Forgive me for not being too excited about the "big guns" that are outside of my price range, and expertise really.
I am hoping there will be a successor to the PowerShot S5 instead.
We appreciate your comment, but the issue with the S5 IS and G0 is the same that manufacturers are now facing with almost any high-end point-and-shoot camera. For the suggested S5/G9 price range of $349 to $499 you can also buy a Sony A200 with a decent 18-70mm kit lens or a tiny Olympus E-420 with a 14-42mm kit lens.
Both are real interchangeable lens SLRs with sensors that are huge compared to the S5 - which means much better low-light shooting and higher quality pictures. The Sony has built-in Image Stabilization and the E-420 has Live View that will be familiar to those who use P&S cameras.
Just $100 more and you will find the tiny Canon XS kit and Nikon D60 kit - both with image stabilized kit lens - and the Olympus E-520 which adds Image Stabilization to the small E-420.
The industry is having a difficult time building upper end Point-and-Shoot cameras that make economic sense today. It is likely that the Olympus Micro four-thirds just announced will bring new point and shoots with larger sensors and capabilities more like current DSLRs with a familiar P&S form factor.
We expect to see new Micro 4/3 models at Photokina. Other manufacturers will be watching to see if it catches on with consumers. If it does you will see more large sensor (and better image quality) P&S models from everyone.
I had a Canon S3, I partly bought it to help my wife get used to the idea of having a little bigger camera for when we eventually upgrade to an SLR. To my dismay she hated how big it was and that is couldn’t fit in her purse/diaper bag. So when it broke a few months ago one of the requirements was it had to be small enough to fit in her purse. We ended up with a Panasonic TZ5. I like the larger LCD, long zoom, and 720p video and she likes it can fit in her purse. She is the one with the kids all day so it was important we got something she was happy with. So while I agree that SLRs are defiantly where things are going and the biggest innovations are happening but I also believe P&S have their place (it would be great if they got a modified SLR sensor like you mentioned).
I still plan to upgrade to an SLR but it will have to wait till I find one with the features that I want for the price I want…and when I stop spending money on computer parts and home theater equipment.
The 4/3 sensors, while the smallest of the dSLR sensors, is still almost 8x the area of the sensor used in the TZ5. Barring a revolution in lens construction, there is no way to make a superzoom camera around a dSLR-class sensor pocketable.
I carry a Canon SD800IS everywhere with me. Though it is hacked to record in RAW if needed, I don't try to do things with it I would do with one of my SLR bodies. It is useful because it fits in a carpenter pocket so I can carry it anywhere. And you must have a tiny diaper bag if an S3IS won't fit.
The micro 4/3 does away with the mirror box and significantly reduces the lens to film plane distance to 50% of the current 4/3 distance. You will likely be surprised at how small the micro 4/3 can be when the cameras start appearing at Photokina later this month.
It is our uderstanding that current 4/3 lenses CAN be mounted on micro 4/3 but that an adapter with a spacer block is needed for mounting. THere will also be smaller Micro 4/3 lenses introduced.
I'm basically expecting 1/2 to 1/3 scale rangefinders. So sure they'll be small and high quality, but I'm doubting they can get an 11x zoom and a body small enough to match the TZ5. The P&S cameras don't have a mirror box to deal with either, and the sensor is far smaller so the glass can be as well.
Does Olympus have any tricks up their sleeve to get an optical viewfinder in these? Or will they be stuck with EVF/onscreen?
I have the S4, and while it's a decent camera...it's performance is no where near a D-SLR. I took a couple photography classes back in the day (99-01) and had a 35mm film Canon Rebel SLR and even it took better pictures than the S4 (and any non D-SLR digital camera, I would guess).
