Camera Plateau

If you check the evolution of cameras from the last few years, except for some true innovations (like the D800 DR) there has been little real ground breaking stuff going on:

- 5D2 brought us video and resolution over the 5D
- 5D3 brought us better AF over 5D2
- 7D brought the AF and speed over the XXD series

but except for higher processing power, that allows things like in-camera HDR, speed and natural evolution of AF sensors, really don't see what the in-a-few-years-comming 5D4 will be able to do that cameras nowadays already do.

What do you guys see (or want) in therms of real evolution for photography? Not talking about gadgets like wifi and GPS, or faster processors allowing a gazillion Megapixels or hundreds FPS.

I'm talking about real photography driven gains like the Dynamic Range that the D800 brought that is a real innovation, or perhaps the new Leica M microlenses that are said to improve light gathering and so reduce noise and have better sharpness, or even the Fuji X Pro that has that color array that makes a AA filter disposable.

I know a per-pixel ISO is wanted by many...

I would like to see an improvement in sensor tech that allows recording of true 16 bit files from an FF DSLR sensor. Current digital medium format already does this, so I imagine with improvements to photosites and the readout process, we will see this sooner than later.

Even the D800 and the new Sony A99 are still recording maximum 14 bit files, and for a true breakthrough in DR, this has to change and go to 16 bit.

I see it as normal. And better compare to cars

I want continued improvement in high ISO noise levels.

Oh great. Is this the start of a few years of a "when will the 5DIV be out and what do you think it will have?" threads?

THe 5DIII just came out. How about if folks figure that one out before moving on.

You're right. Let's petition Canon to stop investing in R&D until we all catch up. I am still on an XTi, so it may take a while. Awesome idea!

kf095 wrote in post #15181782
I see it as normal. And better compare to cars

I would like more MPG

If cameras have plateau out, then my buying the 5D3 will last me about 10 years before anything else worth buying comes out. I been looking for an excuse to change up to a 5D3 from my 7D and this thread just my be the excuse needed. Maybe not the best excuse but an excuse.

Foveon sensor for real color. Not the, very-advanced, guesstimating color that Baylor sensors offer. Sigma has one, maybe Canon could make on that isn't "quirky" and in a lens mount that people actually use

Copidosoma wrote in post #15182327
Oh great. Is this the start of a few years of a "when will the 5DIV be out and what do you think it will have?" threads?

THe 5DIII just came out. How about if folks figure that one out before moving on.

I do t see this post being that way at all. I actually feel this is more of a way to get people to STOP posting those threads. Here we can talk about what we would actually use in a camera that are upgrades rather than seeing what we can jam into a camera for bragging rights.

I think more useable higher ISO and all focus points being able to support f8 dual cross type focusing could really help the budget sports/wildlife shooters.

My understanding of the OPs question was that, given the evolution of recent photography, camera, and sensor technology, what advancements that are not currently available do we think can improve photography (as measured by the image quality produced, and irrespective of any potential convenience-focused features such as WiFi and GPS) in the not-too-distant future?

I thought it was an excellent question, and is generic to photography, as opposed to speculative with regard to a particular as-of-yet-nonexistent camera, as someone previously suggested.

Looking back over the evolution of cameras, there really has been no major change. Many if not most of us do not use our cameras to their full potential. I ran across a semi-pro photographer in Canada who is using a XTi and making a good living from his images. He put his money is lighting and the studio. He admits that 95% of his printing is 8x10 and under. I am not saying that good high ISO/better focusing/16 bit images are unnecessary but will the average photographer really need them? Let's face it, as mentioned in the first post, there are really no major developments in the newer cameras. But this is all my opinion.

Increased DR. I'd like a slider for PP that I can dial in the amount of DR desired for the final output.

In the same vain, I'd like to select DOF after the shot with a slider. Pick the focus point and the DOF in post.

Focus assist on the camera that works in servo.

Face detection. It's on our phone for crying out loud, why do I need a 1Dx to get that?

Noise reduction that doesn't soften the image.

ETTL that really works.

World peace.

ddk632 wrote in post #15181775
I would like to see an improvement in sensor tech that allows recording of true 16 bit files from an FF DSLR sensor. Current digital medium format already does this, so I imagine with improvements to photosites and the readout process, we will see this sooner than later.

Even the D800 and the new Sony A99 are still recording maximum 14 bit files, and for a true breakthrough in DR, this has to change and go to 16 bit.

This sounds nice! But most MF sensors are CCD, aren't they? Would 16 bit be supported by CMOS?

Calicajun wrote in post #15182480
If cameras have plateau out, then my buying the 5D3 will last me about 10 years before anything else worth buying comes out. I been looking for an excuse to change up to a 5D3 from my 7D and this thread just my be the excuse needed. Maybe not the best excuse but an excuse.

This is exactly what I see and why I posted this thread. I don't see ANY reason to upgrade my 5D3. Unless Canon puts out a much smaller mirrorless full frame body EOS compatible, I think the 5D3 might be a camera for 10+ years!

st3mpy wrote in post #15182490
Foveon sensor for real color. Not the, very-advanced, guesstimating color that Baylor sensors offer. Sigma has one, maybe Canon could make on that isn't "quirky" and in a lens mount that people actually use

Foveon is nice! But I think it has some drawbacks as well, don't they? Like very high noise or something like that?

I think tech is moving towards better ISO performance. This year as been the best year yet for camera tech. My D800 is perfectly usable at ISO 6400, when before I wouldn't touch anything about 3200 on my D700 or 1600 on my D7000 or 800 on my EOS 50D. For as many pixels as the D800 has, that's flat out amazing and throws sand in the face of "too many pixels creates noise" matra. Now of course, there's a reason Nikon had to limit the ISO to 6400 Frankly, the D800 is a 2 cycle camera for me, so I'll upgrade it when the D1000 comes out in 8 years or so.

The D900 will probably see ISO 25,600 without breaking a sweat.

It's high time we see 16-bit files.

GPS should be built-in standards by now instead of some $300 add on.

There will always be improvements to the processor speeds.

I think AF systems have done all they could do and that tech is pretty much stagnant.

Nikon's video isn't as good as Canon's, so there's room for improvement there.

In all honesty, I think we are going to see a major shift in the size of cameras, moving to smaller bodies. Hence Sony's X100 full-frame. I think Sony put money into Olympus because of this.