must be capable of swivelling to enable live view in awkward angles. Also must have a dedicated off button.
  • Gyro sensors for levelling with audible alarms.
  • GPS built in.
  • Clean HDMI out. 
  • Firewire or usb3 connectivity
  • Wifi built in.
  • Flash control in groupings over wifi.
  • Small lcd for colour histogram which updates in realtime.
  • Radio triggering built in. 64 channels to avoid crosstalk. Compatible with all major brands of recievers.
  • Dual contrast and phase detection AF sensors.
  • AF tracking with face recognition. AF single shot, Predictive AF tracking across the sensor frame with options to change the speed of tracking. 
  • AF microadjustment +/-20 steps with storage for 100 lenses.
  • Lens recognition with data for correcting barrel distortion and CA.
  • IR focus assist lamp for lowlight conditions.
  • Up to 9 frame bracketing in high speed.
  • Between 8fps to 14fps. 24fps would be perfection.
  • On sensor Image stabilisation in 8 planes of movement.
  • Utrasonic sensor clean with dust recognition and cleaning reminder.
  • Live view mode with touchscreen focus locking and pinch to zoom.
  • 63 Cross type sensors across the frame. 
  • 16bit RAW.
  • sRGB, AdobeRGB, ProphotoRGB colour spaces.
  • Adobe digital negative format with sizing options from small to largest.
  • Jpg quality settings.
  • Film gradings to mimic classic films in camera.
  • DPOF
  • DCS compliant file system.
  • EXIF data options to remove gps and other non essential data.
  • Hardcoded copyright metadata on camera and in EXIF.
  • No anti Aliasing low pass filter on sensor.
  • Hybrid shutter, either directly electronically controlled on sensor or traditional synced focalplane.
  • Highlight/shadow alerts.
  • Lens mount for canon with adaptor to retain all features for Nikon Lenses i.e. AF, EXIF, distance data.
  • Dual CF slots.
  • External control of shutter to 1ms resolution for bulb ramping.
  • Databack functions similar to Nikon MF-26.
  • Interchangable Finders with adjustable dioper control and light shutter with antifog coating. Waist level head, 6x magnification chimney head, optical head, Evf head*, High level head.
  • Viewfinder information: AF points, focus confirm, Exposure information, Metering mode, Shutter speed, Apeture, Exposure compensation, ISO speed, Flash ready, Flash grouping, First/Second curtain mode, White balance, 8x10 crop lines, split prism and laser ground matte area, electronic level, grid, shots left on card.
*EVF head to feature full preview of current settings to previsualise shot with settings.

Obviously a lot of these features would not be able to be made into one body as it'd be an ungainly beast. Hence the need for modularity.
So what do you all think? Are we to leave DSLR's to the dinosaurs and take up the mirrorless systems that are on offer (seriously tempting) or shoul DSLR's be put back up on top of the pile as a professional's tool of choice?
Let me know in the comments.

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