Beyond the most obvious upgrades such as more pixels, bigger ISO numbers, and auto focus, has anyone noticed that the general feature set of DSLRs really doesn't change very often? I certainly have! There have been, in my opinion, obvious things missing from DSLRs for years that would make me a very happy camper if added. DSLR makers pull out your notepads!
1. Viewfinder Crop Preview
Most of the time I'm shooting for 16:9 or even 21:9 aspect ratio. I'd love the ability to set the camera to preview that crop for me right in the viewfinder, even if that crop isn't actually retained in the RAW file when the photo is taken. Sure, I could visualize the crop, that is exactly what I do, but having the ability to see it as I shoot would be brilliant! I'm not sure exactly how it would be done but perhaps some sort of rectangle aperture in the viewfinder that allows it to letterbox?
2. A Locking Tether Port
Have you ever used the Ten-pin remote terminal on the front of your DSLR? You know the one, it works so well, you push the connector in then screw it tight so the cable can't budge. How wonderful! That brings us to tethering where we have to depend on friction to hold an unstable USB or HDMI style cable into a port as we move around shooting. The cable is never going to fall out... right? Sure companies like Tether Tools provide products to help diminish this problem but none of the solutions are really solutions. DSLR makers I challenge you to use that Ten-pin remote terminal as inspiration and create a tethering port that actually reliably stays connected. If that is too hard, an ethernet cable could also provide some wonderful inspiration on how to make a self securing cable.
3. An Auto Focus Assist Lamp That Actually Does Something Useful
This one is mostly going to be pointed at Nikon as I don't think Canon or Sony actually have any cameras with an auto focus assist lights built in. On any Nikon body I've ever used, the auto focus assist light is just to the right of the lens mount. It is a tiny LED that only goes on when using the middle focus point. Not to be snide or anything but did they even test the light with anything other than a small kit lens? With almost every lens I own the light is partially blocked by the lens itself preventing any light from hitting the middle of my frame. Yup, that's right, an auto focus lamp that only works with the central focus point doesn't shine light on the central focus point with the majority of lenses. Wonderful.
My suggestion may be a bit radical, but how many pro users actually use the pop up flash? What if, in pro bodies, the pop up flash was replaced with a powerful, popup, auto focus assist that could be used with any focus point and had enough power to actually work well? Madness, I tell you!
4. A Convenient ISO Button
This one is something Canon gets right. Certain other camera makers, you have failed me. ISO is a critical part of the modern exposure triangle. It is something that photographers want to adjust on the fly as they shoot. With this in mind, why would the ISO button be placed in a spot where I can't reach it from a standard camera grip? A quick tip, hardly anyone uses the depth of field preview button. Swap it's place with the ISO button and merriment will ensue.
5. Normal, Run Of The Mill, AA Batteries
I'm tired of proprietary batteries, I'm sure most everyone is. There may be some technical limitation, or it may just be a ploy to sell batteries but from where I am sitting it seems reasonable that if a battery grip can power a DSLR with AA batteries there really is no reason not to be able to use them when the battery grip is not being used. Everything I use runs on AA batteries. My flashes, my triggers, etc. Except my camera. I would be gleeful if I could toss away proprietary batteries for each camera body and just use my AA batteries from here on out.
Conclusion
Research and development is expensive, I get it. Building the most technologically advanced DSLRs costs untold millions to unlock even the smallest upgrades in sensor technology. Simple usability upgrades, however, are much cheaper, and ultimately have a bigger impact on the lives of photographers. Be the camera maker who optimizes its equipment for more than just the most cutting edge performance. Instead make it the most comfortable and easy to use in a variety of situations. That manufacturer will be the one who gets my money.
Didn't know that about Nikon's FF. You learn something new everyday :)
As trivial as it looks, it's the strap that annoys me most on my Canons. It is still the same design I had on my Canon T90 a few decades ago.
I want to be able to take the strap off, and put it on when needed without fiddling or living third party dangly bits, Swarovski came up with a neat solution for their high end binoculars.
And if they can let me to take away those 90% of the functions/gimmicks that I never use. They just get in the way.
Not sure what cameras you're talking about, but the D810 shown (and most Nikon pro bodies) have:
1. See page 74 of the D810 manual - depending on the image crop selected, you'll see the appropriate crop lines in the viewfinder. (Can't remember if that works in LV - I'll check tonight.
2. I use Tether Tools, too (work great) but again, a lot of Nikon bodies come with USB and HDMI cable clips (pages 258 and 289).
3. I'll keep my pop-up for IR flash control for those situations where everything is too close for RT to work reliably.Disappointed Nikon dropped a built-in flash on the D500. Sometimes you just want an off-camera flash and not all your triggers.
4. Again, pro-Nikon bodies all have an ISO button and it's fairly convenient. Or change your record button as mentioned (page 109)
5. If you want AA batteries, get a grip (as mentioned by many others).
Maybe you should have been more specific about what DSLRs you wanted to see upgraded? Seems like many Canon and Nikon DSLRs have everything you need. Time for an upgrade?
1. The feature to set crop as you describe contains 4 preset crops. 3 of which are 2:3, and one which is 5:4. I'd argue this tool is more about controlling output file size than it is about giving you the freedom to shoot/preview alternative crops.
2. Those clips help a tiny bit, but aren't effective, at least in my experience. What I'm looking for is something I can anchor in and connection is not going to be lost unless the entire port gets ripped out. I've used those clips with tether tools and it drives me insane how often connect gets dropped because the plug shifted slightly in the port.
