The next big thing? Opinions?

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PSDigital

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Paul
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First of all, Hello... I'm a newby! :cuckoo:

I'm currently researching for my final year of study. For my final project, I'm hoping to design a Revolutionary New Compact Digital Camera.

However, I need to find out what is selling them in the first place!
What revolutionary new feature/function/aesthetic would make it storm the market?
I'm still to specify a target market, I'm hoping that will become clear when i decide on the specifications.

So basically...
I'm hoping to gather some Information regarding what may be the next big thing in Compact Digital Photography?
Also, what do you believe is possibly most sought after feature/function in a compact for example; a lively, outgoing Teenager?
And most importantly; what would make you buy a compact?
(If you didn't own a lovely DSLR!)



Any thoughts, ideas or links would be most appreciated.

Cheers! :thumbs:
 
Welcome to TP :)

The next big thing in compacts is the phone-camera. The compact camera market as we know it will die.

Next big thing in 'cameras' is the Interchangeable Lens Compact, like the Panasonic GF1, which will take over the entry-leval DSLR market. They currently have shutters, but that will go pretty soon (replaced by sensor switching).

Here's an idea for you, bearing in mind that the current design of cameras is related to the need for a box containing the film and shutter mechanism etc to be attached to the end of the lens. That's irrelevant now, and it creates a rather awkward shape with the lens sticking out.

With digital, the only bit that needs to be connected to the end of the lens is the sensor, which is smaller than a postage stamp. So everything else can be positioned anywhere you like - the LCD (foldout?), all the controls, battery, hand-grip, they can be anywhere, any shape at all. Something nice and ergonomic, that better fits a pocket would be good ;)
 
PSDigital said:
First of all, Hello... I'm a newby! :cuckoo:

I'm currently researching for my final year of study. For my final project, I'm hoping to design a Revolutionary New Compact Digital Camera.

However, I need to find out what is selling them in the first place!
What revolutionary new feature/function/aesthetic would make it storm the market?
I'm still to specify a target market, I'm hoping that will become clear when i decide on the specifications.

So basically...
I'm hoping to gather some Information regarding what may be the next big thing in Compact Digital Photography?
Also, what do you believe is possibly most sought after feature/function in a compact for example; a lively, outgoing Teenager?
And most importantly; what would make you buy a compact?
(If you didn't own a lovely DSLR!)



Any thoughts, ideas or links would be most appreciated.

Cheers! :thumbs:
Click to expand...

I might be something gimmicky like a compact that can do HDR in camera. (not the wacky hdr)

I hope the market brakes new ground in noise handling, a truly compact camera that gives clean files at iso 3200, 5-6 megapixel would be fine as long as it shoot in raw can do raw (average person won't care about raw).

A revolution in sensor technology is what I'm hoping for, It would give the masses the camera they don't know they want, good luck selling it though, the sales gurus have convinced everyone they need a 100 giga-pixel camera.
 
A 3d digital camera. There are 3d film cameras, quite good if you have a stereoscopic viewer.
 
I used two Canon g2 compacts mounted side by side on a bracket. Print out the two images and view them on a stereo viewer.
 
For a lively outgoing teenager you say....

...my GF spotted this crazy funky looking pink and white camera that looked 'hip'...that was solely the reason why she wanted it!

so maybe an artistic look to it.

features wise for a compact I would personally like more manual features, RAW shooting ability, lower ISO noise, faster shutter response time to pressing the trigger.
 
Revolutionary? Presumably a camera festooned with a picture of Che or Vladimir Ilyich :D

Technically, 3D will be the next thing.
 
I wonder whether 'trine' systems will make it into production - three separate sensors for red, green and blue where a prism splits the light 3 ways.

Going totally mirrorless in DSLR-size body (this will especially be good for fast wide-angle lenses) with the new generation of EVFs might be here within a couple of years.

I would also imagine a totally new sensor type to appear - not based on current CCD or CMOS technology - there are a number of candidates for this now. These could give a large improvement in dynamic range and sensitivity, not just the gradual improvements we have seen so far.
 
Well, in the compact market for that crazy teenager I reckon they are going to want very different things than a lot of the users here! Me, not being a crazy teenager and fairly into my photography, would want things like better iso handling, picture quality, maybe ability to attach an external flash... but that would just be crazy.

