Minolta DSLR coming - Herbert Keppler et al declare
Alan Browne
http://www.popphoto.com/article.asp?article_id=766§ion_id=5&page_number=5
"WILL THERE BE A MINOLTA MAXXUM DIGITAL SLR?
Absolutely, so hold onto your lenses, Maxxum aficionados. Scenario calls
for a 90 percent operational sample by PMA trade show (February 12-15)
with delivery by Photokina (September-October 2004). One feature unnamed
will be a big surprise. Look for new 35mm SLRs at PMA, plus at least
four point-and-shoot upgrades."
Joseph Kewfi
"Alan Browne" <alan....@FreeLunchVideotron.ca> wrote in message
news:wu9Cb.37196$1u5.4...@weber.videotron.net...
>
>
>
http://www.popphoto.com/article.asp?article_id=766§ion_id=5&page_number=
Alan Browne
Joseph Kewfi wrote:
> A new toy for you to look forward to.
Considering I have 6 Minolta lenses, none slower than f/2.8,, it is a
relief to have this path available. I have little doubt that for my
print work, I will rarely shoot negatives after (when) I get the digital
camera...which per the report won't be for another year in any case.
Slides are slides and over half of my work, and that should not change...
That you consider it a toy is your mis-guided foolishness. Perhaps you
should move over to the LF group and sneer at mere 4x5?
Cheers,
Alan.
>
--
e-meil: there's no such thing as a FreeLunch.
Joseph Kewfi
The fact that people like you buy these toys is more to do with your own
mis-guided foolishness than the necessity of these toys for photographic
purposes.
"Alan Browne" <alan....@FreeLunchVideotron.ca> wrote in message
news:omkCb.56275$1u5.7...@weber.videotron.net...
Alan Browne
Alan Browne
Joseph Kewfi wrote:
>>That you consider it a toy is your mis-guided foolishness.
>
>
> The fact that people like you buy these toys is more to do with your own
> mis-guided foolishness than the necessity of these toys for photographic
> purposes.
...sometimes I wonder if you can read.
NJH
Since at present I have somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 or 20 Maxxum
lenses (never actually counted 'em), along with flash units and various
other Maxxum accessories, this is something I am really looking forward to.
Given Minolta's marketing history, I'll bet it will be a real stunner in
unexpected some way too.
Neil
"Alan Browne" <alan....@FreeLunchVideotron.ca> wrote in message
news:wu9Cb.37196$1u5.4...@weber.videotron.net...
Lewis Lang
>From: "NJH" noj...@all.thanks
>Date: Fri, Dec 12, 2003 5:36 PM
>Message-id: <mxqCb.5362$K16....@newssvr33.news.prodigy.com>
>
>Oh boy. Oh boy. Oh boy.
>
>Since at present I have somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 or 20 Maxxum
>lenses (never actually counted 'em), along with flash units and various
>other Maxxum accessories, this is something I am really looking forward
>to.
>Given Minolta's marketing history, I'll bet it will be a real stunner in
>unexpected some way too.
>
>Neil
Maybe even built in to the camera body IS and/or "full screen focusing" (w/
movable focusing points). Wonder if its going tobe the typical 6MP/APS-sized
sensor, full frame sensor or something else entirely...
Check out my photos at "LEWISVISION":
http://members.aol.com/Lewisvisn/home.htm
Remove "nospam" to reply
***DUE TO SPAM, I NOW BLOCK ALL E-MAIL NOT ON MY LIST, TO BE ADDED TO MY LIST,
PING ME ON THE NEWSGROUP. SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE. :-) ***
NJH
"Lewis Lang" <cont...@aol.comnospam> wrote in message
news:20031212201107...@mb-m28.aol.com...
> >Subject: Re: Minolta DSLR coming - Herbert Keppler et al declare
> >From: "NJH" noj...@all.thanks
> >Date: Fri, Dec 12, 2003 5:36 PM
> >Message-id: <mxqCb.5362$K16....@newssvr33.news.prodigy.com>
> >
> >Oh boy. Oh boy. Oh boy.
> >
> >Since at present I have somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 or 20 Maxxum
> >lenses (never actually counted 'em), along with flash units and various
> >other Maxxum accessories, this is something I am really looking forward
> >to.
> >Given Minolta's marketing history, I'll bet it will be a real stunner in
> >unexpected some way too.
> >
> >Neil
>
> Maybe even built in to the camera body IS and/or "full screen focusing"
(w/
> movable focusing points). Wonder if its going tobe the typical
6MP/APS-sized
> sensor, full frame sensor or something else entirely...
My guess is that the sensor will be a typical one of some sort, because as
far as I know Minolta, like most other digital camera makers, is not in the
sensor-manufacturing business. I doubt they'd want to get into it either, as
that would mean playing a lot of catch-up, I should think.
The built-into-the-body anti-shake does seem very likely, considering how
well received it's been in the A1.
Neil
Alan Browne
Lewis Lang wrote:
>>Subject: Re: Minolta DSLR coming - Herbert Keppler et al declare
>>From: "NJH" noj...@all.thanks
>>Date: Fri, Dec 12, 2003 5:36 PM
>>Message-id: <mxqCb.5362$K16....@newssvr33.news.prodigy.com>
>>
>>Oh boy. Oh boy. Oh boy.
>>
>>Since at present I have somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 or 20 Maxxum
>>lenses (never actually counted 'em), along with flash units and various
>>other Maxxum accessories, this is something I am really looking forward
>>to.
>>Given Minolta's marketing history, I'll bet it will be a real stunner in
>>unexpected some way too.
>>
>>Neil
>
>
> Maybe even built in to the camera body IS and/or "full screen focusing" (w/
> movable focusing points). Wonder if its going tobe the typical 6MP/APS-sized
> sensor, full frame sensor or something else entirely...
A-shake from A1 ... likely
large LCD viewer .. 2.5" (wide or diagonal?) per a German citing.
