BirdForum is the net's largest birding community dedicated to wild birds and birding, and is absolutely FREE!

Register for an account to take part in lively discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="tjsimonsen" data-source="post: 1633439" data-attributes="member: 38764">Chris, honestly, I think you are missing a point or two here. It's all very well to be uncertain about the future. BUT there is a pretty big difference between general uncertainty, and claiming that we cannot predict anything.Sure, our understanding of physics has changed over the years (as has our understanding of science in general). But when it comes to optics, our understanding hasn't changed much since Newton. And a quantum based lens is pretty far off into the future (plus, that would probably mean that you either wouldn't know what you where taking a picture of - or where your camera was!). When in comes to cameras today there are a couple of certainties that won't change in the future (guaranteed): physically larger sensors have the potential of delivering better images than smaller sensors; physically larger lenses have better light gathering capabilities and the potential of delivering better images than smaller lenses. These things will not change in the future - period! What will change is that the bar will be raised with respect to image quality in general. Yes, we will undoubtedly see compact cameras that deliver IQ comparable or even superior to present day's prosumer dSLRs - with low-end lenses at least. But by then the bar will have been raised for the dSLRs as well. There is one reason I feel 100% comfortable making that prediction: technology works its way down in the camera classes, not up. So when improved technology (lenses, sensor or otherwise) hits the compact cameras, it is usually already established in the more expensive cameras. As long as that continues, compact cameras will always be following the dSLRs with respect to IQ, and not leading the way.The only thing I am religious about (and I guess the applies to many other "defenders" of dSLRs) is image quality. Would I change to a compact camera that would give me fast wide-angle, fast super-tele (16-800/2.8, and everything in between), 1:1 macro, fish-eye, and a 4-stop IS with the image quality of EOS 5D2 + EF 200/2.8L, combined with the user control and AF of an EOS 1D3? Of course I would! Even if it was considerable more expensive than the compact super-zooms of today (say the same price as an EOS 7D and an EF 100-400L IS. However, I am quite convinced that such a camera is not waiting around the corner.Thomas</blockquote>

Verification