Comments on: What would convince you to buy a new camera

By: Monte Stevens

Monte Stevens — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:53:52 +0000

This past week I learned some new things about my D300 and I’ve owned mine for just over a year. So, with that said, I have no desire to upgrade, spend more money and start reading another manual. As long as this camera keeps working there is no need.

I am one of those photographers who looks and reads about the newest and greatest which only causes daydreams and heavy breathing. Every once in a while I wonder if the larger format would be better. but because I’m poor I keep working with what I have. We only become better photographers when practicing our craft with what we have. And, I’m a believer that size doesn’t matter.

Great post, again!

By: Brian Small

Brian Small — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 23:41:37 +0000

Of course you’re right Andreas and I will be happy with my E-3 for a long time to come. Still, I can’t seem to shake that feeling of impending doom. Olympus has done it before.

By: Andreas Manessinger

Andreas Manessinger — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 21:05:27 +0000

Brian,

I can’t imagine that Olympus would drop their DSLR line. And if they do, well, your E3 won’t suddenly evaporate. It has ever been and will still be a very capable camera. There’d be plenty of time to consider changing systems when you were really forced to do so. But then again, I don’t expect it.

By: Brian Small

Brian Small — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 19:23:52 +0000

I’m late to the discussion as usual but here is my situation.
I am a happy Olympus user since the E1 and now use an E3. The problem is that it appears Olympus may be gearing up to drop 4/3 DSLRs in favor of their very successful m4/3 line. I wouldn’t blame them really. From a sales point of view Olympus has been marginal in the DSLR market from day one. But here’s the kicker for me; I currently have no interest in m4/3 so I would be forced to buy new equipment if Olympus kills their DSLR line. If that happened tomorrow I’d probably go Nikon.

By: Paul

Paul — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 14:26:25 +0000

Great thoughts, Andreas. I’m going to go out to my car, get my D300, kiss it, and thank it for being such a great camera!

I have to keep track of these real men statements. Real men don’t use flashes and real men use 8×10 film and a camera mounted onto a tripod!

By: Andreas Manessinger

Andreas Manessinger — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 13:44:44 +0000

Two more things that I’ve forgot and why I am not totally convinced of FX land:

No equivalent to my Tamron 17-50/2.8 VC. The famous Nikon 24-70/2.8 is not stabilized! Nikon is the only player in the market without stabilization in that range. Sure, ISO is better on FX, but if I gain something only to lose it elsewhere, where’s the advantage?? OK, it helps in sports, where stabilization does not work, but then, if you have it and don’t need it, you can always turn it off.

The second may seem like nit-picking, but the D3s has no on-camera flash. Don’t get me wrong, I have two external flashes, but I don’t use them. I don’t work in the studio and I am no journalist, I only need fill flash and that rarely, thus I never walk around with flashes, but I did really have some uses for the on-camera flash. What’s that? Real men don’t use on-camera flashes?? I know, no professional camera has it, but the D300 and the D700 do.

At the moment I see no camera around that is convincingly much more advanced than the D300. Both the D700 and the D3(s) are, but in both cases I’d have to pay so much more, that the differences in features is not worth it for me.

I would definitely upgrade from the D70, most likely from the D200, and at the moment not at all from the D300. I suppose it’s good for at least another year.

By: Rob Terry

Rob Terry — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 12:34:48 +0000

Staying with my D300 this year. I haven’t really even used it that much yet. I need to spend my time and energy shooting with the D300 and not looking toward other gear this year.

By: Paul

Paul — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 00:44:47 +0000

I think that the manufacturers will be just fine because whatever new features that they add will cause a demand somewhere and people will buy. However, I would imagine, and hope that in times of economic slowdown that people would spend a little more wisely.

By: Paul

Paul — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 00:43:20 +0000

Cool! That’s great! The best cameras are free!

By: Cedric

Cedric — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 00:39:49 +0000

I won my DSLR and have no plans to upgrade, change, add to or anything. If it dies one day then that will be it, unless I win another one

My wife will tell you that I’m such a cheapskate. Drives her nuts lol.