I'd look at where the market currently is. You can now get a pretty decent "compact" that take very good photos (in different modes/scenes), has video ability (generally not so good), is a music player, has an internet connection, has a sat nav, has gaming ability, and is also a mobile phone all in one. The biggest boom I've seen recently is actually teenagers taking videos of their nights out, so that's quickly becoming the current big thing. Where to next? Compact camera wise... I think that market is slowly going to disappear while phone cameras take over, unless they start making compacts with HD video or something... But who says that phones won't nail that as quick? 3D was also mentioned but I can't see why the average consumer would consider that the next big thing.

I reckon it's going to be something ridiculous that has nothing to do with taking photos at all, like it can also be used as any games console controller... or it has a laser on it and can be used as a mouse on your pc... or something wacky like that.
 
3D is the next big thing in film and TV, so why not for digital cameras?
 
I agree with the above, 3D has to be the next big thing or even HD cameras if there is such a thing....
 
desantnik said:
3D is the next big thing in film and TV, so why not for digital cameras?
Click to expand...

It's just a personal view that I can't see how that will be the next big thing for compacts. As far as I can see the market is currently at the "has the phone got a decent camera" position and it having video being a nice bonus. Equipment, for the wacky teenagers or average Joe Soaps is slowly becoming "all in 1 solutions" as the fore thought, and then improving the quality of the things like the camera etc as a secondary.

So I just think that the market isn't going in that direction. I can definitely see it being a feature, but can't see it being "the next big thing" as stated in the OP. And compacts are slowly just becoming a feature of mobile phones as opposed to being in their own market.

My next question is what else can you take out of someones pocket and stick on a phone? I reckon that's what the next big thing will be.
 
Compacts with interchangeable lenses - Price prohibitive for mainstream at present
3D cameras - It's viewing the results without glasses etc that would be the issue, fix that you've got a proposition.


How about video recorded at full camera resolution that you can pull high quality stills from? Not limited to 1080 vertical lines.

Currently only in cameras like the Red Scarlet, but I can see that having a real value in the consumer space, and therefore being a worthwhile place to go with compacts.
 
My daughter has a phone with two sims, TV, radio, two cameras, video, MP3, games port, bluetooth, GPS - and phone. Not alot else to add is ther ? Unless, as mentioned you go 3D, HD, ergonomics (build into a hoodie :lol: ), sensor improvements (who cares in a multi-tool?)

Arthur
 
I think the lower to middle range p&s will merge into the phone market as a lot of mp3 players have. It is very handy having lots of functions in one device.
 
Fuljifilm released the FinePix Real 3D not so long back, but I don't think it's been able to break the market.
£400+ for the dual lens camera, then a further £400+ for the 3D Viewer...
The viewer was quite innovative, it used a Lenticular lens, no glasses required.
Similar to the Dual Screen technology found in the newest Range Rovers.

Thanks for everyones input so far!
 
Using two matching DSLR cameras with a bracket looks like a good way of doing 3D. I am sure two of FITP's side flash brackets could be converted :) Then some flash software for merging the images or use a viewer.
 
There's one BIG thing missing from most compact cameras - a remote release facility! As a digiscoper, it infuriates me to find a suitable compact which will fit on a scope, then find no remote release. The add-ons that are available are not worth the packaging they come in, and don't talk to me about the delay timer.
 
Next big thing?

The iCamera. Over-hyped style-over-substance offering from Apple with average performance and an inflated price. Want better noise handling? There's an app for that....
 
Dudie said:
Next big thing?

The iCamera. Over-hyped style-over-substance offering from Apple with average performance and an inflated price. Want better noise handling? There's an app for that....
Click to expand...

I did hear something about an open sourced camera, I believe it was called Frankencamera. That would allow developers to add their own touches to the camera.

Apple's approach to styling a camera would be interesting, unfortunately it would just be another 'iTrend'
 
PSDigital said:
Fuljifilm released the FinePix Real 3D not so long back, but I don't think it's been able to break the market.
£400+ for the dual lens camera, then a further £400+ for the 3D Viewer...
The viewer was quite innovative, it used a Lenticular lens, no glasses required.
Similar to the Dual Screen technology found in the newest Range Rovers.

Thanks for everyones input so far!
Click to expand...

I think a 3D camera would make a great college project, but it will never catch on, as you say.

3D innovations and stereo photography have been a recurring theme for the last 150 years, but never get anywhere because of the viewing difficulties, which will remain so long as we have two eyes. And it always looks totally unrealistic.

As a way forward for the movie business, it's great - that will catch on big time, and will endure I think. Perfect reason to go to the cinema for a real audio-visual 'event' and not watch it at home on telly.
 
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