Crop factor ... 1.3 (per same German article
Frame ... Maxxum 7 ish. (German article)
Name ... Diflex 7 (German article)
Pixels ... 7 Mpix (German article)
Weight ... 550 g (German article) (note Maxxum 7 is 575 g)
Mount ... AFD Bayonet(the "D" is worrisome although it says
AF Bayonet compat. too. May have to do with AS
function as suggested by "Mike" )
Dig. zoom ... 10X
Cheers,
Alan.
wfieger - 28.07.2003, 13:15 Uhr
Inoffiziell: Minolta Diflex 7
Offenbar hockt Minolta mit einer neuen - ihrer ersten - digitalen
Spiegelreflex-Systemkamera in den Startlöchern. Und als Lohn für die
späte Geburt wird es diese Kamera in sich haben: Man munkelt von 7
Megapixel Auflösung und einem etwas größerem Format als üblich: Der
Verlängerungsfaktor beträgt nur 1,3. Das erweiterte Minolta AFD-Bajonett
ist zum bisherigen AF-Bajonett kompatibel. Das Gehäuse ist sensationell
kompakt und wiegt nur 550g (ohne Akku und CF-Karte). Neben CF-I und -II
Karten werden auch SD-Karten verwendbar sein. Ein besonderer Clou ist
der große 2,5" Monitor, der auch bei Sonnenlicht noch deutliche Bilder
produzieren soll. Einzigartig: Im Videomodus wird mit 640x480
gearbeitet, wobei unabhängig vom verwendeten Objektiv ein digitaler
10-fach Zoom mit Bildstabilisator zur Verfügung steht. Weiters gibt es
Zeitraffer und Zeitlupenfunktionen. Das Gerücht stammt aus Japan,
Minolta Europa weiß nach Rückfrage nichts davon und konnte auch keinen
Markteinführungstermin nennen.
Lewis Lang
>From: "NJH" noj...@all.thanks
>Message-id: <wyGCb.5462$Jy....@newssvr33.news.prodigy.com>
"Time (and shake) will tell"... :-)
Alan Browne
NJH wrote:
> Oh boy. Oh boy. Oh boy.
>
> Since at present I have somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 or 20 Maxxum
> lenses (never actually counted 'em), along with flash units and various
> other Maxxum accessories, this is something I am really looking forward to.
> Given Minolta's marketing history, I'll bet it will be a real stunner in
> unexpected some way too.
>
> Neil
>
Me too (6 lenses, 5 of which are 'high end', I've sold off my 'overlap'
lenses), 2 TC's, 3 flashes and the odds and ends... I've been worrying
about the devaluation of my lenses if Minolta don't come through...
Per the pop-photo blurb there will be something particularly novel about
the new camera, but it appears that Milolta are keeping that under wraps
for now.
Cheers,
Alan.
NJH
As to your question about the LCD monitor 2.5" (wide or diagonal?), that
must be diagonal since that's the usual way of measuring it.
As to your concern about the "D" in the lens mount designation, almost
certainly that just means it makes use of the distance information conveyed
to the camera body for flash exposure purposes by Minolta's current D-series
lenses, which bodies are still fully compatible with the older Minolta AF
lenses. So nothing worrisome there.
Sounds great! Thanks again.
Neil
"Alan Browne" <alan....@FreeLunchVideotron.ca> wrote in message
news:TaJCb.93936$1u5.1...@weber.videotron.net...
Lewis Lang
>Subject: Re: Minolta DSLR coming - Herbert Keppler et al declare
>From: Alan Browne alan....@FreeLunchVideotron.ca
>Date: Sat, Dec 13, 2003 2:49 PM
>Message-id: <TaJCb.93936$1u5.1...@weber.videotron.net>
>
>
>
>Lewis Lang wrote:
>
>>>Subject: Re: Minolta DSLR coming - Herbert Keppler et al declare
>>>From: "NJH" noj...@all.thanks=20
>>>Date: Fri, Dec 12, 2003 5:36 PM
>>>Message-id: <mxqCb.5362$K16....@newssvr33.news.prodigy.com>
>>>
>>>Oh boy. Oh boy. Oh boy.
>>>
>>>Since at present I have somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 or 20 Maxxu=
>m
>>>lenses (never actually counted 'em), along with flash units and various=
>
>>>other Maxxum accessories, this is something I am really looking forward=
>
>>>to.
>>>Given Minolta's marketing history, I'll bet it will be a real stunner
>i=
>n
>>>unexpected some way too.
>>>
>>>Neil
>>=20
>>=20
>> Maybe even built in to the camera body IS and/or "full screen focusing=
>" (w/
>> movable focusing points). Wonder if its going tobe the typical 6MP/APS-=
>sized
>> sensor, full frame sensor or something else entirely...
>
>A-shake from A1 ... likely
>large LCD viewer .. 2.5" (wide or diagonal?) per a German citing.
>Crop factor ... 1.3 (per same German article
>Frame ... Maxxum 7 ish. (German article)
>Name ... Diflex 7 (German article)
>Pixels ... 7 Mpix (German article)
>Weight ... 550 g (German article) (note Maxxum 7 is 575 g)
>Mount ... AFD Bayonet(the "D" is worrisome although it says=20
>
> AF Bayonet compat. too. May have to do with AS
> function as suggested by "Mike" )
>Dig. zoom ... 10X
Thanks for the heads up on the specs, Alan. The AFD mount could either mean its
just the current A mount w/ distance information or it could mean its "digital"
(ie. a special smaller mount to fit a special smaller sensor). The 1.3x factor
looks encouraging as does the 7MP. I also like the fact that it will probably
be the equivalent size/shape/weight of the Maxxum 7 (and similar
ergonomics/feature set?). The AS effectiveness remains to be seen but its a
good idea in principle building into the body and continues the "Minolta
philsophy" of including things into the body like FTM (even though Minolta has
USM lenses now, too) and custom functions galore (no more add-on cards like
some prior Maxxums). Maybe it will be the "Maxxum D7" -- "Diflex has such an
ugly sound to it and it reminds me of the "Dynax" designation for models
outside the U.S./outside North America? I love the idea of a 2.5 inch LCD on
back --- as a matter of fact I'd love a 5 inch or more LCD that would be
flexible (if too big for the camera's back and roll down like window shades w/
a magnetic or physical hook on the back or on an arm extending downward from
underneath the camera for preventing the LCD "roller blinds" from flopping in
the wind/keep it rigid - like a camera's version of Viagra™ - but it doesn't
have to come in blue ;-).
