Would you buy a crop camera thats upgradeable to FF?

http://nikonrumors.com …-200mm-f4-6-5-4-lens.aspx

I noticed this patent from Nikon Rumors. It got me thinking. What if you could but a new 7D MII for say $1500 knowing that you could get it upgraded to FF later for say another $1200? Would you consider such a camera?

Don't know how Nikon is going to use this patent. But sounds interesting.

Perhaps something interchangeable by a switch or custom function to switch between modes might, though if it was using the same sensor you might as well crop the original file.

I would only pay the extra $1200 if I can easily hot-swap the sensor down to a crop and vice-versa. Else I'd rather have 2 separate cameras (crop + FF).

Another thing I'd be worried about is the specific tolerance of the swapping mechanism. Since an image will be projected onto the sensor itself... if there is any shift (forward/backward) during the swap, and/or the retaining bracket somehow loosen with usage/over-usage, then that would result in OOF photos. The AF sensor cannot automatically correct that as it is designed to hit the sensor at a set, pre-determined distance/position. But if that position starts to shift, then that will end up creating a MFA nightmare.

jwcdds wrote in post #11591999
Another thing I'd be worried about is the specific tolerance of the swapping mechanism. Since an image will be projected onto the sensor itself... if there is any shift (forward/backward) during the swap, and/or the retaining bracket somehow loosen with usage/over-usage, then that would result in OOF photos. The AF sensor cannot automatically correct that as it is designed to hit the sensor at a set, pre-determined distance/position. But if that position starts to shift, then that will end up creating a MFA nightmare.

Actually, they can chose to store you MFA corrections on the sensor module, or in the camera. The camera could sense the current sensor module and MFA accordingly.

If the camera had both sensors already in the body, and it just moved one out of the way for the other, without reduction in resolution (which is what you get today by manually cropping a FF image down), I would be for that.

Flick a switch, a bit of whirring noise, then the indicator shows FF.... Neat!

Wouldn't the viewfinder / mirror need to be upgraded as well if you switched from crop to FF?

It just really doesn't seem practical to plug in a FF sensor if you can't see everything your camera's new sensor is capturing.

davidfig wrote in post #11593322
Actually, they can chose to store you MFA corrections on the sensor module, or in the camera. The camera could sense the current sensor module and MFA accordingly.

What info would it be storing? There's virtually no guarantee that the tolerances would hit in the same place every time you swapped sensor units. You might be +2 today and -3 tomorrow.

I agree with the "MFA Nightmare" concept.

I think the better route is a FF system that can become Crop on demand.

At the cost quoted I would rather have 2 bodies.

I would almost bet there is no physical "swapping" of sensors. Maybe it is a FF body with FF viewfinder but sold somehow electronically reducing the "read" area of the sensor until you pay to "unlock" it to utilize the entire sensor. Ooooo...imagine the field day the hackers could have with that one.

I wouldn't spend an extra dime on it myself.

davidfig wrote in post #11593322
Actually, they can chose to store you MFA corrections on the sensor module, or in the camera. The camera could sense the current sensor module and MFA accordingly.

You're missing the point. Unless the attachment system is exceedingly precise you would have to MFA the sensor every time you swap.

Unless you designed it as some type of module that included both the sensor and the lens mount. But that would probably require the mirror and viewfinder to be replaced too and at that point you're basically talking about two complete cameras and you are just switching the buttons back and forth. Might as well just buy two cameras.

Probably be easier and more cost effective to just offer a package deal on a 7D and a 5DmkII that lets people get the two bodies cheaper than buying them separately.

gonzogolf wrote in post #11594269
I wouldn't spend an extra dime on it myself.

Same here.

krb wrote in post #11594270
You're missing the point. Unless the attachment system is exceedingly precise you would have to MFA the sensor every time you swap.

From the look of the diagram, I expect that swapping sensors would probably be a service centre job rather than something you do at home, so I can't see an "every time you swap" scenario happening too often.

That said, if it's going to require the hassle and cost of sending the body in, I'd just as soon cut a long story short and go straight to buying FF.

outback wrote in post #11594261
I would almost bet there is no physical "swapping" of sensors. Maybe it is a FF body with FF viewfinder but sold somehow electronically reducing the "read" area of the sensor until you pay to "unlock" it to utilize the entire sensor. Ooooo...imagine the field day the hackers could have with that one.

That would probably be the only way they could really pull this off, though producing a FF camera and selling it at a crop camera price would mean a pretty big hit in profits unless everybody upgraded.

Looking at the patent I don't think this is for changing a sensor to a sensor of a different format. It's still a pretty cool idea though. What if cameras became modular, upgradeable and customizable like computers? If your camera is starting to get a bit old just buy a new sensor / processing element and slap it in there rather than ditching the entire thing and buying a new one.

turboflame wrote in post #11594373
What if cameras became modular, upgradeable and customizable like computers? If your camera is starting to get a bit old just buy a new sensor / processing element and slap it in there rather than ditching the entire thing and buying a new one.

I believe that would be the Ricoh GXR.