The Future of Cameras

 

Review  In the previous two posts in this 4 part series I offered some thoughts about camera user groups and also non user groups, then briefly explored the nature of the user experience.

Good Cameras Now I want to explore what qualities and characteristics make a good camera. Specifically, what kinds of cameras provide a satisfying user experience.

Engagement    The key word is engagement. The user is encouraged by the interface  to engage with the device in a collaborative picture making process.  Using the camera is enjoyable. That does not necessarily mean simple or easy in the sense that a snapshot device is easy. It means the device is designed for optimum picture making performance by a practised user.

But what about the novice user and the aspirational snapshooter ?   Fully automatic Mode saves the day. The beginner can start on fully auto then graduate to the user control modes with more experience.

The Proper Camera  The first step on the road to good ergonomics is the proper camera. This the term I use to encapsulate some key characteristics which I believe every camera should have. These are the primary features by which a camera can be distinguished from a smartphone or some other multifunction device which happens to be able to take photos.

I described it more fully  here  but to summarise, the proper camera has:

* An ergonomic body the shape of which conforms to the hands  and fingers of ordinary humans. It has an anatomically shaped handle and thumb support.

* A responsive, good quality built in electronic viewfinder. Yes, an electronic one, not an optical one. Read more about this here.

* An articulated monitor.

* A built in flash and with cameras above compact size, the ability to use accessory on and off camera flash units.

* An ergonomic user interface. This enables the user to quickly perceive and adjust primary and secondary exposure and focussing parameters while in the Capture Phase of use, without having to remove the eye from the viewfinder and without having to substantially shift grip with either hand on the camera. 

* Responsive performance. The camera must respond immediately to the user's control inputs and not impede the flow of the picture taking process.

Note that many cameras on the market today do not meet my Proper Camera criteria and in my view are damaging the reputation of cameras generally, thereby driving even more people to use smartphones.

Camera line-ups   I think  there are far too many slightly different models of camera on the market today. In many cases the multitude of different types and models is confusing. Well, it's confusing to me and I know a lot about cameras.  Furthermore it seems to me that many of these models are not clearly targeted to one of the user groups which I outlined in the first part of this series.

Here is my suggestion for a consumer camera line up which might be offered by one of the major manufacturers:  Note again I believe they should ALLqualify as Proper Cameras using my suggested criteria, including the compacts.

1. Compacts:  with two levels of specification

* Entry

* Expert/professional. Yes professionals use compacts too.

As envisaged by me a major manufacturer would offer just two compacts in the lineup at any time. Not twenty as is sometimes the case at present. This would enable  manufacturers to concentrate their energies on fewer products each properly executed and it would help  consumers make a choice.

2. All in Ones  (a.k.a. bridge cameras) I think this type of camera has a big future. Why ?  Because the key to good camera design is good ergonomics and the least ergonomically desirable feature of interchangeable lens cameras [ILC's] is changing lenses.  I hate changing lenses and I bet many people do also. So if photographers can get a versatile range of focal lengths, good quality and good performance in a camera which does not require changing lenses, then they will go for it. The feasibility of bridge cameras has greatly increased in recent years with the improvement in performance of small imaging sensors and cost effective fabrication of aspheric lens elements, which allow zoom lenses to be made smaller.

I think three levels of specification could be appropriate for this class of camera:

* Entry

* Expert/Enthusiast

* Professional

3. Interchangeable Lens Cameras  In my proposed and predicted camera universe these will all be of Mirrorless type [MILC].  I think two levels of specification would be appropriate for this class of camera:

* Expert/Enthusiast.  Beginners can happily use this level of camera on  Fully Auto Mode. They can then graduate to the user control modes without having to buy a new camera body to get decent ergonomics and performance.

* Professional. There is likely room for two sub levels in the professional category, for instance one model for high speed, sport/action and another  model for high resolution.

So, that gives us a total of about 8 camera models across the entire line up of a major manufacturer.

I think that most of the models offered by camera makers in their current line-ups are just product clutter. There are really not enough different user groups and not enough different operational requirements to justify the profusion of models which we see at present.

You might ask,  why not ?  Why should the makers not produce a plethora of models as long as somebody is willing to buy them ?   Two reasons:

*  Too many models increases the cost of every camera as each generates  R&D expenditure.

* The process of churning out many models prevents designers and makers from fully developing the ergonomic design, user interface, function and performance of any of them. Us consumers are subjected to a stream of sub-standard products which are a credit to no maker and damage the reputation of the whole camera industry.

* I could add a third reason, namely that less and less consumers are in fact buying cameras. Camera designers, product developers and makers need to review their entire product portfolios, with a view to making better products, not more products.

Next:  Cameras without which the photography world will be a better place.