What are you looking for in your next camera?

[Walter Moss]

I'm curious about what qualities people are looking for in their next digital camera. I guess this is a question I'm asking myself, and I'm wondering what others are thinking for their own needs. What I realized when asking myself this question is that in the past my "needs" have been really guided by what camera makers have offered. Suddenly I needed "more megapixels," for example, or as in the 5D "full frame."

But this question is regardless of camera brand. Are you looking for more megapixels? Better ergonomics? Lighter weight? Do you really need anything more than what you have?

What's going to get you to fork over more money?

Fire away.

[llpoolej]

I really like most everything about my E-1. What I am looking for in the next camera is most of the attributes of the E-1 with a little faster AF and more MP. I like to crop and with more MP that is really helpful! I love the ergonomics, colors, weathersealing and picture quality though.

[mawz]

Better resolution, bigger buffer,faster write speed, better compatibility with MF lenses.

Ergonomic improvements are nice, but everything in a menu sucks for serious work. Give me buttons, but don't make controls modal (Pentax's big oops with the D was that ISO, WB and Quality were modal, so you had to drop out of a shooting mode to set them)

[cameraguy21773]

Most important to me are image quality and great AF capability.

A great camera for me would be a 12-14MP imager with all the features of a D70 in a D1x type body at a price point of $1500-1800.
Too much to ask?

[scoundrel1728]

Important in what you are looking for in the next camera is what features you are presently using. Nearly as important is what you can live without.

I really like the macro capability of my current Nikon Coolpix 995 and the fact that I can carry it with me pretty much wherever I go. The ability to shoot at odd angles and still see where I am aiming (articulated LCD/body) is also something I would not want to give up unless I had to. The automatic bracketing feature in the menu is something I use fairly often, especially with burst ("continuous") mode. The almost noiseless operation, the relatively small and unobtrusive lens, and the articulated body have allowed me to shoot candids within three feet of my subject. I also like the histogram and overexposure warning features in my existing camera and would almost insist on any possible replacement to have these abilities.

The shot rate of about 1-1/2 exposures every second is generally fast enough for my purpose but I wish I could get more than three shots per burst and not have to wait several seconds before I can do anything else with my camera. I also shoot a lot in dim room interiors and am continually running up against my present camera's limitations in low light conditions. I really would like a brighter lens and the option of higher ISO ratings without having to accept so much noise and I would like more dynamic range than I presently have. I am sometimes forced to shoot at ISO 400 and can get by with it for some applications, especially with post-exposure noise reduction (Neat Image) but I don't like to do that. Turning the in-camera sharpening down helps keep the pixel noise under control. My camera can shoot at ISO 800, but the results usually aren't very good.

I do not expect one camera to meet all of my shooting needs, thus I expect to keep my Coolpix even after getting a suitable dSLR. The new Sony with the APS-sized sensor and non-interchangeable lens is an interesting alternative to a dSLR but I would gladly give up some of its wide angle capability to get more on the telephoto end.

[Later addition] I also have pointedly NOT said "more megapixels"! I would like more resolution, of course, but that is well down on my list of requirements. I have so far found 3 megapixels to be adequate for my purpose.

[badpickev]

lets see, more res, a little bit mr dr, faster write times larger buffer, 3.5fps better flash, better af. basicly everything the S3 did not deliver on, plus a little bit more of what it did deliver on

[ellette]

ROTFL...well, it is simple, for my next camera I'm looking for digital.

Ok, what is making me get a 20D over say a 350 or a D70 or an E-300 might fit more with your question I guess. Well, the low light capabilities and the speed really. If you are talking about cameras that don't yet exist...that will be an upgrade from the 20D for me I guess. What would it take to make me upgrade from the 20D after I've gotten it? Something I could afford with a full frame probably or just they stop making the 20D, mine breaks, and I can't get it fixed so I have to get a new camera...that would do it. I know I haven't shot with it yet, but I don't see anything that would make me quickly want to upgrade my camera if it gives such great pictures as it is capable of. If I can make it do what I want I tend to be very loyal and just stick with what works and think about upgrading when it is an absolute must not because I think it would be nice.

Sara

[Narsuitus]

A full-frame digital SLR that is able to work well with my inventory of manual focus and auto focus lenses like the Nikon F4, is capable of producing images of the quality of the Fuji S2 or S3, and is priced like a Nikon D70 or Canon digital Rebel.

A full-frame interchangeable lens rangefinder that is built with Leica MP or M6 quality and style, is capable of producing images of the quality of the Fuji S2 or S3, and is priced like a Canon G6.

[dc2]

With perhaps the exception of shutter speed I will go for maybe an improved everything on the cameras I already have.
Am I being greedy ??

[Kevin Barrett]

Originally Posted by Walter Moss

I'm curious about what qualities people are looking for in their next digital camera. I guess this is a question I'm asking myself, and I'm wondering what others are thinking for their own needs. What I realized when asking myself this question is that in the past my "needs" have been really guided by what camera makers have offered. Suddenly I needed "more megapixels," for example, or as in the 5D "full frame."

But this question is regardless of camera brand. Are you looking for more megapixels? Better ergonomics? Lighter weight? Do you really need anything more than what you have?

What's going to get you to fork over more money?

Fire away.

Love my 20D, but my next body will most likely be Full Frame

[Rokcet Scientist]

I want a KonicaMinolta DiMAGE A3 with 16 megapixels, 24-300mm f2.0, instant startup, zero shutter lag, 6fps, 40-frame buffer, triple onboard flash power. And, oh yeah, with 30fps 800x600 movies. In short, an A2 on steroids. That's all. Only, it's got to be in the same size/weight package as the A2...
Is that too much to ask?

RS
(extremely happy with my A2, to be sure! But one can dream, can't one?)

[metalstorm]

5D most likely. Good megapixel and FF. The performance of the sensor is supposed to excellent also. I'll make my decision after the real world gets their hands on them.