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View Full Version : would this be a decent spec for indoor/lowlight compact?



pianoplayer88key
09-02-2008, 06:48 AM
What do you guys think? Hope my idea isn't too wacko... for an indoor/lowlight use pocketable (see note below) camera with a standard prime lens...

Resolution: 6 or 8 megapixel. Option to pixel-bine to 1/2*1/2 or 1/4*1/4 to get a couple stops higher ISO at same noise level. (quick question... would it be possible to have 24mp (with, for example, 2-stop (or however it works) lower high ISO performance, then pixel bine, if done properly, to, say, 6mp, and get same ISO performance at 6mp as if the sensor natively had 6mp?)
Sensor Size: APS-C
High ISO performance: I'm thinking topping out at ISO 25600 at 6mp (while expecting similar performance to Nikon D3, with, if my calculations are correct, the ability to get ISO 102400 at 1.5mp (the lowest res from which I'd want to print a 4x6) with the same noise level that 25600 has at 6mp) (and, if you're feeling adventurous, maybe allow a few more stops above this, if you're willing to put up with the noise levels of a typical compact at its highest setting (for example F100fd at 12800))
No mirror ; either has EVF or P&S-style OVF. Definitely has LV
Lens: 30mm F/1.4 (give or take a few mm, if lens could be faster (up to F/1.0) it'd be nice, but it'd probably push price over $400-500 or so.)
Manual controls: separate dedicated dials for aperture, shutter & ISO ; live RGB histogram on LV display
LCD: 2.5" (give/take 0.5") rotating like A6x0 series Canons
Movie Recording: an afterthought... but wouldn't be surprised if whoever built this camera included it
Burst shooting: limited only by speed & capacity of memory card, also taking into account autofocus speed between each shot. Ability to use burst mode without having to hold shutter button down would be a huge plus (basically combine intervalometer with continuous shooting or something like that.)

When I say pocketable... I'm thinking something similar in size, or smaller than, a Canon SX100 IS, G9, or A650 IS, all three of which are smaller than my S1 IS, which is toward the upper limit of what I consider pocketable.

I'm sure nothing like this exists yet, but how difficult would it be for a manufacturer to come up with something? Closest things I know of are the Sigma DP-1 (has near APS-C size sensor, but a wideangle slow lens) and the Panasonic LX3 (has F/2.0 lens (still 1 stop slower than what I'm thinking this camera would have), but small sensor.))

Would it be possible for a camera with those specs (APS-C sensor, ~50mm equivalent F/1.4 prime built in, no mirror) to be relatively compact? If it's possible to have one of those, what's the chances of it costing under $400, assuming it's not a one-time special order, or if not what would the typical retail cost be? more like $600 or something like that?

Quick ?... would it be too much to put in a full-frame sensor with a ~43mm F/1.4 prime, in a pocketable (read: smaller than S1 IS) body?

This isn't a "which should I buy" question.... as I know in the form I'm looking for it doesn't exist... just wondering if it's possible, and if so, why doesn't it exist?

David Metsky
09-02-2008, 09:31 AM
No, it's silly.

James DeRuvo DHQ
09-02-2008, 12:08 PM
While some cameras have written into their firmware a process called "binning," which merges the signals of multiple pixels to make larger pixels, it's usually at a 4-1 ratio. This will essentially give you the problem of too few pixels and as such, will run into artifacting instead of noise, even at 4x6.

ghost
09-02-2008, 05:32 PM
it could be done, but why would they? If this camera existed, and was at the $400 mark, the competition would be left in the dust. There would be no way to get the customers money through incremental updates of cameras. Also, the 30mm sounds good to me, but people who don't care about noise and performance want lots of zoom.

I haven't looked into it yet, but the micro 4/3s system sounds like what you want.
Micro 4/3s (http://www.dpreview.com/news/0808/08080501microfourthirds.asp)

pianoplayer88key
09-02-2008, 07:53 PM
Yes, that micro 4/3 looks good. A larger sensor would be nice, though. For me I'm thinking the upper limit for use with a standard lens would be a FF sensor, as I'd think a 645 sensor & standard lens would, IMO, NOT be front-jeans-pocket-able.

One advantage of M4/3 is interchangeable lenses.

Next thing I want to see is interchangeable sensors.
Put in a FF 6mp if you want excellent lowlight performance for an ultrawide shot.
Swap it out for a 10mp 1/2.3" if you're willing to give up lowlight performance, but want an ultratelephoto.

How good would the lowlight performance be with a well-designed 43mm F/1.0 lens mated to a well-designed 2 megapixel full frame sensor?

Beowulff
09-03-2008, 08:00 AM
ROFLMAO!

How good would the lowlight performance be with a well-designed 43mm F/1.0 lens mated to a well-designed 2 megapixel full frame sensor?

Why do you insist on repeatedly posting all this rubbish?

I'm not quite sure whether you're simply having a good laugh at our expense, or are simply off the planet!

If you don't wish to participate in this forum in a mature and meaningful way, could you do us all a favour, and just go away? Many thanks.