Is Less More?

Looking back through my time as a photographer still I remember fondly shooting with totally manual, mechanical cameras.. Precision and tough cameras where nothing went wrong.. My 1969 vintage Nikon F comes to mind..

Nowadays, is there too much being packed into DSLRs?? Too many things that can go wrong or functions we don't really use..

Thinking about this, I'm wondering if there is a market for a streamlined DSLR,, something designed around the EOS 5D at a bargain price??

- Full frame with 15-18 MP.
- Bright clear viewfinder with 100% coverage.
- Manual and Aperture priority modes only.
- Evaluative and spot metering.
- 50-3200 ISO.
- 4 to 5 FPS.
- Manual focus only.
- White balance adjustment.
- RAW and Jpeg capability.
-Exposure compensation in aperture priority.

I'd ditch the picture styles, auto ISO, only allow full one stop ISO adjustment but 1/3rd stop exposure adjustment.. No high tone priority and high ISO noise reduction..

Also, what functions do you find neccessary for your shooting?? What functions do you never use??

I think the stock answer to your thoughts are "don't use those functions on a camera if you don't need them". Marketing today is so much about the sizzle and it's so easy to get caught in checklist comparos between different pieces of equipment - to the point where I'm sure some people simply go for the bigger checklist!

It costs Canon essentially nothing to add:

- Tv, program, full auto and other exposure modes
- additional metering programs
- autofocus
- picture styles, auto iso and NR and HTP adjustments (already written software)

Less is more. In fact, Ken Rockwell has been espousing this for a while. It's so easy to get wrapped up in gear and features that one loses sight of what photography is, or should be. It's also easy to take for granted some features which are pretty much indispensible (histograms for luma and chroma).

For better or for worse though your less might be too little for other people, and is too little for the people in marketing.

The 5d is the tool I go to when I want a no-bull**** approach to getting the shot.

I have never used another camera that lets me achieve my vision with as little interference as a 5d.

It has no bells, no whistles, no 75 focus points, doesn't have 39 buttons...nothing more than a great sensor. Sometimes that's all I need/want. Less things to worry about, easy to focus on getting the shot.

However, I find autofocus too invaluable to give up - and I grew up shooting manual focus, winding my film after each shot...etc.

I also find that people here have way too many lenses. I used to own a ton. Then I sold a ton. Now I have four, and could probably get on with just two of them if I really needed to. So much easier to go out with one or two lenses and concentrate on making great photos than lugging a whole photo store with you and getting caught up in focal length, bokeh, all that crap. It's all secondary to the subject anyway.

As pointed out by HeaTransfer, too many people get caught up with the gear instead of concerntrating on the real craft, photography..

I run both my 20D and 50D flat,, meaning no noise reduction, no high tone priority, full stop ISO adjustment etc.. With my 50D I use User Def.1 with 3 sharpness dialed in, nothing else.. With my 20D, Parameter 1 and everything set to zero..

For me,,my camera is only a tool,,I've never been one to sit there and oggle my gear.. When I go out shooting for myself , I stick camera and only two lenses into an old shoulder bag..

I might be getting off the topic here.. but as I read the posts here, I could not help but to share my thought on micro management.

Two of the most important tools that I get from 5D MKII are, its large screen w/ high resolution and micro adjustment.
The screen, I can cope with lesser quality if I have to, but the micro adjustment.. this is like "god sent" to me.

One of my most favored lens is 85mm f/1.8, and one of my most hated lens is 85mm f/1.8.
It is absolutely beautiful lens that delivers both quality and performance at a very affordable price, but it is also horribly miss focusing lens next to Sigma 30mm f/1.4.
I was really torn between this love and hate relationship with 85mm f/1.8, but that is no longer an issue with micro adjustment.
It is not a perfect solution by any mean, but it is good enough for me to shell out additional 1000 bucks over 5D MKI.

Pasukun wrote in post #10317599
I might be getting off the topic here.. but as I read the posts here, I could not help but to share my thought on micro management.

Two of the most important tools that I get from 5D MKII are, its large screen w/ high resolution and micro adjustment.
The screen, I can cope with lesser quality if I have to, but the micro adjustment.. this is like "god sent" to me.

