Visitors coming to photokina in Cologne from September 23-28, 2008, can look forward to innumerable new camera models, featuring new functions, easier operation, and innovative software solutions for unlimited and unrestricted communication via images.
Multi-functionality and mobility are the key trends for the upcoming generation of high-tech cameras. However, the more complex the functions, the bigger the challenges are for ensuring ease of operation. Complexity increases the demands on smart automatic camera systems as well as consumers’ reluctance to deal with the diversity of functions.
Although people don’t want to be burdened by too many devices, they are also adverse to systems that are too complicated to operate. The more functions a camera has, the more developers have to make sure that these features are easy to use. This fact also explains the development of two seemingly contradictory trends in companies’ product ranges. On the one hand, toward cameras that are real all-rounders, and, on the other, to veritable specialists.
Whereas, for example, the sensors in cameras for professional photography are becoming increasingly larger to accommodate more pixels and achieve a higher level of sensitivity, the objective with easily portable, multifunctional all-rounders is to integrate more and more functions into smaller and smaller microchips. The latter is achieved, for example, by using a state-of-the-art chip design in which the light-sensitive surface of individual pixels is increased by making the associated processes and transistors smaller or placing them directly under the pixels. If professional cameras allow users to operate all functions manually in line with their individual decisions, optimum results can be achieved with sophisticated automatic systems employing artificial intelligence that make the camera extremely easy to use for the general public.
Bridging the gap between the two types of cameras
People who take pictures with compact cameras will sometimes miss the creative photographic possibilities of an SLR system. Likewise, SLR photographers would often wish to benefit from the convenience of a compact device. Manufacturers have therefore frequently tried to combine both types of cameras into a single model. They have done so by, for example, integrating live view into SLR photography and tried to replace the optical view-finder with an electronic view-finder display. The advantages of interchangeable lenses have largely been neutralized by super-zoom features.
Optical view-finders are complicated and space-consuming devices that affect the camera’s size. Electronic view-finders on the other hand make designs possible that are considerably more compact than any existing SLR camera and also allow the use of substantially lighter and smaller lenses.
Because many users of compact cameras complain that picture motifs do not appear in the desired quality on the view-finder display in bright sunlight, high-quality compact cameras now come with optional optical view-finders that can simply be attached to the hot shoe.
Online portals such as YouTube have popularized the sharing of film clips. Many photographers prefer moving pictures to stills in certain situations, while users of video cameras will sometimes only wish to take a single photo of a particular scene. This fact has been recognized by the manufacturers of both types of products. At photokina 2008, exhibitors will present single-lens reflex cameras for HD video recordings as well as HD video cameras with high-resolution photography features. Even SLR cameras will offer video functions that fulfill the needs of professional users.
New records in the pixel race
Records are being continuously broken in the race for more pixels, which is increasingly turning into a never-ending marathon among manufacturers. Producers are announcing more and tinier pixels on smaller and smaller sensors as well as new records for larger and larger numbers of pixels on sensors with image areas that correspond to those of traditional medium-format picture cameras. Sensors with image areas ranging down to miniature formats already provide resolutions of over 20 mega pixels. And medium-format microchips measuring 6 x 4.5 cm achieve up to three times as many pixels or more. In addition to the widespread models with APS-C-format sensors, manufacturers of digital reflex cameras are now increasingly offering cameras with high-resolution full-format sensors. However, people who think that this will allow them to reactivate their old miniature lenses are mistaken, since the new generations of cameras with high-resolution sensors above 20 mega pixels require new lenses that can optimally handle this capacity.