OK, let's get really futuristic, a camera w/ a built-in economical low powered
video/digital projector that can project either the camera's menu
settings/other info and/or the scene (or movie) you just shot either onto your
subject ;-), a nearby white wall or nearby statue of Venus Demilo (sic), or
onto an umbrella like fold out/pop out white fabric video screen for back
projection w/ a special custom function to reverse the image for viewing on the
other side of the rear screen projection screen. Also a custom function for
popcorn, Coke™ and some movie tickets would be nice, and the best part of all,
w/ 5 inch diagonal screens the screen's image size will almost be as large as
that of the projection screen in your local 12-plex movie theater ;-). It
wouldn't surprise me if fututre DSLRs (not just ZLRs or P&S) were able to take
(multiple) CDs and DVDs so you could play music and wathc a movie if the
subject matter you were recording onto the other CD/DVD is incredibly boring.
Detachable ultra-mini radio controlled Surround Sound™ speakers would be
optional ;-).
Finally, it should give instructions and camera tips in 35 different languages:
Japaneese (whilst standing next to American monument and/or Grand Canyon):
"Please stand next to monument a smirel... Crick! (sic)"
English - Australian:
"That's not a zoom lens, now this is a zoom lens mate!"
English - Brittish/UK:
"Please remove Britney poster from foreground then put head in meat grinder for
buying poster in the first place. Former Spice girls and other eye candy do not
make good foreground. Forget photography, time for tea, wanker."
"Which way to Jessops and tea, you wanker?"
English w/ New York accent/attitude: What the f*** do you mean by taking this
picture? You call this a picture? You call yourself a photographer?"
"What... you talk'n to me? You talk'n to me?"
"All roads lead to ICP but I prefer breakfast at the local iHop (International
House of Pancake... lenses ;-))"
"Which way to Wall St.?"
"Which way exit off the G.S.P. do I take for both IKEA and ToysRUs?"
"Which way to the malls in Paramus?"
English w/ a J.A.P. accent/translation of above two comments - Where's the
nearest sale, honey?
"B&H is not just a store or a state of mind, its its own state - Happy Holidays
all you goyim!"
"So you really think this photography town needs yet another 'photographer'?"
English - West coast:
Southern California
L.A.
"Dude, like look at all the colors, man what a composition... what do you mean
what have I been smok'n, same stuff I've always been smok'n, old Grateful Dead
CDs." ;-)
"Anti-shake features are only for earthquakes, fires and floods, shaking from
mixing valium or lithium w/ other medications is your own problem, please
consult either your instruction manual built-in to the camera or the nearest
Red Cross"
"Please remove sunshades from in front of lens, sunglasses are totally 5
minutes ago, ND filters are way cooler, dude."
"Highway 405 is not moving, please obey all speeding laws and have a nice day
and keep on truck'n"
Santa Barbara
"Camera detects more than a 1/10th f/stop variance of illumination in the scene
- don't forget to do a 'Brooks bracket" (12 shutter speeds w/ 36 aperture
setting in 1/3 stops above and below your exposure reading)."
"This scene is both too flat and too contrasty, please kiss ass of Brooks
teacher to get passing grade."
"So you really think this photography town needs yet another 'photographer'?"
"Which way to BA-1?"
"All roads lead to Brooks"
"Nice digital camera, don't forget to load the Tri-x™, ha ha, made you look.
"This is not "Perry Mason"... Santa Barbara County Courthouse pictures, Brooks
students as picture subject matter (because U.C.S.B. students were too busy
partying to pose for you) and pictures of the Santa Barbara mission that have
been done the same way 12,000,000 times before and pictures of former Brooks
students shown w/ their 4x5" cameras standing in front of and photographing the
Santa Barbara Mission or the Santa Barbara county Courthouse are not allowed by
this camera's AP (Anti-Puking) function , please seek other non-cliche' subject
matter like sunsets kids or dogs (in comparison) or camera will be forced to
either do a Brooks Bracket on all your shots at 5 f.p.s. or by ejecting flash
card then photographer into the Brooks library or a Jefferson campus Dektol
tank."
"Please remeber to go to registrar's office w/ check before entering BA-1"
"What's the SUNNY F/16 rule?"
"So you really think this photography town needs yet another 'photographer'?"
"So you really think this photography town needs yet another 'photography
student'?"
San Diego
"Please ask Gordon Moat to remove his feet and Nikon FM from your composition,
'feet does not fit design parameters'."
San Francisco
"Please don't forget to reset your manual exposure as you exit from the Bart
station, Bart Simpson."
<Suasolito low froggy voiced women built like ex-Soviet Union prize
fighter>"Hi, my name is bubbles, may I take your order, honey?"<FROGGY VOICE/>
"This is not "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy"... Golden Gate Bridge pictures,
U.C. Berkely student pictures and Gay Pride parade pictures and pictures of
former U.C. Berkely Gay Pride participants on the Golden Gate Bridge are not
allowed by this camera's AP (Anti-Puking) function , please seek other
non-cliche' subject matter or camera will be forced to go straight by ejecting
flash card then photographer into the East Bay."
<Oakland landlord's voice>Have some of my soup, is good for you! Roaches are
protein!"<OAKLAND LADLORD'S OR DIS-AFFECTED ROACH'S VOICE>
<IDIOTIC COMMERCIAL VOICE NARRATED BY KID W/ A LISP>"South Bay Health
Center!"<IDIOTIC KID W/ LISP'S VOICE/>
"So, how 'bout them 49ers?"
(and for all you Star Trek IV fans:)
<CHEKOV'S, THE CHARACTER NOT THE WRITER, VOICE>"Vitch vay to nukweear
wessel?"<CHEKOV'S, THE CHARACTER NOT THE WRITER, VOICE/>
<CAPTAIN KIRK OR CAPTAIN CRUNCH'S VOICE>"Well double dumb ass on you
too!"<CAPTAIN KIRK OR CAPTAIN CRUNCH'S VOICE/>
Portland (Brooks North)
"So you really think this photography town needs yet another 'Brooks
photography assistant'?"
"To capture skate boarder please put teeth protector in mouth and please use
special non-breakable glass filter in front of lens - camera only insured for
cost minus $500 deductable which does not include your dental bills".
"Please disregard the next rains storm, sunshine, snow storm or heat wave as
the weather pattern will be changing every five minutes, unless its already
less than five minutes, then weather may change up to five times before then.
P.S. weathermen and/or former Brooks students w/ suicidal tendencies due to
weather unpredictability please use custom function 37 to call the suicide
hotline ("this week w/ special guest stars Cher and Ed Asner!") w/ camera's
built-in wireless phone before jumping off Burnside bridge unintentionally onto
passing boat underneath - remember, "you can't prevent humidity, but only _you_
can prevent stupidity!"