We certainly don't think the 40D is a bad camera, and Canon fans welcomed it. However, the 40D did not do as well in a fiercely competitive market as Canon had hoped it would. That is the likely reason for the early and deep price cuts and sizable rebates on the 40D.
thank you for the reply. i was just stating my own experience, and i know a lot of people on canon forums were dismayed when nikon's stuff came out. i was a bit caught up in it, too, but i know that canon and nikon will continue to duke it out for a long time to come. it's futile trying to chase the best, especially with a sizable investment in glass. i'd liken the competition to AMD vs Intel or ATI vs NVidia, but it's so easy to switch companies in the computer business without having to lose hundreds of dollars when buying and selling in making the switcheroo, like i'd have to do if i bought nikon glass.
oh, and if you're interested, things have changed a little bit in the past few hours and canon has released a teaser of sorts on its different webpages (US, Europe, Asia, etc). It looks like a 5D replacement for sure, based on its huge viewfinder hump, and because the outline is not square like their 1D series. But I'm sure you guys don't write articles on small trailers like this :D
I'd say the 30D was less well received than the 40D, as it was even less of a change over the 20D than the 40D over the 30D. ISO in the viewfinder only when changing? Come on.
Also, EF-S lenses fitting only APS-C bodies isn't rumor, unless Canon releases a spacer it is fact. The whole point of the EF-S spec is that it allows the lens to protrude another 5mm into the body. Canon couldn't change their registration distance and still have EF lenses be usable, so the EF-S spec allows wide-angle lenses to be a little less retrofocal, and takes advantage of the smaller mirror needed for APS-C. This is why the 10D and earlier cannot use the EF-S lenses either - they had a larger mirror that can hit the back of the lens. Some EF-S lenses can be modified to fit, some cannot.
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Visual - Friday, September 5, 2008 - link
Forgive me for not being too excited about the "big guns" that are outside of my price range, and expertise really.I am hoping there will be a successor to the PowerShot S5 instead.
Wesley Fink - Friday, September 5, 2008 - link
We appreciate your comment, but the issue with the S5 IS and G0 is the same that manufacturers are now facing with almost any high-end point-and-shoot camera. For the suggested S5/G9 price range of $349 to $499 you can also buy a Sony A200 with a decent 18-70mm kit lens or a tiny Olympus E-420 with a 14-42mm kit lens.Both are real interchangeable lens SLRs with sensors that are huge compared to the S5 - which means much better low-light shooting and higher quality pictures. The Sony has built-in Image Stabilization and the E-420 has Live View that will be familiar to those who use P&S cameras.
Just $100 more and you will find the tiny Canon XS kit and Nikon D60 kit - both with image stabilized kit lens - and the Olympus E-520 which adds Image Stabilization to the small E-420.
The industry is having a difficult time building upper end Point-and-Shoot cameras that make economic sense today. It is likely that the Olympus Micro four-thirds just announced will bring new point and shoots with larger sensors and capabilities more like current DSLRs with a familiar P&S form factor.
We expect to see new Micro 4/3 models at Photokina. Other manufacturers will be watching to see if it catches on with consumers. If it does you will see more large sensor (and better image quality) P&S models from everyone.
jnmfox - Friday, September 5, 2008 - link
I had a Canon S3, I partly bought it to help my wife get used to the idea of having a little bigger camera for when we eventually upgrade to an SLR. To my dismay she hated how big it was and that is couldn’t fit in her purse/diaper bag. So when it broke a few months ago one of the requirements was it had to be small enough to fit in her purse. We ended up with a Panasonic TZ5. I like the larger LCD, long zoom, and 720p video and she likes it can fit in her purse. She is the one with the kids all day so it was important we got something she was happy with. So while I agree that SLRs are defiantly where things are going and the biggest innovations are happening but I also believe P&S have their place (it would be great if they got a modified SLR sensor like you mentioned).I still plan to upgrade to an SLR but it will have to wait till I find one with the features that I want for the price I want…and when I stop spending money on computer parts and home theater equipment.
strikeback03 - Friday, September 5, 2008 - link
The 4/3 sensors, while the smallest of the dSLR sensors, is still almost 8x the area of the sensor used in the TZ5. Barring a revolution in lens construction, there is no way to make a superzoom camera around a dSLR-class sensor pocketable.I carry a Canon SD800IS everywhere with me. Though it is hacked to record in RAW if needed, I don't try to do things with it I would do with one of my SLR bodies. It is useful because it fits in a carpenter pocket so I can carry it anywhere. And you must have a tiny diaper bag if an S3IS won't fit.