One of my most favored lens is 85mm f/1.8, and one of my most hated lens is 85mm f/1.8.
It is absolutely beautiful lens that delivers both quality and performance at a very affordable price, but it is also horribly miss focusing lens next to Sigma 30mm f/1.4.
I was really torn between this love and hate relationship with 85mm f/1.8, but that is no longer an issue with micro adjustment.
It is not a perfect solution by any mean, but it is good enough for me to shell out additional 1000 bucks over 5D MKI.

Nothing is off topic..

I agree..Lenses that are sharp on my 20D were so-so on my 50F until I fiddled around with AF Micrco adjustment..

Unfortunately I don't think this thread is going to get too much action, which is a shame.

Sounds like the 1DsII! Buy it today!

You can turn a 1DsII into this camera with custom functions to turn off the other exposure modes than M and Av, turn off other metering modes than Evaluative and Spot, leave the lens focus switch on MF. 1DsII doesn't have picture styles and expands to 50-3200 ISO from native 100-1600. The 1DsII is a great camera and a super bargain right now so no need for a new model, just check the forsale forum...

Canon has already invested the R&D money in the other features. It could turn most of them off in software but aside from the AF sensor they wouldn't really save any money on hardware.

I'd like to see a Canon answer to the Sony Nex5.

I just read the review on Nex3 and Nex5 on Dpreview.com.
And I must say.. I am not that impressed.
It is capable camera no question about it, but to me Oly E-PL1 is more appearing, specially with its outstanding high ISO noise control. Very impressive.

For the record, i did own the Pana GF1. And it was snappy camera, but the image quality was below my expectation.

Live view only? Most of what I do is BIF and sports, action action action! The Nex will not be my camera... I'd like to see someone trying to use a 400-600mm lens on one of those held in front of them for birds, good luck!

yogestee wrote in post #10315621
Looking back through my time as a photographer still I remember fondly shooting with totally manual, mechanical cameras.. Precision and tough cameras where nothing went wrong.. My 1969 vintage Nikon F comes to mind..

Nowadays, is there too much being packed into DSLRs?? Too many things that can go wrong or functions we don't really use..

Thinking about this, I'm wondering if there is a market for a streamlined DSLR,, something designed around the EOS 5D at a bargain price??

- Full frame with 15-18 MP.
- Bright clear viewfinder with 100% coverage.
- Manual and Aperture priority modes only.
- Evaluative and spot metering.
- 50-3200 ISO.
- 4 to 5 FPS.
- Manual focus only.
- White balance adjustment.
- RAW and Jpeg capability.
-Exposure compensation in aperture priority.

I'd ditch the picture styles, auto ISO, only allow full one stop ISO adjustment but 1/3rd stop exposure adjustment.. No high tone priority and high ISO noise reduction..

Also, what functions do you find neccessary for your shooting?? What functions do you never use??

If you don't want the function on a camera, then don't use them. Canon and any other company is not going to create a product to fit the whims of every Tom, Harry, and Sally.

Good point about less is more. Right now I feel I have so many lenses ( 8 with lots of overlap ) I never know what I want to use. I almost never leave my house with more the 3 so I am seriously considering selling off a 2 or 3 and just keeping the lenses I really like most.

And I too would like to see Canon make something like the NEX5. I am not a big fan of Sony but I have had my eye on this for a while. Camera looks great but the interface looks terrible. The G11 controls and size with a APS-C sensor would be ideal.

Not my comment but i am guilty of it...#


The enlightened photographer developes in his mind what he wishes to produce (the final product) and then works backward through the tools available to him to create his product. You never hear of construction workers arguing about the merits of a new shovel and how they'd never go back to the old one. The real problem is that most photographers have nothing to talk about besides the piece of equipment that they become "married" to. 6 8 months ago

"Less is more" just sounds like an excuse of not wanting to learn how to use today's gear.

I have no problems with the bells and whistles that come with my cameras. I use the features that I need and I use my cameras to get the shot. Nothing more, nothing less.

If I wanted less, I would stick with a P&S...but then again I think P&S cameras are probably more complicated than DSLR's these days!