New Digital Camera Technologies

[ali]

I just found out that we cannot post to "New Items" so I created
this thread to talk about new digital camera technologies.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fujifilm Camera Back with 20.8 MP Super CCD

[Summarized from dpreview 2/21/2003]
-New Digital Camera Back with 20.8 Million Total Pixels Super CCD
-medium format digital camera back
-Super CCD with a 52 x 37 mm size chip
-capable of producing 7,648 x 5,408 (41 million) recorded pixels

[Summarized from dpreview 2/27/2003]
-Initially only available for the Fujifilm GX680
-release for the GX645AF will be available at a later date
-up to 7 frames at 1.5 second intervals
-the ability to output RAW, JPEG and TIFF files
-Micodrive support
-ISO sensitivities of 100, 200 and 400
-It will be available in the fall for an as yet undecided amount.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hard to imagine how far MP's will go.

[ali]

[From dpreview 2/27/2003]
Kodak Professional DCS Pro 14n...auto-orientation sensor, saving the photographer time by automatically rotating images as they're transferred to a computer.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I really could use this function. How about "auto-leveling" in the future so that all pictures are horizontally level? Of course all functions can be enabled or disabled through the setup menu.

[ali]

[From dpreview 2/27/2003]
Kodak Professional DCS Pro 14n...will accept 4-gigabyte cards once they become available. Enhancements are planned for the file transfer rate (dependent upon third-party software capabilities), jpeg burst depth and long exposure settings. Activation of the camera's MMC/SD storage slot will be part of an upcoming firmware upgrade.

[ali]

[From IDG News Service 03-10-2002]
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. has unveiled a working prototype of a SD (Secure Digital) memory card with a 1G byte capacity, at the Ceatec 2002 exhibition.

...higher speed interface that will be able to shift data between the card and device at up to 20M bps (bytes per second) -- double the speed of current 256M-byte and 512M-byte cards and 10 times the speed of cards that are up to 128M byte capacity.

Matsushita's current SD memory card road map calls for a 2G-byte card to follow the planned 1G-byte version sometime in 2004 and then cards in 4G-byte, 8G-byte and 16G-byte capacities to follow from 2005.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This makes the S2's SM slot look obsolete.

[lightwrangler]

[QUOTE]
Kodak Professional DCS Pro 14n...auto-orientation sensor, saving the photographer time by automatically rotating images as they're transferred to a
computer.

I agree that this would be a fine thing to have on the next S camera. Another interesting feature of the Kodak is the ability to record to both storage media at the same time. Using the new jpeg format that kodak has created on the SD card and using raw on the Microdrive card. Automatically backing up your shooting in case of a disk failure.

I had a look at the 14n this week at a Kodak product launch. It has some nice features and the software looks to be much easier to use and much more complete than the Fuji's. The body of the 14n has a solid feel to it and the controls are well arranged. The LCD looks better than the S2 and the histograms are larger and have greater detail. I wasn't able to handle the cameras (they were prototypes and not all functions worked). But they looked well thought out and had some advantages over the S2 and D1x. Reaction to the 14n by the pros in attendance was mixed, most of the pros who were already into a digital workflow were less impressed than those who were just making the move. The full size sensor was largely praised by the presenter without addressing issues related to that format and the ability of lenses to resolve to the edges for that size of a chip.

I am not planning on getting one. They cost over twice the price of the S2, I think I'll wait until Fuji comes out with something new instead. (Or buy another S2 and some new glass) The samples I saw were very good in most respects, however I have seen similar samples from the S2. What the 14n does do in my mind, is confirm what an excellent value we have in the S2.

If Fuji can put the 20 megapixel chip into a medium format, I wonder how long it will be before it shows up in a S2 style of camera? BTW, I have heard (unconfirmed) that Fuji is no longer producing the 680 model and that it is building the Hassie H1. So it would make sense to me that this new back would be intended for use with the H1.

As far as the SM card slot becoming obsolete, I agree. However I don't use it anyways, so I won't miss it. With CF cards coming out in 1 gig size and soon 2 gig, I don't see any reason to make use of the SM slot. Having two CF slots both recording at the same time would be a good feature.

[Wichita Wayne]

Thanks for the information and common sense approach to the available hardware. I for one would like to settle in and get to know my S2 a lot more before I have to update to a different camera. Currently I am a much better Hasselblad photographer than a S2 photographer. I am way down to the horizontal part of the Hasselblad improvement curve, but am still on the big slide when it comes to digital.

I also think you are right about the Hasselblad H-1 series and it's relationship to Fuji. In fact it would not surprise me to see Fuji buy the Hasselblad Company some time in the future. It would be a great match for both parties and the consummer.

[lightwrangler]

Okay, I wasn't using them so I sold them. But I still miss 'em. When I was at the store this week, I fondled a couple of used ones, but I'm not going to buy. I grew up shooting with Hassies and I still think the world of them. As much as I loved the feel and the durability, they didn't fit digitally. A back on a CM or an ELX isn't a great match up, too bulky, too expensive and not enough connection to the camera and the lenses. The fit is good in the H1, but as far as price goes, it's just way out there. I will most likely stick to 35mm style digicams, but if I am going to go for a back, I may marry it to a Mamiya 645 and save myself a few thou'. Besides how much of the H1 is a true Hassie? The lenses aren't even Zeiss.

However in order for me to go for a back on a medium format camera, I would need to have a significantly bigger file size, the camera would have to stand on it's own (no tethering) and the capture speed would have to be good. The Kodak Pro Back does this, but once again, it's hard to justify the price. The tethered camera has no appeal to me what so ever, I want to be able to handle the camera just like the film ones that I am used to.

Frankly I think that the Fuji works very well. While we all have quibbles about it, dollar for dollar, pixel for pixel, I think it's great. Even if I had no problem spending the money for a 14n I doubt that I would do it at this point. Last year, I might have dropped the dough, but in light of today's technology the Kodak just looks like a case of a little, a little too late and too much dough. I'd buy two S2's instead. I expect a huge drop in the price of the 14n over the next 12 months as new product hits the market.