Having Some Fun; Speculating On The Future Of Digital Camera Gear

The sky is the limit when speculating about what is to come in digital photography gear (click to enlarge)

What does the future hold in store for us digital photographers?  We don't know but we can speculate.  Its fun to speculate.  Speculation allows our imaginations to run wild.  It allows us to take what seems impossible today and make it possible, if only in our minds.

One line of thought is that we will see a progression/improvement in the features we already have.  Another line of thought is that there will be some revolutionary new features we haven't even thought of yet.

I'll just jump right in and throw some things out there for you to think about.  These are in no particular order, only listed in the order in which I thought of them.

Faster focus; so fast it feels as though it is instantaneous.

More focus points; Focus points cover the entire viewfinder, 100% coverage.

Eye tracking focus; the camera focuses where you are looking (as you look at the camera it is looking back at you!); either single of continuous.  Where you look is where the camera instantly focuses (Canon had a version of this in the film days, the EOS 3e?).

More frames per second available; up to 240 or even more!

Better color balance; color balance could be tweaked in camera after the image is made, even in JPEGs.

More dynamic range; through new sensor technology and advanced electronics, dynamic range would be at least 20 stops; maybe no limit at all!

Better and affordable "light field" cameras where you can choose your focus point after the images are made;  one shot versus Panasonic's multiple shots at different focus distances; maybe light field technology built into every camera.

Electronic viewfinders that equal or exceed optical viewfinders; Brightness, color balance, contrast, and dynamic range would make it look like you were looking at real life with no indication that you are even looking at an electronic image. No blackout, no lag.

More pixels of higher quality on new sensors with processing algorithms that are so fast, they make today's camera look like a simple calculator.

ISOs available to 1 million with no discernable digital noise.

Narrowing of sensor formats; no need for so many formats; even the smallest formats will give professional results.

Better and faster lenses with fewer aberrations. Lenses that are faster, have wider zoom ranges and are designed to provide resolution for sensors of at least 100mp.

Better RAW file conversions; the ability to convert a RAW file in-camera in the same way you would edit it on your computer at a later time.

LCDs that take up the entire back of the camera body, which swivel and rotate and supply all controls through a touch sensitive surface.  Also, has an anti-nose feature in that your nose touching the sensor won't affect it!  LOL

16-bit or even 24-bit image files; 14-bit are okay, but with the faster processors and more dynamic range, only 16-bit or 24-bit would do the images justice.

More and better automated focus stacking and focus bracketing in-camera.

More sophisticated facial and eye recognition and tracking; once the camera locks on to a subject, even if the subject turns away from the camera, focus stays locked on until the subject turns his/her face back toward the camera at which time it immediately reacquires the eye.

Better and less expensive batteries; no need to carry any spare batteries.

Better image stabilization in-camera and in-lenses; Olympus tells us, due to the Earth's rotation affecting IS, 6.5 stops is the limit with current technology;  10 stops would be expected at a minimum.

Built-in variable neutral density filters in-camera.  You would be able to dial in just the right amount of neutral density that is desirable.

Lenses that change focus electronically by bending certain lens elements which alters the path of the light.

Changing the viscosity of an internal lens liquid that changes the focal length of the lens.

No mechanical shutters to create shutter bounce, noise or restrictions on speed; global shutters with shutter speeds up to 1/128,000th sec. with no rolling shutter or other distortion.

Not only HDR in-camera, but the in-camera ability to combine any number of RAW images in any way you need; combine image files for any particular final result you need whether HDR or composites.

Radio frequency flash control built-in.  Will control as many flashes as you wish.  No accessories nor slaves needed attached to the camera; no flash need be attached to the camera to set off slaves.

Flash sync an any speed.

Sophisticated image editing in-camera including selective sharpening of JPEGs in-camera with the same kind of controls as found in sophisticated editing software.

Huge built-in memory in-camera so removable cards are only needed as a backup.

GPS with direction and distance so you know exactly where you were when you made the image but also know which direction you were pointing the camera and how far the focus point was from the camera.

Here is something I've written about before:

The ability to order cameras á la carte.  In the same sense as buying a new car, you buy a base model for a low price with individual options and/or option packages which will allow you to build the camera you need for your photography.  You would be able to add options at time of purchase, or later as you can afford them or as your photographic needs or styles change; all through downloadable firmware.  Third party apps would also be available for your camera as they are through the Google Play or Apple stores for your mobile phones.  Large and small innovating companies could create apps for your camera bringing unique additional capabilities to your gear as you desire.

If you are a sports photographer, you build a sports oriented camera.  If you are a wedding or portrait photographer, you build a camera that suits those particular needs.  Black and white shooter?  Build a black and white body.  Don't shoot movies?  Don't buy the app that allows the camera to record video.  You build the camera of your needs and only pay for what you need and use.

Sensors would also be interchangeable so you could upgrade to a newer, faster, better, sensor along with downloading new image processing firmware to go along with the new sensor.  You would be able to order a sensor just like ordering RAM for your computer. DIY. You could install it yourself and install the new firmware to go with it.  Voila!  Basically a new, more capable camera!

How about a built-in mobile phone connection to instantly transmit images from the camera to the cloud or to your network attached storage (NAS) at home.  Even better, how about built-in satellite connection for transmitting images directly from the camera in the same manner?

Okay, let's go way out there...

How about a mind meld.  Yes, we are getting into Vulcan territory here...  You look through the viewfinder, the camera focuses on what you are directly looking at, the camera understands what you are trying to photograph and the built-in gyros move the camera into the best compositional position, then when you "think" that the decisive moment has arrived, the camera understands that as well and the shutter fires. The image instantly transmits via satellite to your home system where it awaits your arrival.

However.....

With all of this automation, technology, cameras thinking for themselves, does all the fun and challenges we love in our photography go away?  Would we be less happy?  Some of us might even go back to film, use a fully manual camera, build a darkroom, buy an enlarger and do everything manually again as "creating" and "doing" with the gear as our tools of choice is what we got into photography for in the first place.  Many of us didn't get into photography only to allow our tools to make all of our creative decisions for us.  Where is the creativity in that?

Join in the fun.  I'm just one person with a limited perspective.  I'm sure you could come up with lots more interesting things.  What else could you imagine in your future digital camera, lenses and flashes?  As I said, its fun to speculate!

Thanks for looking. Enjoy! 

Dennis A. Mook 

All content on this blog is © 2013-2017 Dennis A. Mook. All Rights Reserved. Feel free to point to this blog from your website with full attribution. Permission may be granted for commercial use. Please contact Mr. Mook to discuss permission to reproduce the blog posts and/or images.