"What, you still here?... So you really think this photography town needs yet
another 'former Brooks student photography assistant'?"
Seattle
"Cafe' late' (sic) to go please and camera's AS function automatically
activated... please use the camera's accessory extendable cup holder and please
remember that this Maxxum D7 is only warranteed and sealed for hot coffee
submersion up to 135 degrees farhenheit and lawsuits up to $5,000,000."
Vancouver
"Please don't stash the stash in the alternative battery compartment, the cops
are already looking the other way, please get your grunge from old NIrvana CDs,
not from 'the mind of Minolta'".
"Which way to the malls in Paramus?"
Regards and Happy Holidays,
Mike Latondresse
news:mxqCb.5362$K16....@newssvr33.news.prodigy.com:
> Oh boy. Oh boy. Oh boy.
>
> Since at present I have somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 or 20
> Maxxum lenses (never actually counted 'em), along with flash units
> and various other Maxxum accessories, this is something I am
> really looking forward to. Given Minolta's marketing history, I'll
> bet it will be a real stunner in unexpected some way too.
>
> Neil
From their marketing department you can bet on it, but how about
technically...humm. They are going to be using someone else's sensor,
your choice, Kodak, Sony, whatever, all are known quanities as they are
in other cameras, but relax most of them perform quite well so whats
next, oh yes the software, Minolta has a wonderful reputation and
history in software development. Hasn't it? Well that is what mostly
camera bodies are today, and their distinguishing features are
expressed in the operating firmware and supporting software, so remind
me again why the Minolta is going to be a winner.
Alan Browne
Mike Latondresse wrote:
>
> From their marketing department you can bet on it, but how about
> technically...humm. They are going to be using someone else's sensor,
> your choice, Kodak, Sony, whatever, all are known quanities as they are
> in other cameras, but relax most of them perform quite well so whats
> next, oh yes the software, Minolta has a wonderful reputation and
> history in software development. Hasn't it? Well that is what mostly
> camera bodies are today, and their distinguishing features are
> expressed in the operating firmware and supporting software, so remind
> me again why the Minolta is going to be a winner.
What examples of 'bad' s/w are there for Minolta? I have their scan s/w
for my DSE-5400 and it is quite good.
The "human factors" side of Minolta cameras such as the Maxxum 9 and
Maxxum 7 has always been top-notch and arguably the best of top end
SLR's. As the user interface is usually the reflection of good design,
incl s/w, I expect this will show through in the new camera.
The 7, 7i, 7Hi have gotten high marks for their useability (less so for
battery life), so I don't think anyone expects they will do worse with a
new DSLR. I do hope that it uses AA or CR123 and that it has a grip for
extra battery storage.
The rumor out of Germany suggests a 7 Mpix sensor, so resolution should
not be a factor. What may be a factor is how they do the surface optics
of the sensor.
The new camera is further rumored to have quite a large LCD display (pix
count not spec'd yet). Further there is the promise of something very
novel about the new camera ... but Minolta are keeping that under wraps
for the moment.
Minolta have historically been inovators in SLR technology. That they
are latecomers to the DSLR game has been frustrating to us Maxxum lens
owners is tempered by the other side of the coin which is they've taken
more time to design the camera and to learn from whatever good things
(and mistakes) the others have done. They make P&S digis, as well as
the Dimage 7 variants and the A1. They were among the first DSLR makers
(the "too early" RD-175). eg: Digital and the s/w that goes with them is
not exactly a mystery to them.
Speaking of the A1, it has an anti-shake feature that is quite novel.
As good as IS / VR? No, but much better than nothing, and will not
require that I buy more lenses.
This delay has been frustrating to us Maxxum lens owners, OTOH, it
appears they will come out of the gate at a fairly high pix count and a
fairly low crop (1.3x per German rumor) sensor.
In the end, whether you like Minolta or not, it appears they are finally
meeting the expectation of Minolta glass owners such as myself. I can't
use my glass on a Nikon or Canon. ( I truly wonder why Sigma didn't
make the SD-9 in various lens flavours, they would have sold to a lot of
Minolta owners ).
I will not be surprised if Minolta's first full DSLR is very good with a
few weak points, and that the successor product will be stellar. I hope
that it is at least as good as a 10D. Time will tell.
Alan.
Gordon Moat
> Hi Alan:
>
> . . . . . . . . I love the idea of a 2.5 inch LCD on
> back --- as a matter of fact I'd love a 5 inch or more LCD that would be
> flexible (if too big for the camera's back and roll down like window shades w/
> a magnetic or physical hook on the back or on an arm extending downward from
> underneath the camera for preventing the LCD "roller blinds" from flopping in
> the wind/keep it rigid - like a camera's version of Viagra™ - but it doesn't
> have to come in blue ;-).
I always thought it seemed a little silly to judge 6 MP images on 0 .2 MP
displays, especially in bright sunlight. Perhaps dispensing with the LCD, and just
installing a DLP projector into the camera body? Then you could do a slide show
directly from the camera.
>
>
> OK, let's get really futuristic, a camera w/ a built-in economical low powered
> video/digital projector that can project either the camera's menu
> settings/other info and/or the scene (or movie) you just shot either onto your
> subject ;-), a nearby white wall or nearby statue of Venus Demilo (sic), or
> onto an umbrella like fold out/pop out white fabric video screen for back
> projection w/ a special custom function to reverse the image for viewing on the
> other side of the rear screen projection screen.
Hey, I just said that . . . . though I did read that about three manufacturers
that are already working on this technology. Two parts that you might not like are
the high battery consumption, and the fact that these devices are currently in the
works for camera phones. Looks like wireless imaging will replace digital imaging
for the masses.
> Also a custom function for
> popcorn, Coke™ and some movie tickets would be nice, and the best part of all,
> w/ 5 inch diagonal screens the screen's image size will almost be as large as
> that of the projection screen in your local 12-plex movie theater ;-). It
> wouldn't surprise me if fututre DSLRs (not just ZLRs or P&S) were able to take
> (multiple) CDs and DVDs so you could play music and wathc a movie if the
> subject matter you were recording onto the other CD/DVD is incredibly boring.
> Detachable ultra-mini radio controlled Surround Sound™ speakers would be
> optional ;-).