Wesley Fink - Monday, September 8, 2008 - link
The micro 4/3 does away with the mirror box and significantly reduces the lens to film plane distance to 50% of the current 4/3 distance. You will likely be surprised at how small the micro 4/3 can be when the cameras start appearing at Photokina later this month.It is our uderstanding that current 4/3 lenses CAN be mounted on micro 4/3 but that an adapter with a spacer block is needed for mounting. THere will also be smaller Micro 4/3 lenses introduced.
For more info on Micro 4/3 at http://www.olympus-global.com/en/news/2008b/nr0808...">http://www.olympus-global.com/en/news/2008b/nr0808... which also has links to a micro 4/3 Features and Benefits page.
strikeback03 - Tuesday, September 9, 2008 - link
I'm basically expecting 1/2 to 1/3 scale rangefinders. So sure they'll be small and high quality, but I'm doubting they can get an 11x zoom and a body small enough to match the TZ5. The P&S cameras don't have a mirror box to deal with either, and the sensor is far smaller so the glass can be as well.Does Olympus have any tricks up their sleeve to get an optical viewfinder in these? Or will they be stuck with EVF/onscreen?
jnmfox - Friday, September 5, 2008 - link
Just lots and lots of stuff...don't ask me I can never find anything in it.Noya - Friday, September 5, 2008 - link
I have the S4, and while it's a decent camera...it's performance is no where near a D-SLR. I took a couple photography classes back in the day (99-01) and had a 35mm film Canon Rebel SLR and even it took better pictures than the S4 (and any non D-SLR digital camera, I would guess).soydios - Friday, September 5, 2008 - link
last page: Nikon D3X, not D2xchiew - Friday, September 5, 2008 - link
yes, d3x, not d2xWesley Fink - Friday, September 5, 2008 - link
Typo corrected.We certainly don't think the 40D is a bad camera, and Canon fans welcomed it. However, the 40D did not do as well in a fiercely competitive market as Canon had hoped it would. That is the likely reason for the early and deep price cuts and sizable rebates on the 40D.
chiew - Friday, September 5, 2008 - link
thank you for the reply. i was just stating my own experience, and i know a lot of people on canon forums were dismayed when nikon's stuff came out. i was a bit caught up in it, too, but i know that canon and nikon will continue to duke it out for a long time to come. it's futile trying to chase the best, especially with a sizable investment in glass. i'd liken the competition to AMD vs Intel or ATI vs NVidia, but it's so easy to switch companies in the computer business without having to lose hundreds of dollars when buying and selling in making the switcheroo, like i'd have to do if i bought nikon glass.chiew - Friday, September 5, 2008 - link
oh, and if you're interested, things have changed a little bit in the past few hours and canon has released a teaser of sorts on its different webpages (US, Europe, Asia, etc). It looks like a 5D replacement for sure, based on its huge viewfinder hump, and because the outline is not square like their 1D series. But I'm sure you guys don't write articles on small trailers like this :DWesley Fink - Friday, September 5, 2008 - link
Thanks for the tip. We added a link to the Canon USA teaser page to the page 3 discussion of the Canon 5D replacement.chiew - Friday, September 5, 2008 - link
cool, glad to contributechiew - Friday, September 5, 2008 - link
that, and i don't think the 40d was poorly received, at least not in my hands :Dstrikeback03 - Friday, September 5, 2008 - link
I'd say the 30D was less well received than the 40D, as it was even less of a change over the 20D than the 40D over the 30D. ISO in the viewfinder only when changing? Come on.Also, EF-S lenses fitting only APS-C bodies isn't rumor, unless Canon releases a spacer it is fact. The whole point of the EF-S spec is that it allows the lens to protrude another 5mm into the body. Canon couldn't change their registration distance and still have EF lenses be usable, so the EF-S spec allows wide-angle lenses to be a little less retrofocal, and takes advantage of the smaller mirror needed for APS-C. This is why the 10D and earlier cannot use the EF-S lenses either - they had a larger mirror that can hit the back of the lens. Some EF-S lenses can be modified to fit, some cannot.