3. Personally, I've never been in that situation, but thats fair enough. Though it is conceivable that it could be designed to do double duty. ;) Personally I'm constantly wishing I had better AF assist. I wish someone would make an AF assist lamp that is hotshoe mounted, that would be amazing. I'd pay for it. ;)
4. The ISO button on Nikon cameras is on the left above the move dial which is well out of reach while shooting without changing grip. I use the record button for recording. ;)
5. This is an option but its also very expensive for what it is and also not only makes the camera much bigger, but also much heavier.
With the exception of the ISO button bit where Canon gets it right, there is no DSLR camera on the market that would meet my requirements for the other 4, (that I know of) which is why I chose to write about them. I feel like they are seemingly trivial things that would have a huge impact on my life.
The Yongnuo triggers are hot shoe mounted and have a focus assist lamp built into them that works very well, but it shoots out a red crisscross pattern that draws a lot of attention from your subject so not so great if you're trying for stealth.
The problem with that one is that I find its really not all that helpful because the lines often aren't where my focus point is so I can't use them to help at all.
Yeah you really need to switch to zone focusing
There is usually a specific point I want in critical focus (most often the eye),
the Yongnuo's transmitter comes with a built in laser IR light plus its a pattern not just a light. Use it all the time on my D800. If not that at least use a red LED light the bright white light blinds people when you try to shoot them under the conditions a focus light assist is needed most. I turned the damn thing off after a few shots and never turned it back on, All if got using it in a dark club were surprised eye closed shocked faces.
It should be mounted in the pop up flash head so that it can shoot over the lens on the camera something the present placement wont do as it gets shaded by the lens. I mean why even have the blinding little light if it wont even hit the central focus target on the subject your shooting
Or Nikon simply make a small light that will go in the hot shoe that has that kind of red light like and IR laser or just ir that will act as a focus target
Ya exactly, personally I'd LOVE a video light that is like a small flat panel LED that sits in your hotshoe which I can put in a mode to behave as AF assist that turns it off when the shot is being made but it stays on when not, would be amazing as AF assist, amazing for BTS videos, and amazing as an AF assist in dark conditions where I'd like the scene relatively lit until the moment of the shot.
Well, actually...
1) this s a fair request. Mirrorless already do this.
2) No, not really easy. A good, locking port, that can be connected to standard industry circuit for communication protocol (like USB2, USB3, thunderbolt, etc), is pretty hard. It also relies on computers being able to understand the protocol when it comes over a connection that's standard with computers (eg USB). Such a locking connector would be bulky too. Ethernet is also bulky, compared to the USB connections used today.
3) I agree that most AF assist lights become useless on a camera body. Quite frankly it always would. You always need something further placed. But guess what, most speedlights have an IR AF assist light. You can even have the flash disabled but the AF assist light enabled. Some brands even sell separate AF assist lights (IR or otherwise). I for one would rather not use a pop up flash for several reasons: a) everyone and everything around you noticed the flash. b) Xeon lights used for flashes cannot burn for the duration required to perform focusing. c) any options like a pop up LED light, would make the camera more bulky.
4) too subjective. What location is convenient for some, is inconvenient for others. Plus, most DSLRs already have programmable buttons where you can decide what button performs what function. Admitted, DSLRs are behind mirrorless from this perspective, but the ability is there. Also, you can use auto ISO. Most people don't vary that much during a shoot that they have to change the ISO from something different that auto ISO would not be able to cover. Problem solved.
5) this is bullocks! a grip has space for 6-8 AA size batteries. A camera body has not. Get real! Learn what an AA battery is: it's a 1.5V (1.2 for rechargeable batteries) battery cell. You need several to power a DSLR.
Here are some features that could/should be build in:
1) wifi and gps as standard (those circuits take up no space at all).
2) for higher end models include radio for triggering speedlights (also a circuit that doesn't take up much space, especially when you integrate a radio circuit that does wifi, gps and triggering combined).
2. I wasn't suggesting they design a completely different port, rather it wouldn't be hard to design say a USB with a locking mechanism. I'm ok with a bit of extra bulk. A tiny bit of extra size on the DSLR wouldn't change my life at all. A tethering cable that doesn't disconnect every 3min would be a life changer.
3) In my experience the IR AF assists are largely useless. They tend to cover only the centre few focus points (points I almost never use) and even at that don't seem to help very often. LEDs don't take up much space. They could easily replace the current flash with a couple high luminosity LED lights without any added bulk. If you know of a hotshoe LED AF assist, please share, I've been hunting for one for years and havent had any luck.
4) So instead you are ok with a spot that is inconvenient for all? Imo figure out how the majority of people hold a camera and put it somewhere conveniently reachable from there. Easy and done. Auto ISO is not an option. I never want a computer making my creative decisions for me, I'm also almost always using manual flashes so any sort of camera metering will be inaccurate to the exposure being made.
also kinda funny, for me wifi and gps would be useless, and I actually prefer a commander unit on top of my camera rather than triggering lights with internal control. Its easier to adjust a commander on top then having to go into the menu system to adjust settings every few seconds. To each his own though. ;)
ditto Pentax had (4) for ages. Whenever I use the Canikon, I always find the UI disappointing :-(
Panasonic is a close second for camera UI. Sony has always been the worst :-(
Open up the software to developers. Magic Lantern showed the potential, and that was a total hack. With a proper app infrastructure...
(and now, 40 replies from engineering types about why it can't be done... but it could be done)
And for we older folks articulated live view screens. Every year it gets harder to get on my knees to take a macro. As the baby boomers (lol I'm pre-boomer) take up photography to pass their time in retirement they will want this feature.