Designed for the most demanding needs of photographers and videographers.
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Core Functionality Issues
This article is part of a series. See Introduction to Camera Features to start.
Many cameras have needless bad design.
Ratings, scale of 1 to 10
0 = does not exist
1..4 = badly done
5/6 = meets minimum standard
7/8/9 = very good but missing something,
10 = perfect.
Self timer
Self-timer implemention on many cameras is flawed. All self-timer implemenations should support:
- Option to remain enabled for power on/off and between shots ('sticky' by default!).
- User-selectable choice of delay, e.g., 3 seconds seconds.
- At the least it should preconfigured delay choices of 1/2/3/4/5/8/10/12/15/20/30/56/60/120 seconds. Some of these delays are for different purposes, self as selfies or group photos, others (short times) are for delays to avoid camera movement.
- User-selectable frame count: N frames S.s seconds apart. For example, 3 frames, 1/2 second apart—great for selfies or group shots where people blink or move.
- Options for visual (blinking light) and auditory countdown including voice (10, 9, 8, ... ).
- Option to take picture only when eyes are open.
- Automatic Eye EF option.
- Option to take N images and to preserve the one with the least subject motion, e.g., on windy days with moving grass or leaves.
- Seismometer option to take only when camera vibration is at a minimum, e.g., on a windy day.
| Sony | Nikon | Fujifilm | Canon | Panasonic | Leica |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| too few choices (2/5/10), no flexibility | too few choices, no flexibility | too few choices, no flexibility | too few choices, no flexibility | too few choices, no flexibility | 2 or 12 seconds only |
Long Exposure
- Must not require remote release
- Must support one press to start, stop (“T” mode)
- Supports dialing in any time in minutes/seconds
- Supports arbitrary timed exposure min:sec
- Counts down time remaining for exposure, counts up for dark frame time remaining.
- Dim screen and show in night vision preserving red (no whites or blue or bright).
| Sony | Nikon | Fujifilm | Canon | Panasonic | Leica |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cannot shoot longer than 30 seconds without remote Does count down time remaining, does not count down dark frame, cannot enter duration mm:ss |
Does count down time remaining, does not count down dark frame, cannot enter duration mm:ss |
cannot enter duration mm:ss |
Does count down time remaining, does not count down dark frame cannot enter duration mm:ss | TBD | cannot enter duration mm:ss |
Save/Restore Camera Settings
- Save/restore settings to camera card or send to email, etc.
- Should support simple text file for easy editing, e.g., name/value pairs (property file).
- Must save My Menu, not just core camera settings.
| Sony | Nikon | Fujifilm | Canon | Panasonic | Leica |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 5 | TBD | 5 | 0 |
Lossless compressed raw
Well established technoloyg, with no excuse for not having it.
| Sony | Nikon | Fujifilm | Canon | Panasonic | Leica |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NO | YES | YES | YES | YES | NO |
AF-ON Support
- Supports release without refocusing, both via shutter on camera and remote control.
- Support AF-On in all modes, including magnified Live View.
| Sony | Nikon | Fujifilm | Canon | Panasonic | Leica |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YES | YESz | YES | YES | YES | LeicaQ2: NO Leica SL: TBD |
