The year 2003 was a very interesting year for us digital photography lovers. Many milestones were there in year 2003. More and more manufacturers produce many more models for every market segment anyone could think of. In short, I found the year 2003 as a very inspiring year.
Instead of keep trying to produce “the smallest 3Mp, 4Mp or 5Mp”, manufacturers start to realise that there are other aspects that customers seek in a digital camera, or rather, the manufacturers cannot drive the customers anymore, as now the customers know what they want. Customers want good quality pictures, and good quality pictures do NOT solely depend on the number of pixels.
Manufacturers now keep launching new cameras with lower pixel count, showing
that that are still markets for such cameras.
However, more manufacturers start to provide the consumers with good
quality lens, more features, less noisy, longer battery life, more reliable
metering and white balance etc.
The 2.5” LCD screen was very attractive last year, and some manufacturers start to put the screen into their digital cameras. Started with Fujifilm FinePix M603, Leica also followed with their Digilux 1. Kyocera also did the same with their L3V/L4V, cameras not much bigger than the screen itself. Sony also put the same size screen in their Mavica CD500. Only Kyocera promoted the screen with more effort, as the screen is the main strength of the cameras. Kyocera’s “DayFine” LCD is claimed to be the best 2.5” LCD screen which allows viewing in any condition but the extreme brightness.
Manufactures also started to realise that we, the consumers, want not only bigger, but most importantly LCD screen that can give enough details so we can check the picture we have taken, and to be able to do it in any condition. Kodak was the first to implement the OLED screen, which is bright enough to be viewed in virtually any condition, as well as give enough details.
Why year of style? Canon introduced several products in their “Style Range”, the Ixus. Started with the 4Mp Ixus 400, then it was followed with the Ixus II, which was the first Canon digital camera to use SD memory card. The last to be released in Ixus range was the style-is-more-important-than-function Ixus i, a 4Mp camera with neither optical viewfinder nor optical zoom.
Nikon also “at last” released a digital camera for the style-conscious, the Coolpix SQ.
Olympus released the stylish Mju 300/400, and not just stylish, they are weather resistant cameras you can use in the beach or light shower.
Sony also released several Cybershot U-series, their stylish range. These cameras are small enough for someone to put in their pockets and forget. The latest Cybershot U camera, U60, also happens to be waterproof and can be used down to certain depth for a certain period without the need of special underwater case.
For people who need cameras to represent their status, they were delighted in 2003 with the release of Contax TVS Digital and Leica D-Lux, cameras just right for those who take pictures in their Armani suits.
In 2003, more manufacturers start to release cameras with more acceptable shutter lag and focus lag. Ricoh’s Caplio range claimed to have the least shutter lag when it was launched. More cameras (which I cannot remember all of them) were promoted to have better shutter lag. Minolta also claimed faster focusing and less shutter lag with their DiMage Z1 and A1.
In the term of writing speed, Kyocera released the S5R, a 5Mp pocket camera with the capturing speed of 3fps for unlimited frames. Of course, you will need fast SD Card, but I am glad to report that it works with fast SD Card.
Konica released several cameras under both Konica Digital Revio and Minolta DiMage brand to replace its KD-400Z and KD-500Z. These cameras are known to have very fast start-up time. Gone are days where you need to keep the camera on to anticipate unexpected moments (not that these cameras are fast enough for high speed unexpected moments).
Previously only Minolta DiMage 7 series available with wide angle starting zoom of 28mm in the term of 35mm equivalent. One or pocket digital cameras had this feature few years back, but then again the price of digital cameras was not as affordable as today, so they were not very popular. There are many benefits you can obtain by having zoom starting at 28mm equivalent. One benefit is decreasing photographing distance; very good for photographing a group of people indoor, where quite often it is impossible to step backward because there is not enough room, something may obstruct the view, or the flash will not reach the subjects.
Ricoh was the first to introduce a 4Mp pocket camera with 28mm equivalent zoom with its Caplio G4W. In the prosumer area, Nikon Coolpix 5400 goes head-to-head against Olympus Camedia 5060 Wide Zoom.