Handspring/Palm phone, camera, video, entertainment, organizer . . . and probably
includes a reminder to pay your monthly bill. Lots of these things are possible,
but battery life limits their introductions (except for soda dispenser in the
camera/phone). Anyway, if battery technology takes a large leap in advancing, then
I would expect many really radical changes.
>
>
> Finally, it should give instructions and camera tips in 35 different languages:
>
> . . . . .
>
> "All roads lead to ICP but I prefer breakfast at the local iHop (International
> House of Pancake... lenses ;-))"
Maybe there will be programming that judges the image based upon known famous
photographs. If the image you took does not closely match the database, then it is
not written to the memory card, thus saving the possibility of having any bad
pictures . . . . . . . Of course, some people might get mad when they find they
have no pictures from their last vacation.
> . . . . . . . . . . . English - West coast:
>
> Southern California
>
> L.A.
>
> "Dude, like look at all the colors, man what a composition... what do you mean
> what have I been smok'n, same stuff I've always been smok'n, old Grateful Dead
> CDs." ;-)
Of course, in LA, one no longer needs to smoke anything, just step outside into
the smog. Then there are always the "Oxygen Bars", when you really do want to
clear your head . . . . but, like, Dude . . . reality sucks!
>
>
> "Anti-shake features are only for earthquakes, fires and floods, shaking from
> mixing valium or lithium w/ other medications is your own problem, please
> consult either your instruction manual built-in to the camera or the nearest
> Red Cross"
>
> "Please remove sunshades from in front of lens, sunglasses are totally 5
> minutes ago, ND filters are way cooler, dude."
How about plastic surgery to make your nose fit the camera better?!?!?
>
>
> . . . . .
>
> Santa Barbara
>
> "Camera detects more than a 1/10th f/stop variance of illumination in the scene
> - don't forget to do a 'Brooks bracket" (12 shutter speeds w/ 36 aperture
> setting in 1/3 stops above and below your exposure reading)."
The Zoned Out system, or the Zombie System?
>
>
> "This scene is both too flat and too contrasty, please kiss ass of Brooks
> teacher to get passing grade."
. . . . and here I thought the darkroom was for making out with the girls in the
class. Too bad the instructor was not a cute girl . . . . .
>
>
> "So you really think this photography town needs yet another 'photographer'?"
I heard that quite a bit in Santa Barbara. The other funny one was the puzzled
look when I explained that I was there filming a documentary, and I was not going
to Brooks.
>
> . . . "Nice digital camera, don't forget to load the Tri-x™, ha ha, made you
> look.
Must remember that one . . . . good. :-)
>
>
> "This is not "Perry Mason"... Santa Barbara County Courthouse pictures, Brooks
> students as picture subject matter (because U.C.S.B. students were too busy
> partying to pose for you) . . . . . . . . .
Really fun going to I.V., and amazing how much Norwegian engineering students can
drink. The experiences really confirmed what a Norwegian Breakfast really was like
. . . . . .
>
>
> San Diego
>
> "Please ask Gordon Moat to remove his feet and Nikon FM from your composition,
> 'feet does not fit design parameters'."
Okay, maybe a bit too "graphic" . . . besides, I use my FE more . . . and my feet
aren't really that big . . . . . .
To really get a feel for San Diego, watch for the surprised look of natives when
they find out you are not a tourist, and you still want to take photos in San
Diego.
>
>
> San Francisco. . . . . .
One of the few places where you cannot buy a fog filter . . . :-/
Ciao!
Gordon Moat
Alliance Graphique Studio
<http://www.allgstudio.com>
Lewis Lang
BIG SNIPS
>Maybe there will be programming that judges the image based upon known famous
>photographs.
I'l go you one better, Gordo, how about hooking up this futuristic D7 camera to
a slide projector w/ remote control and having it judge at the local camera
club. I can just see/hear it now...
"Slide does not fit rule of thirds, please adjust camera or wait for an
earthquake to give you a shift in perspective for a better focal point."
"Slide sucks. Please fold slide in half and deposit in nearest rash can and ask
it what it thinks. But I've got a feeling the trash can will confirm my
hypotheses."
"This is the trash can. Get that stinking slide out of me! I only accept trash
not ecrement."
"Print doesn't follow Ansel Adams' design parameters - too much content, not
enough meaningless tonality, print not boring enough. Please reshoot w/ plus 22
development (leave and shake in development tank until both film emulsion and
developing tank peel apart) and minus one over-exposed (who said this had to
make sense?*) so fog scene has all non-visible detail formerly on Zone 6 now
extending from the *twilight zone to zone 9. Remember, somewhere out there Rod
and Ansel and J(udy) Edgar Hoover are vacuuming while watching you from Nick at
Nightie."
"Only people with red jackets are allowed for human foreground interest in
landscapes. Blue jacket. Minus two points. No field goal. No touchdown. No more
soup for you!"
"Hello, my name is _________ (substitute rake, garden hose, Annika, Mixmanic or
any other garden variety troll). I will be your judge tonight. I am also the
ghost of Wally Cox past and as well as a host for Hollywood Squares. You may
take Whoopi to block, but frankly I think she may be more discriminating than
to allow herself to be taken by you."
"All dog's feces must rest on the rule of thirds, no exceptions, not even
Underdog."
"Your planet has just been taken over by a hyper intelligent race of primordial
thumbtacks, as ruler and leader, all paper clips are declared enemies of the
state and must face the gallows... or expulsion to camera club night, their
choice. No exceptions."
"Please disregard the previous remarks. We are a hyper intelligent race of
paper clips and have just taken over this planet. All hyper intelligent
thumbtacks will be executed or forced to take part in one of Annika's pooping
dog photos."
"We are the staplers and frankly we find all of this piffle, hardly amusing and
offensive to our ethnicity as "staplers". Please retract all this nonsense and
re-insert such politically correct terms as "challengedly challenged" for
"hyper intelligent" and "sourkraut" for "paper clips" and/or "thumbtacks".
Relinquish your mind your wallet and your sanity to us and you will be richly
rewarded. "Impeach the peach party" - paid for by "The Committe for Staplers
stapling Sally Struthers' stomach and mouth shut to remove her as a third world
nation"
"This is Annika's ---> TOTALLY pooping dog photo... What the heck are all these
thumbtacks doing in Jewel's stool?"
