DSLR Features you now couldn't live without

Damian Brown

Damian Brown

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Damian Brown
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Before I moved to the d300S and now d600 I didn't have a care in the world or perceived need for two features in particular. I really just wanted improved hi iso from my upgrade. But since getting newer bodies I love it and feel they're a must even though I had no problems at all without them... Modern day problems!

They are: quiet mode and twin card slots.

My poor d700 feels lacking which is crazy as its amazing and not going to be upgraded for a long while.

When I started learning and then working it was all analog, 35mm and 120 for me on mamiya tlr bodies. I never saw need for anything else!

What features available on newer dslr cameras or in fact dslr cameras full stop could you not live without now?
 
The shutter button. Only kidding, that is going to stay.

I think for me has been the thumbstick on the 5D which can be used when wanting to pick focus points. The other has been the use of quick ISO button on the 1D. Other than that, I could live without liveview etc.
 
-Auto ISO
-3D tracking AF
-Live view & fold out screen (makes the camera wife friendly....)

The rest (above those available on my old D50) I could take or leave.
 
Comparing to the film days, I'd say the most valuable feature for me is to be able to review / check my shots instantly, being able to retake the shot or try something different, along with the facility now to record multiple shots at no extra expense (compared to film)
 
Nothing :shrug:

If anything it's the other way round, I'd much rather my DSLR had features from my SLR
 
Alan Clogwyn said:
Nothing :shrug:

If anything it's the other way round, I'd much rather my DSLR had features from my SLR
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Which ones? I genuinely can't think, off hand, of any "feature" of an SLR that a DSLR couldn't replicate (arguments about film types aside), unless you went from a top end SLR to a low to middling DSLR :thinking:

Just curious...
 
Low noise at high ISO's is a marvellous feature, especially when coupled with Auto-ISO, and the telly on the back of my D700 is significantly bigger than my old D70, which is nice.

Can't think of much else really, as I've no need for some of the more exotic features that modern cameras have.
 
I couldnt live without a c.fn button with the option to disable flash - essential for getting ambient readings - and twin card slots are pretty handy for putting video on slot 2.
 
Absolutely nothing I couldn't live without! I could live without a camera at all if I had to but photography is a major interest these days.

If I had to dispose of kit and features one by one, the few things left at the end would be the high ISO "quietness" of the D700, the fisheye and 12-24 and the versatility of an interchangeable lens system. Ask me again in mid June next year, when I'll be back from a fortnight away with a bridge rather than an SLR kit! One thing I won't be missing is the weight of the SLR kit! Just the D700 with a Sigma 24-70 on the front weighs more than the bridge in its case with spare cards, a spare battery, cable release and basic cleaning kit.
 
andyred said:
Comparing to the film days, I'd say the most valuable feature for me is to be able to review / check my shots instantly, being able to retake the shot or try something different, along with the facility now to record multiple shots at no extra expense (compared to film)
Click to expand...

Exactly what I was going to say other than these the extras on DSLR's are just fluff
 
In camera HDR. Multiple iso values at a touch of a button.

My dynax 7 doesn't have anything that isn't on my dslr apart from 1/8000 shutter speed and a weird multi exposure mode which I've never used. An ND filter deals with the lack of the former and the latter hasn't been a problem.
 
iced_jacob said:
articulating screen. the shoot from the hip options it gives are amazing :)
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My DSLR doesn't have that feature and on that camera, I've never missed it. then again, I'm not sure I've ever used live view apart from in testing. My bridge does have a screen that tilts both ways and I do find that useful - I don't have to bend down to look through the VF!
 
Nikons CLS system. So simple yet so functional, and great results as well.
 
Wish my D3s came with a wireless remote shutter release that my older D90 has. Was rather surprised it did not come with that feature I had taken for granted...
 
focus peaking,
Histogram/level in the VF
triple articulated screen (gets funny looks when perched on top of the camera)
Live view with PDAF

I thought all would be gimmicks to me, but it seems I'm of the PlayStation generation...
 
qlite50 said:
Wish my D3s came with a wireless remote shutter release that my older D90 has. Was rather surprised it did not come with that feature I had taken for granted...
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Was the shutter release in the box or was it bundled with the D90 to sweeten the deal? Pretty sure the D3s uses the same 10 pin socket on the front as my D700 uses - plenty of releases available to fit that. (Mine's a Hama one - a lot cheaper than the official Nikon and works just fine).
 
Nod said:
Was the shutter release in the box or was it bundled with the D90 to sweeten the deal? Pretty sure the D3s uses the same 10 pin socket on the front as my D700 uses - plenty of releases available to fit that. (Mine's a Hama one - a lot cheaper than the official Nikon and works just fine).
Click to expand...

It has always struck me as a bit odd that Nikon fitted a really neat IR sensor to many of it's cameras but not to others. My D5000 had one and it was brilliantly convenient. Was bloody disappointing to find that the D300 I 'upgraded' to didn't have one. With that or my D700 I either have to use a cable in the fiddly socket on the front or a wireless receiver of some kind which will attach to the hot shoe so has to come off if using flash. Really miss the IR sensor. I don't believe any of the pro range have one and I believe there are some glaring omissions lower down the range as well, D3100 for example.

Back on thread, it's the histogram for me, I use it religiously.
 
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Nod said:
My DSLR doesn't have that feature and on that camera, I've never missed it. then again, I'm not sure I've ever used live view apart from in testing. My bridge does have a screen that tilts both ways and I do find that useful - I don't have to bend down to look through the VF!
Click to expand...

It really depends on your type of shooting. If you are doing street you look much more natural to people when shooting from waist level using live view than kneeling down and bringing the camera to your eye
 
Weather sealing. If it rains then no other feature matters without this one.
 
Not sure that there's anything I couldn't live without but my last upgrade was prompted by wanting liveview and self cleaning sensor. Have to say that for large DOF landscape work I'd hate to go back and work without liveview - could manage but l/v just makes it so much easier.

The suprise "goodie" after reading up was having RGB histograms rather than just the luminance one - can check no individual colours are clipping - which won't necessarily show on a luminance histy........
 
siblingchris said:
I've not been with my d7000 long but I would say the virtual horizon
When I first saw it almost laughed but so far I've used it quite a lot more than I was expecting
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+1, I used this recently for a night time landscape shot and it was too dark too see the spirit level bubble on the tripod. Yes I could have used a torch but this is so much easier.
 
Nod said:
Was the shutter release in the box or was it bundled with the D90 to sweeten the deal? Pretty sure the D3s uses the same 10 pin socket on the front as my D700 uses - plenty of releases available to fit that. (Mine's a Hama one - a lot cheaper than the official Nikon and works just fine).
Click to expand...

Mine IR remote release for the D90 didn't come with the package. It was an optional extra I purchased aftterwards.
 
Having used an IR remote and wired and wireless (radio) releases, I can say that of the 3, the radio wireless is by far the most flexible - huge range compared to the IR, even in full sun and can be used from anywhere rather than just direct line of sight to the IR sensor. The cable release is OK but can still cause vibrations and pull the rig over (seen it happen...) and while the radio one still needs the receiver to be plugged into the 10 pin socket (which can be a little fiddly), once that's done, you have almost complete freedom. You can even take a self portrait while holding the remote behind your back (and without having the remote set to give a 2 or 10 second delay).
 
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