Connected Cameras - the future?

bl0at3r

bl0at3r

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Alan
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My preference for picture taking (sporadic as it is) has been moving more and more towards the 'snap' - rightly or wrongly, I am far happier just snapping stuff - not technically perfect, not for pixel peeping - just for the memory of that particular moment in time.

I have just as much fun with Hipstamatic or Instagram and sharing things on Facebook than I ever did with 'serious' picture taking. Each to their own obviously.

Part of the attraction with with my iPhone is that I can take a snap, and within seconds it can be on FB or Flickr or anywhere on the web.

Samsung have also just launched a new Galaxy 'connected camera' - what are you views on this?

Do you think that more and more cameras will get WiFi and 3G for this 'instant' web sharing? the 5D Mk4 or the D900 for example?

Annoyingly - the iPhone (or other smartphone) being small, one device doing mulitple things and always on connection to the web in one flavour or another seems the perfect device for the 'connected camera'. The trouble being that if you want to move into the technical aspects of the photo and have some manual controls - you don't seem to be able to.

Anyone planning on buying (or bought) a Samsung Galaxy camera?
 
You can use an eye-fi card in your DSLR connected via a iPhone or android device to upload images directly to Facebook , flicker etc.
 
Alan, I am also shifting away from the the ever seeking technically perfect photos.
It's maybe different for me, all i want is to document the kids growing with good quality images/memories.

The last year or 2, i have some great pics from my d90 setup, but now i use the x10 (sold all, my gear).
A lot of the pics dont scream 'fun' to me, although most people always comment on my photos (how did you do that? Type of idea...)
Now a lot look at my pics and laugh (in a good way :) ).....they are more 'snap' style using iso capabilities, correct wb etc, so i still influence the output a good bit if you see what i mean....full of character, just fun.

Wanted an om-d,but had to settle for the x10 - plus no danger of me buying glass ;)

No regrets so far, and to your topic (sort of), more and more people will switch to mirrorless imo. Dslr has its place obviously, but the gap is closing for 90% of things for me anyway. And a lot of others...too easy to buy big and expect results in this game. Also folk need to justify expensive purchases ;) there are lots of reasons.

Would be great having wifi on it as well like you say....i think you'll see much more of it...iso performance and wifi are the things that will move forward over next few years imo.

Its the enjoyment/stories in the photo that counts for me, not pixel peeping at shallow dof etc.....done all that. When my kids have grown up, i dont think i'll look back at the photos and think 'wish that was f1.8 instead of 2.8 and bin it lol more wifi and fun will be the order of the day for most. Get away from photo forums, and really most folk just dont care about technicalities, not for documenting your kids anyway, paid work is different....

Cheers.
 
fidsey79 said:
Really interesting thread. I did two levels of city and guilds and decided that I needed a nice camera (d7000) and that i wan
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Wanted to turn pro. All of which i realise was complete rubbish and i am gutted about the nagging and money spent on doing this. I too just want nice pics, not worrying about lens, setting etc. I think you have to be quite brave to make that statement!
 
SnappyHappy said:
Alan, I am also shifting away from the the ever seeking technically perfect photos.
It's maybe different for me, all i want is to document the kids growing with good quality images/memories.

The last year or 2, i have some great pics from my d90 setup, but now i use the x10 (sold all, my gear).
A lot of the pics dont scream 'fun' to me, although most people always comment on my photos (how did you do that? Type of idea...)
Now a lot look at my pics and laugh (in a good way :) ).....they are more 'snap' style using iso capabilities, correct wb etc, so i still influence the output a good bit if you see what i mean....full of character, just fun.

Wanted an om-d,but had to settle for the x10 - plus no danger of me buying glass ;)

No regrets so far, and to your topic (sort of), more and more people will switch to mirrorless imo. Dslr has its place obviously, but the gap is closing for 90% of things for me anyway. And a lot of others...too easy to buy big and expect results in this game. Also folk need to justify expensive purchases ;) there are lots of reasons.

Would be great having wifi on it as well like you say....i think you'll see much more of it...iso performance and wifi are the things that will move forward over next few years imo.

Its the enjoyment/stories in the photo that counts for me, not pixel peeping at shallow dof etc.....done all that. When my kids have grown up, i dont think i'll look back at the photos and think 'wish that was f1.8 instead of 2.8 and bin it lol more wifi and fun will be the order of the day for most. Get away from photo forums, and really most folk just dont care about technicalities, not for documenting your kids anyway, paid work is different....

Cheers.
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Agreed - wondered if it was just me - I look back at old family photos and you're spot on - nobody cares about the grain, aperture or what body/glass it was taken with.

I think the other limiting factor with the smartphone is the lack of zoom capabilities.

For me the thrill of having a photo on the web with in a few moments of taking it is an evolution of when I got my first polaroid camera and the photo appeared as if by magic or my first digital camera where you could see your shots on the rear screen.
 
Maybe there are actually 2 different discussions going on here -

1. the ability to instantly share your images to the web

2. the argument for just taking a picture for the memory, over striving for a technically perfect shot and willy waving with the gear you have?


For me, number 1 is what I am currently fascinated with - the social media aspect of picture taking.

But, number 2 is equally important - I broached the subject a while ago in this thread - I pretty much got told I was wrong, then it turned into the usual bun fight so I didn't bother going back in there.

IMHO - spending time with your family & friends and documenting everyday life is far more important than worrying about whether you have an f1.4 or f1.8 lens and it is also pretty much irrelevant what camera you take the shot with.

(I know this sounds like I am dying by the way - as far as I know I am not yet) :lol:
 
Very interesting thread and having this week sold a couple of lenses to help fund the purchase of my X100, I've had similar thoughts to you.