Regards,
Leonhard Pang
<TaJCb.93936$1u5.1...@weber.videotron.net>:
>A-shake from A1 ... likely
With the A-Shake, Minolta could also incorporate a lens-shift build in
the body... then I think a crop-factor of 1.3 would be ok.
Or... the could build in a stitching program to get a full frame
24X36mm picture... at least for non moving targets.
-Leonhard
Betty Swallocks
Your 'German' rumours emit from a single 'lunatic' source who predicted a
Minolta DSLR in the market at September this year.....
The Japanese rumours come from journo junkets - they always tell the truth
don't they.....Actually the source is one decoded and unsubstantiated story
about a Minolta DSLR from a little known Japanese news desk.
Now I wonder if journos being the hard working people they are, went to
Japan & spent days pestering the manufacturers & getting inside info. Or did
they spend days in bars, karaoke & just pull this stuff off the net &
re-hash it ????
In Minoltas future business plan waffle, they mention a DSLR but its got a
flag....don't expect anything too soon.
too little, too late.....many pro's have gone to DSLR with Nikon or canon &
sold off their Minolta stuff, I know 2 who have.
In any case if all Minolta owners are as obnoxious as you, deserve each
other.....
"Alan Browne" <alan....@FreeLunchVideotron.ca> wrote in message
news:0YMCb.103982$1u5.1...@weber.videotron.net...
NJH
"Alan Browne" <alan....@FreeLunchVideotron.ca> wrote in message
>
>
> Mike Latondresse wrote:
>
> >
> > From their marketing department you can bet on it, but how about
> > technically...humm. They are going to be using someone else's sensor,
> > your choice, Kodak, Sony, whatever, all are known quanities as they are
> > in other cameras, but relax most of them perform quite well so whats
> > next, oh yes the software, Minolta has a wonderful reputation and
> > history in software development. Hasn't it? Well that is what mostly
> > camera bodies are today, and their distinguishing features are
> > expressed in the operating firmware and supporting software, so remind
> > me again why the Minolta is going to be a winner.
>
>
> What examples of 'bad' s/w are there for Minolta? I have their scan s/w
> for my DSE-5400 and it is quite good.
Yes. I don't have the 5400, but I'm very happy with the software Minolta
supplied with my Scan Dual III (dunno if that's different software) and for
that matter I like and use the DiMAGE Viewer Utility all the time. I have
never understood why some people complain about the latter. It's limited of
course, but then it's not intended to be a substitute for Photoshop or
anything like that.
I hope that's right. My friend who went from a Canon EOS 35mm system to
Canon digital (D30 and then D60, last I talked to him) was not too thrilled
that his thousand-dollar 17-35mm lens only have him the equivalent of about
a 28mm lens at the short end. Heh. My 7i and 7Hi do that and in either case
the whole camera cost me a lot less than his 17-35 cost him.
If that 1.3x multiplier turns out to be correct, my 17-35 will give me the
equivalent of about 22mm at the short end. Not too shabby.
>
> In the end, whether you like Minolta or not, it appears they are finally
> meeting the expectation of Minolta glass owners such as myself. I can't
> use my glass on a Nikon or Canon. ( I truly wonder why Sigma didn't
> make the SD-9 in various lens flavours, they would have sold to a lot of
> Minolta owners ).
I agree. If Sigma can make lenses in those various mounts, why not bodies?
>
> I will not be surprised if Minolta's first full DSLR is very good with a
> few weak points, and that the successor product will be stellar. I hope
> that it is at least as good as a 10D. Time will tell.
That's about what I expect too. The Maxxum 7000 after all was a darn good
camera even though it had to break completely new ground (such as no new
digital SLR today will have to do), and the second generation was far
better. I still have a pair of 8000i's and enjoy using 'em from time to
time.
Neil
NJH
"Betty Swallocks" <be...@knobheadbrowne.com> wrote in message
news:brhhrk$4sf$1...@news7.svr.pol.co.uk...
> Minolta are going to play catch up for years now.
I doubt it. Minolta has a history of producing innovative and even
cutting-edge stuff. It was the *other* camera makers that had to "play catch
up" after Minolta brought out the Maxxum in 1985, remember.
>
> Your 'German' rumours emit from a single 'lunatic' source who predicted a
> Minolta DSLR in the market at September this year.....
>
> The Japanese rumours come from journo junkets - they always tell the truth
> don't they.....Actually the source is one decoded and unsubstantiated
story
> about a Minolta DSLR from a little known Japanese news desk.
>
> Now I wonder if journos being the hard working people they are, went to
> Japan & spent days pestering the manufacturers & getting inside info. Or
did
> they spend days in bars, karaoke & just pull this stuff off the net &
> re-hash it ????
>
> In Minoltas future business plan waffle, they mention a DSLR but its got a
> flag....don't expect anything too soon.
>
> too little, too late.....many pro's have gone to DSLR with Nikon or canon
&
> sold off their Minolta stuff, I know 2 who have.
Then they can sell off their Nikon and Canon stuff and go back to Minolta if
it produces a camera better for their purposes, can't they? Obviously brand
loyalty is not a factor there.
>
> In any case if all Minolta owners are as obnoxious as you, deserve each
> other.....
???
What on earth do you find "obnoxious" in his post? No offense, but are you
some sort of crazy person?
Neil
Alan Browne
Betty Swallocks wrote:
> Minolta are going to play catch up for years now.
>
> Your 'German' rumours emit from a single 'lunatic' source who predicted a
> Minolta DSLR in the market at September this year.....
...no they are from a German magazine. And what was printed there was
different enought from the other one as to make them distinct.
>
> The Japanese rumours come from journo junkets - they always tell the truth
> don't they.....Actually the source is one decoded and unsubstantiated story
> about a Minolta DSLR from a little known Japanese news desk.
...no, Pop photo just published it after visiting Minolta.
>
> Now I wonder if journos being the hard working people they are, went to
> Japan & spent days pestering the manufacturers & getting inside info. Or did
> they spend days in bars, karaoke & just pull this stuff off the net &
> re-hash it ????
..that's what they claim, but you can go around spreading falsehoods if
you like. (kinda like your Canon 10D v. Sigma SD-9 tests).
>
> In Minoltas future business plan waffle, they mention a DSLR but its got a
> flag....don't expect anything too soon.
>
> too little, too late.....many pro's have gone to DSLR with Nikon or canon &
> sold off their Minolta stuff, I know 2 who have.
