FPS - the new megapixel race ?

[justa1972]

First of all apologies, I may have woken up on the wrong side of the bed this morning or maybe I just fancied a rant ? But at least it takes my mind off the state of our Economy…

I always read camera reviews and am interested in what new models are coming out. I’ve noticed recently that Frames per Second and auto-focus that can track the right eye of a Shrew wearing sunglasses from 1/2 a mile away are the most important factors when selecting a new camera. Or that it can tell the difference between a car and an aeroplane because obviously the user can’t.

I have no idea how many FPS my camera takes, indeed if it could only take 1 per second that would be just fine for me. Now I apologise in advance to all those Sports photographers and wildlife shooters who absolutely require a camera to take 100 frames every second but I think (hope) that a lot of people just don’t care ?

I use single point auto focus 99% of the time and please tell me I’m not the only one ? So where has the need for this supernatural like tracking auto focus come from ? Who asked for it ? All I see is photos of peoples dogs running up and down in their gardens. Nicely in focus mind you. (Well some of them).

The reviewers seem to like them, producing a camera with nothing other than freakishly perfect eye tracking that can tell the difference between a Womble and a Wildebest is akin to a car manufacturer bringing a new model out with a manual choke and cassette player.

To wrap up I have read a few very very positive reviews about the Canon R7 and R10 - now apologies if you have bought one of these and I’m sure they are excellent….. But forget how many frames it takes per second and how it’s AF can now track a ferrets backside on a misty day - more important is how many lenses there are for this latest greatest product ?

The answer ? Two and none of them wider than a 29mm equivalent ! But it still gets 5 stars ?!

I think I just fancied a rant….

Mr Angry - from Derby.

 

[LCPete]

I know what you’re getting at but they are just tools to do a job, for example if you’re trying to photograph a Puffin flying at high speed across in front of you anything that helps must be a good thing
it depends if you need those features if you don’t then it’s not worth getting the latest model

 

[woof woof]

The Canon APS-C and FF systems are relatively new so it'll take time for them to bring out new lenses. In the mirrorless world there are other choices. Sony has been making APS-C and FF mirrorless cameras the longest and have the widest range of lenses. There are a lot of lenses available for Micro Four Thirds and Fuji seem to have quite a few for their APS-C mirrorless range. I don't know about Nikon's mirrorless range but I suspect that like Canon they area a long way behind Sony too.

My Sony A7 is a 1st generation FF mirrorless camera and it doesn't even have eye detect but it does have face detect which is good enough for me. It is also quite slow in operation compared to newer cameras and its tracking ability is limited. It could be just what you're looking for if you don't need the extra features and abilities

 

[gramps]

I apologise in advance to all those Sports photographers and wildlife shooters who absolutely require a camera to take 100 frames every second

That very much seems to me to be your answer ... single point AF is fine for many subjects but tracking a hurdler or a Peregrine Falcon is a bit more challenging.
However, as in all things electronic, the smallest of improvements/changes is hailed as THE most important event of the decade ( just see EE's TV ad for the new iPhone 14 Pro ).

 

[RedRobin]

First of all apologies, I may have woken up on the wrong side of the bed this morning or maybe I just fancied a rant ? But at least it takes my mind off the state of our Economy…

I always read camera reviews and am interested in what new models are coming out. I’ve noticed recently that Frames per Second and auto-focus that can track the right eye of a Shrew wearing sunglasses from 1/2 a mile away are the most important factors when selecting a new camera. Or that it can tell the difference between a car and an aeroplane because obviously the user can’t.

[snip]

Mr Angry - from Derby.

.... I love your description I have highlit in bold - It made me laugh out loud but, oh dear, you do sound angry and very closed to understanding the benefits of the current new technology and therefore unable to take advantage of it.

As a photographer specialising in wildlife, surfer action, and railways, these electronic features are potentially very enabling and make the difference.

But as always, there is no such thing as the one perfect camera and it's Horses-for-Courses.



Yes I know I have mispelt Ansel's name but it would be a major hassle to revise this graphic I created many years ago.

 

[the black fox]

Oh dear ,better not mention the OM1’s ability to shoot 120 fps then OOPS

 

[Plain Nev]

It seems a bit chicken or the egg to me. Do consumers generate the technology? Or does the technology generate the consumers?

 

[LongLensPhotography]

When a crappy body costs £2k, and good one £6k I bloody want them to shoot 8K 60fps RAW.

I may only need it 2% of the time, but when you do it is so nice to have. Running dog, model poses. Just pick the best like a freeze frame from a movie. That's what we are all paying for whether we need it or not.

 

[the black fox]

Not sure about 8 k but Olympus already covers the others

 

[RedRobin]

It seems a bit chicken or the egg to me. Do consumers generate the technology? Or does the technology generate the consumers?

.... Neither. Technology generates itself - Technology never stands still. Consumers are virtually just a byproduct. But it may be said that consumers encourage the never ending advance of technology.

 

[RedRobin]

Not sure about 8 k but Olympus already covers the others

.... And Olympus, now OMD Solutions, has always been a leader in introducing innovations. For example, the other camera manufacturers are way behind in weatherproofing protection < The reason why the other brands haven't caught up yet is something I have difficulty in understanding.

 

[RedRobin]

When a crappy body costs £2k, and good one £6k I bloody want them to shoot 8K 60fps RAW.

I may only need it 2% of the time, but when you do it is so nice to have. Running dog, model poses. Just pick the best like a freeze frame from a movie. That's what we are all paying for whether we need it or not.

.... Every single one of us photographers has our individual needs in camera specifications. The camera designers do their best to accommodate as many of us as possible - At least they do so for serious cameras and lenses.

It's like Adobe Photoshop, or most other full blooded, feature rich software - We each might only use a different small percentage of its capabilities.

I would rather be the component which has more limitations than the equipment and then grow into what the equipment can offer me. It applies to most equipment - Cars and cameras being good examples.