Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/06/13
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Subject: RE: Nikon....was Re: [Leica] New Nikon Lens Mount Olympus 4/3 System D SLR > All of what you've written, Gary, depends upon your definition of > "competitive." > > The average digital camera buyer - for that matter most serious Ams > -is/are NOT going to buy a $7K, $5K, or even $3K digital SLR - he or she > is going to buy a p&s to capture 4x6s of the kids. So that means we're > talking about the pro market. The alternatiuve to a new mount for Nikon is to abandon the pro market. You must be kidding, the pro market has been a big part of Nikon's bragging rights for many many years. Too much history, too much ego to let it go. They have to try to respond to Canon. > For the needs of most newspaper/magazine shooters a full-frame digital > isn't necessary. In fact, the whole full-frame discussion is a bit > silly: What is "full frame?" Full-frame compared to what? A 4x5 is not > full-frame compared to an 8x10; a 2 1/4 is not full-frame compared to a > 4x5; a 645 is not full-frame compared to a 2 1/4; and, of course, a 35 > mm is not full-frame compared to a 2 1/4. The important element, in > terms of the image, is not the size of the sensor, but the quality of > the output the particular sensor makes possible - and the quality needs > of the shooter. There are many alternatives for the reportage photographer---where did I hear that term before :->. However, for digital SLR, with the multiplication factor of a less than full frame sensor, even modest wide angle shots with say a 35mm lens become problematic. > Do Nikon, Olympus, or does Leica, for that matter, need to have full > full-frame sensors to compete and survive with Canon and it's Eos1Ds? > No. What they need to have are digital cameras which produce results > that meet the expectation of their prospective buyers. Leica survives precisely because there is a niche market it appeals to. Leica will never be able to go toe to toe with Canon, so that point is moot. Unless Nikon is willing to remake itself as a consumer only camera maker, it must respond to Canon with a full frame digital SLR. > The important element, in terms of the image, is not the size of the > sensor, but the quality of the output the particular sensor makes > possible - and the quality needs of the shooter. I guess the next thing you'll say is it's not the size of the tool that counts, but the motion in the ocean. The whole point here is that Nikon is not willing to admit that Canon has a bigger one. :-> Gary - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html