Canon is one of few manufacturers who do not make any camera with zoom lens starting at 28mm equivalent. However, their popular A and G range can use their Wide-Converter
Olympus had been the only manufacturer who supplied camera with 10x optical zoom in the consumer area. Panasonic Lumix FZ1 was not really counted as people consider it too expensive for a 2Mp camera, despite its 12x Image Stabilised Leica lens.
In 2003, everybody tried to spoil Olympus’s party by introducing consumer 10x optical zoom cameras. Olympus itself launched two C-730’s successor, the 3Mp C-740, and 4Mp C-750 equipped with TTL hotshoe so you can use various widely available Olympus TTL flashes.
Fujifilm launched the FinePix S5000, a 3Mp 10x optical zoom to go head-to-head with C-740 and similarly specified Minolta DiMage Z1. The Minolta has the advantage of a TTL flash hotshoe. To make the choice even harder, Kodak launched the DX6490, a 4Mp 10x optical zoom with nice 2.2” OLED screen.
This time Panasonic’s re-entry cannot be ignored. The Lumix FZ10 is now 4Mp, still with 12x Leica optical stabilised lens. This camera also has a hotshoe, although not TTL, making the use of external flash with this camera is only suitable for experienced photographers. However, it is still better than not having the option of using external flash like some other cameras, given such extensive reaching power.
The year 2003 was a milestone for digital SLR cameras. Started with the launch of two full frame cameras, one with Canon EF-Mount (Canon EOS-1Ds) and one with Nikon F-mount (Kodak 14n). There are benefits of using full frame sensor cameras, but the main one is the lack of cropping factor, so wide-angle lenses stay wide.
Pentax fans are also delighted with the launch of Pentax *ist Digital. Using the same 6Mp Sony CCD as Nikon D100, the *ist digital allows the use of old Pentax lenses, some dating back to more than 30 years ago.
Another milestone was the introduction of Canon EOS 300D, the first digital SLR under USD1000 complete with a lens.
The most important milestone for Digital SLRs is not what I mention above, but rather the launch of Olympus E-1, the 4/3-system designed by three manufacturers: Fujifilm, Kodak and Olympus. This 4/3 system is said to have better image quality than the originally-35mm-SLR counterpart, mainly because of the newly designed lens mount, which is much bigger than the image circle. The lenses are also said to have new design, so light will strike the sensor not too much of an angle.
In 2004, I personally expect to be more the year of wide-angle, with 28mm-wide equivalent lenses getting into pocket digital cameras. Other than that, I also expect 2004to be the year of speed again, with more cameras offering less shutter lag, les focusing lag, better start-up time, and unlimited number of frames in continuous mode.
Digital SLR arena will also be interesting in 2004, with Olympus claiming that they are releasing two more 4/3 digital SLRs, one for the mid-range, and one for the low-end. Since Fujifilm and Kodak, Olympus’s partners in developing the 4/3-system, haven’t released any 4/3 digital SLR, we may as well expect them to do so. Both manufacturers currently buy Nikon camera body and modify them into a digital SLR. People are speculating whether the Fujifilm S3 Pro will be a Nikon F-mount camera or a 4/3-system. Since Fujifilm and Kodak currently do not build the SLR camera body by themselves (not to mention they do not have compatible TTL flash system), there is a possibility that their 4/3-camera body will be built by Olympus, making Olympus the winner to supply camera body and selling their flashes.
On the lenses for 4/3 system, it seems like Olympus will supply the top of the line lenses with their Zuiko Digital line, while the other two will sell the mid-range and low-end lens. Note this is purely my speculation, and probably will not be right considering one of the major third party lens manufacturers has express their commitment to manufacture 4/3 lenses.
On the more interesting of “normal” digital SLRs, Minolta is rumoured to be launching their digital SLR this year. Many people hoping their first Dynax SLR will incorporate Anti-Shake feature found in Minolta DiMage A1, but all we can do is wait and see.