>
> In any case if all Minolta owners are as obnoxious as you, deserve each
> other.....
Since I have an investment in serious Minolta glass, it is perhaps
natural that I encourage them to go further. I guess you are one of
those 'smug' brand clowns, so be it. That's your problem.
Alan Browne
Leonhard Pang wrote:
I'm not sure where the D companies are with stitching. It SHOULD be
part and parcel of their systems... though not neccesarily in-camera.
Betty Swallocks
are despised so much here by so many.....
Gordon Moat
> Hi Gordon:
>
> BIG SNIPS
>
> >Maybe there will be programming that judges the image based upon known famous
> >photographs.
>
> I'l go you one better, Gordo, how about hooking up this futuristic D7 camera to
> a slide projector w/ remote control and having it judge at the local camera
> club. I can just see/hear it now...
>
> "Slide does not fit rule of thirds, please adjust camera or wait for an
> earthquake to give you a shift in perspective for a better focal point."
>
> "Slide sucks. Please fold slide in half and deposit in nearest rash can and ask
> it what it thinks. But I've got a feeling the trash can will confirm my
> hypotheses.". . . . . . . .
You know . . . . . funny thing is that when wireless image transmission becomes
more common, this idea could become reality. Recall the early 1990s Formula One
car racing era, prior to banning some telemetry and electronics, that it was
possible for engineers half way around the world in Japan to actually tune the
engine to run differently, all while the car was being driven in a race.
Now extend that to cameras, perhaps in some future photography class, then you
create a Brave New World of photography. The instructor could critique the image
soon after the shutter button was pressed, and then communicate directly to the
student any tips, or derogatory remarks.
You could get even scarier with having all photojournalists cameras transmit to a
government agency for consideration prior to release for publication.
Objectionable images could be immediately censored. Since there already is some
image censorship in the US and Israel, this would be easy to implement technology.
Of course, then rouge photojournalists would return to film to tell the true
story.
Leonhard Pang
>> Or... the could build in a stitching program to get a full frame
>> 24X36mm picture... at least for non moving targets.
>
>I'm not sure where the D companies are with stitching. It SHOULD be
>part and parcel of their systems... though not neccesarily
>in-camera.
Well, if you can move the CCD chip, it shouldn't be a big deal to
stitch the pictures together. Or at least provide a program to take
those 4 pictures, and stitch them together in a computer.
-Leonhard
Lewis Lang
>Date: Sun, Dec 14, 2003 3:21 PM
>Message-id: <brid16$64l$1...@newsg2.svr.pol.co.uk>
>
>its nothing to do with Minolta....you are just obnoxious, and that's why
>you
>are despised so much here by so many.....
Alan:
Just look at the (probably faked) email name, it includes your own in a
disparaging way - its middle contains "knobheadbrowne". You are dealing w/ a
troll, probably the same troll who made disparaging remarks about your teeth
(or at least it wouldn't surprise me). Why bother to reason w/ the
unreasonable?
Lewis Lang
>Date: Sun, Dec 14, 2003 4:06 PM
>Message-id: <3FDCC2A0...@attglobal.net>
Gordon:
You're forgeting one very important point - I was going for the ultimate, not
an instructor wirelessly making comments through/to his students cameras but a
chip itself _as the instructor_. Since alot of photography seems mechanical
figuratively (aesthetically sterile), and, literally, and it is captured
(mostly) electronically (either through use of mini-computers in cameras and/or
digital cameras themselves) it seems no small leap to go to the next step which
is to just eliminate the instructor, or camera club judge all together. Now if
we could just go one step further than that and eliminate most of the perennial
bad photographers we'd be swimming in pudding... or at least micro-chips ;-)...
maybe some kind of custom function that has certain bad photographers stand to
close to the edges of cliffs.
J/K
...what I really meant to say is that the bad photographers (photography
teachers, camera club judges, et al) should take one or two steps beyond the
cliff for that wonderful Vertigo perspective ;-)
P.S.-Please disregard the above. We need more photographers, both good and bad
to take pictures of meaningless sunsets, their dog's asses, their family's cut
off heads, more meaningless sunsets and, I did mention their dog's asses,
didn't I?, and the under side of their thumbs (or the undersides of their dog's
asses, whichever is more convenient) - after all, somebody's got to provide
content to mini-labs ;-).
Alan Browne
Lewis Lang wrote:
>>its nothing to do with Minolta....you are just obnoxious, and that's why
>>you
>>are despised so much here by so many.....
>
>
> Alan:
>
> Just look at the (probably faked) email name, it includes your own in a
> disparaging way - its middle contains "knobheadbrowne". You are dealing w/ a
> troll, probably the same troll who made disparaging remarks about your teeth
> (or at least it wouldn't surprise me). Why bother to reason w/ the
> unreasonable?
>
Hi Lewis,
Thanks. OTOH, Betty bothers me not...
Cheers,
Alan
Lewis Lang
>Date: Mon, Dec 15, 2003 10:51 AM
>Message-id: <sTjDb.73175$M95.1...@wagner.videotron.net>
:-)
Steven Scharf
> too little, too late.....many pro's have gone to DSLR with Nikon or canon &
> sold off their Minolta stuff, I know 2 who have.
Oh right. Have you EVER known a pro that uses Minolta? Minolta caters
to the amateur, a much bigger market. A pro needs better glass than
Minolta offers.
There is room for three D-SLR manufacturers at the consumer level.
Right now there is only one, Canon. The market is very young. Nikon is
late, Minolta is late, but it's not too late. What they have lost is
the highly profitable early adopters that pay the most for new
products.
NJH
"Steven Scharf" <sch...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:4f153f94.03121...@posting.google.com...
> "Betty Swallocks" <be...@knobheadbrowne.com> wrote in message
news:<brhhrk$4sf$1...@news7.svr.pol.co.uk>...
>
> > too little, too late.....many pro's have gone to DSLR with Nikon or
canon &
> > sold off their Minolta stuff, I know 2 who have.
>
> Oh right. Have you EVER known a pro that uses Minolta?
There have been many pros who use Minolta.
> Minolta caters
> to the amateur, a much bigger market.
They ALL "cater to the amateur" for exactly that reason.
> A pro needs better glass than
> Minolta offers.
Nonsense. Minolta lenses are, generally speaking, the equal of Nikon and
Canon lenses. Published lens tests show this. They all make expensive
professional-grade lenses and cheaper consumer-grade lenses.
