Re: Camera Design Life

On May 30, 12:02 am, "Wilson" <w...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
"Frank Arthur" <A...@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message

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"Wilson" <w...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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"Tony B" <t...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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I've recently got an old Russian film camera in order to have a play
with BW film. This has got me thinking now, how long do you reckon my
D40 will last? Will it still be taking photos thirty years from now, or
will it be junk? How long do digital cameras last before they are broken
beyond economic repair? So far, this has not been an issue as my digital
cameras have got better and better over the last ten or so years, as
they broke or got dirty inside I've just got a newer, cheaper better one
but with the D40 there really is no reason to go "better" other than the
inner warmth of having a New Thing.

So, design life = ???

T

I saw a D200 for sale a few weeks ago, advertised as like new with only
8,500 some odd shutter activations. I still use a D70 that I've had
since new that has almost 5,000 shutter activations. I has operated
flawlessly and works exactly the way it did when new. It seems to me
technology not mechanical breakdown will more likely be the cause of
obsolescence. We shouldn't fall for the false obsolescence suggested by
the advertisers of the latest and greatest new thing. Someone in this
thread asked why anyone would want a D70. I would have no problem
answering that question. It's a good camera.
I'm the one. What I said, exactly, was "How many would want a D70?".
The D70 is a fine camera and probably could take many years of fine
pictures.
Most buyers, however, prefer to buy a later model camera and this is
clearly reflected in the selling price of the D70. For the same price you
paid for your 6 mp camera one could buy a 10 mp body with many other
significant improvements. In general D200 camera owners (a camera less
than 2 years old) are dumping them in favor of a D300. Another poster said
he enjoys his 10 year old 1 mp camera. I don't think you would even
consider a 1 mp Digital camera. Would you?

I'm not an expert on this by any means, but I don't worship at the megapixel
alter. From what I've seen doubling the megapixels on the D70, D50, D40,
etc. sized sensor doesn't give enough more photographic quality to make buy
one of the new cameras. But you are right about one thing, the hype on the
D300 is making people dump their D200's at fire sale prices so they can get
hands on the highly acclaimed D300. If I can get a real deal on a D200 I
just might go for it and give my D70 to my girl friend (if she'll take it).
The D200 has stood the test of time. It will think this would be an
excellent use of my economy stimulus money.

I still have my first digital camera around somewhere, a little Kodak with 0
megapixels. It doesn't have much to offer. I bought a 2.1 megapixel Nikon
950 at an estate sale and had it converted to an infrared camera. I've
gotten sharp 11x14 prints from it. I've read about Canon's original DSLR
that I think was 2 megapixels. The guy that owned it uses it for web work
and you can't tell the difference on the web from it and a 12 megapixel
camera. So a lot depends on the intended use.

Megapixels are really only relevant to the size you can output at
without blowing up the image and manufacturing information. The image
processor and chip are much more important in getting could clean
photos.
Best regards-

http://www,brucekersten.com
http://www.savantcreative.com
.

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