Bigger! Faster! Newer! Better?

Whilst skimming through various camera-based web pages, I noticed something.

Surprised? Thinking about it, I was.

Yes, I know, I’ve wobbled on about bigger not being better before, and I still stand by the arguements I put forward. The thing that struck me was this… there’s no heralding trumpets for slow ISOs on digital cameras.

Yep… big deal, isn’t it?

Think back. In adverts, When was the last time slow a ISO setting was shown as being a part of low digital noise? Sure, there’s always lots of blarb about newly-named image processors. As well as that, the higher ISOs are always touted. Hmm.

See, I was reading stuff about a Nikon Coolpix P6000. Hurrah, Nikon ED glass! Hurrah, new named image processor. Hurrah, new RAW mode for Nikons (uh oh…). Hurrah, a higher MP rating (*yawn*). Hurrah, wired LAN connections (whu?). Hurrah, geotagging (hmm). Hurrah, more ‘unique’ ‘innovations’ (read “moneyspinners”).

What got me wondering about low ISO speeds? My other half’s Nikon can only go down to ISO200, my 350D goes down to ISO100. So, what happened to image quality? What happened to low digital noise? Have manufacturers finally given up on finely balancing sensor size with MP rating, and just gone hell-bent for money by crowbarring in as many ‘features’ as possible? They sure seem to care not a jot about image quality.

Just a thought, that’s all.

1 Response to “Bigger! Faster! Newer! Better?”


  1. 1 Achiel June 10, 2009 at 10:36 am

    Just some greetings from #Truff Long time since we saw you there!


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