I've still got the D90 and three lenses, speed light, filters etc etc all packed in my lowepro rucksack and in all honesty I love it to bits, but it can be a bit cumbersome, sometimes to the point of leaving it at home !

This is where I'm hoping my new x100 will come in and bring some fun and spontaneity back to my photography, I don't do Facebook so it's not been bought for any form of sharing, more for personal pleasure and documenting the kids growing up

I know it's not a connected camera but felt the thread reflected my thoughts on this
 
Just from an new boy, is it just the fact that technology has taken away the pure essence of photography. ?

I mean we all seem to be so caught up on the perfect pp shot, that the basic reason for shooting has been lost. ?
 
mrgas said:
I know it's not a connected camera but felt the thread reflected my thoughts on this
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Thats ok, I appreciate your views.

I think that it is far too easy - especially on a photography forum for people to lose sight of the important things in life - like capturing meaningful memories and documenting everyday activities.

Does it really matter if the aperture wasn't quite 'right' or the shot is a little grainy - over not getting the shot at all.

I suppose this is also true for the 'serious' photogs - hobbyists or pros - take landscape for example - imagine you have taken a picture of a lake, which is then filled in next year and becomes a housing estate - the fact that you have captured the lake is important - not what aperture you used.
 
scott199 said:
Just from an new boy, is it just the fact that technology has taken away the pure essence of photography. ?

I mean we all seem to be so caught up on the perfect pp shot, that the basic reason for shooting has been lost. ?
Click to expand...

I think in a lot of cases you're spot on there !
 
scott199 said:
Just from an new boy, is it just the fact that technology has taken away the pure essence of photography. ?

I mean we all seem to be so caught up on the perfect pp shot, that the basic reason for shooting has been lost. ?
Click to expand...

I think technology can assist in taking the pictures - you are right, but I think it is the obsession people have with their gear that has made people lose sight of the basic reaosn for shooting.
 
bl0at3r said:
Maybe there are actually 2 different discussions going on here -

1. the ability to instantly share your images to the web

2. the argument for just taking a picture for the memory, over striving for a technically perfect shot and willy waving with the gear you have?


For me, number 1 is what I am currently fascinated with - the social media aspect of picture taking.

But, number 2 is equally important - I broached the subject a while ago in this thread - I pretty much got told I was wrong, then it turned into the usual bun fight so I didn't bother going back in there.

IMHO - spending time with your family & friends and documenting everyday life is far more important than worrying about whether you have an f1.4 or f1.8 lens and it is also pretty much irrelevant what camera you take the shot with.

(I know this sounds like I am dying by the way - as far as I know I am not yet) :lol:
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I got a bit bored with my D700 which took shots which were technically very good, and have now moved to film so pictures have more grain and a bit more "character" generally. I know you can take a D700 shot and "distress" it by adding grain in pp, but I'd rather spend £50 on a camera that includes grain than tie up £1500 owning a rapidly depreciating camera that gives the same result after pp.
 
I think mobile phone cameras are more fun and because they are more restricted you expect less from them so you end up being more pleased with the results even though they are often nowhere near as good technically as a dslr or compact camera shot.

I think the fuji x-100 is the perfect bridge between fun and quality. Their images hardly need any messing with.

I don't really take the normal camera out much. I have too great an expectation from it so I just don't bother rather than have a load of pictures I'm slightly disappointed with. Camera phone shots I'm not arsed and there's always the excuse 'well it was taken on a mobile phone' . A crap shot on half decent dslr with a nice prime lens is harder to excuse :D

If you do live online then the instant upload thing is really good. I have no idea why camera manufacturers have been so damn slow in adding wifi or bluetooth to cameras. It's idiotic. I suggested that idea to panasonic years ago. They've missed the boat now as everyone uses a phone instead so no one wants a compact camera any more.

If you have an eyefi card or a tablet you can upload images to then you can share pretty instantly without having to traipse home to a computer. But with the eyefi card I'd want to be able to choose which images to upload and share not just send the whole lot. I have no idea whether using an eyefi card it is easy to do this or whether it would be more faff than just having a camera adapter for the ipad.
 
All good for the hobbyist, unfortunately for me, iPhone images are no what clients want to pay for :)

Because of a loss of Interest in photography, I too only use an iPhone or lumix for "my" photography.

I think it's difficult of your shooting for yourself, everybody needs the pat on the back, we get that in business, but as a hobby, I think it's difficult to keep it up.
 
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scott199 said:
Just from an new boy, is it just the fact that technology has taken away the pure essence of photography. ?

I mean we all seem to be so caught up on the perfect pp shot, that the basic reason for shooting has been lost. ?
Click to expand...

Photography is like any other hobby, some people care more about the gear and it's potential. Some people agonise over the technical aspects, leaving aside the reason for taking pictures. Some people have little or no technical knowledge and produce awesome results.

Hanging around equipment sections of forums you'll meet a lot of the first 2 groups, that's always been the case, I suppose digital has increased the numbers because it attracts those personality types. But there are still many photographers for whom the image, and the reason for creating the image are the most important things.

The last boom in photography as a hobby was the mid eighties, but even then there were nowhere near the number of 'photographers' that have been attracted by the digital revolution.
 
I went into J**sops today and had a play with the Samsung Galaxy camera - it is a huge brick!

The S110 from Canon also has built in Wi-Fi so I assume I could connect that to my iPhone and upload/share straight from it - or look into Eye-Fi cards some more and use one on my GX1.

Anyone used one? does it create it's own menu? does it have 'share' abilities?
 
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