>
> There is room for three D-SLR manufacturers at the consumer level.
> Right now there is only one, Canon. The market is very young. Nikon is
> late, Minolta is late, but it's not too late. What they have lost is
> the highly profitable early adopters that pay the most for new
> products.
Whether those new products are "highly profitable" or not just because they
cost more is not so clear. There are all those R&D costs that have to be
recovered before there's any profit. And Minolta may be smart to let others
handle all the new-technology bugs first.
Consider the field of 35mm SLRs. Minolta was "late" there too, but then went
on to enormous success. And where are the pioneers? Where's Exakta been for
the last decade or so? Kaput. How about Praktica? Kaput.
Neil
Alan Browne
Steven Scharf wrote:
> "Betty Swallocks" <be...@knobheadbrowne.com> wrote in message news:<brhhrk$4sf$1...@news7.svr.pol.co.uk>...
>
>
>>too little, too late.....many pro's have gone to DSLR with Nikon or canon &
>>sold off their Minolta stuff, I know 2 who have.
>
>
> Oh right. Have you EVER known a pro that uses Minolta? Minolta caters
> to the amateur, a much bigger market. A pro needs better glass than
> Minolta offers.
You are one of the entrenched snobs. It is true that Nikon and Canon
offer more variety of high quality glass (along with crap) and that they
are used by a lot more pros. Freeman Patterson is one pro who uses
mainly Minolta. As for glass, Minolta may not have a great variety, but
in their top glass thay have stellar performers v. Nikon/Canon.
20mm f/2.8 : Minolta + Nikon tie for best
35mm f/2.0 : Minolta
50mm f/2.8 : Minolta
50mm f/1.4 : Minolta + Canon tie for best
100mm f/2.8 : Minolta
200mm f/2.8 : Minolta + Canon tie for best
Source photodo sharpness/distortion figures.
And the differences between these lenses are so minor as to be
imperceptible in almost any image other than a test target.
Yes, Nikon and Canon have secured the pro market. But to say that the
lean line of Minolta lenses is not as good as Nikon and Canon is gross
exageration.
Cheers,
Alan.
Lewis Lang
>Date: Fri, Dec 19, 2003 11:51 AM
>Message-id: <4f153f94.03121...@posting.google.com>
>
>"Betty Swallocks" <be...@knobheadbrowne.com> wrote in message
news:<brhhrk$4sf$1...@news7.svr.pol.co.uk>...
>
>> too little, too late.....many pro's have gone to DSLR with Nikon or canon
>&
>> sold off their Minolta stuff, I know 2 who have.
>
>Oh right. Have you EVER known a pro that uses Minolta?
Harry Benson (Life magazine, People, etc., yes, I've known him and even taken a
workshop or two with him), I believe Mel Di'Giacomo (Newsweek PJ has used, in
addition to his Nikons and Leicas a Minolta CLE), W. Eugene Smith (didn't know
him because he died a couple of years before I got into serious photography,
but he used Minolta equipment on his Japaneese mercury poisoning "Minimata"
essay, along w/ numerous other brands of equipment throughout his life), can't
think of her name because its been more than a decade but I knew a famous
flower/still life photographer whose work was featured in "Minolta Mirror",
Freeman Patterson (whose work I know but not him personally also uses Minolta's
lenses and in particular the 100/2.8 Maxxum macro lens, I believe, whilst Gary
Waltz(man?) who did a superb photo essay published both on the web and in a
magazine about his dad who commited suicide I believe used Minolta manual focus
equipment for that and uses/d a 9xi and various Minolta TTL wireless flashes
for his newspaper/PJ work - these are just off the top of my head.
>Minolta caters
>to the amateur, a much bigger market. A pro needs better glass than
>Minolta offers.
Better glass? Have you used any great degree of Minolta glass? There lenses are
second to none. My 24-50 f/4 Maxxum is tied to the noted Nikon 25-50mm AIS zoom
(which I also owned and is smaller and just as sharp if not sharper, focuses
closer (about 1.2 feet or so) for best image quality in its class. Minolta G
glass is also supposed to be tops in its class (28-70/2.8 G and 80-200/2.8 G).
Other people can comment on Minolta gear they've used/use and/or seen results
from. Unless you qualifiy what you mean by "needs better glass than Minolta"
what you say sounds biased and/or ignorant (pick two of the two) as it really
doesn't describe the Minolta lens system at all. Not everyone needs a 400/2.8
IS or VR or whatever.
>There is room for three D-SLR manufacturers at the consumer level.
There is room for as many different consumer DSLRs as the market will
buy/stand.
>Right now there is only one, Canon.
Nikon is/will be coming out w/ their D70, and most likely both Pentax and
Minolta will be coming out w/ entry level DSLRs too and it wouldn't surprise me
if Oly had a baby DSLR for those who want to dip their toes into their system.
Sigma, Sony and Fuji are also other possibilities too, maybe even Contax will
have a BDSLR (baby/consumer digital SLR) but they would be a long shot as I
doubt the N digital was that successful, but an NX-like BDSLR might be ;-).
The market is very young. Nikon is
>late, Minolta is late, but it's not too late. What they have lost is
>the highly profitable early adopters that pay the most for new
>products.
Consumers who are not wedded to their lens gear at the entry level will
continue to buy into whichever brand of BDSLR they will feel comfortable with
whether it ends up being Canon's or someone else's. What Canon has done is
gained an early entry point which will hopefully lead to more market share into
the BDSLR segment of the market.
Betty Swallocks
"Alan Browne" <alan....@FreeLunchVideotron.ca> wrote in message
news:t9HEb.49783$5E4.6...@wagner.videotron.net...
Lewis Lang
>Date: Sat, Dec 20, 2003 6:42 AM
>Message-id: <bs1b42$ivi$1...@newsg3.svr.pol.co.uk>
>
>mmmmmm look what scuttled out from beneath it's rock....
P*L*O*N*K!
Matthias Andree
> Oh right. Have you EVER known a pro that uses Minolta? Minolta caters
> to the amateur, a much bigger market. A pro needs better glass than
> Minolta offers.
A pro may need a lens that Minolta doesn't offer but those he can get
from Minolta are usually quite good, looking at the G lenses for
instance.
--
Matthias Andree
Encrypt your mail: my GnuPG key ID is 0x052E7D95