Apple's Next Big Thing Will Be a Prosumer Camera: Discuss

[malloryjones]

A compact camera with an APSC-sized sensor, running iOS. I think this will be Apple's next big thing.

If it ever happens, I know many casual but serious photographers like myself would sell their Canon/Nikon, etc gear and get something from Cupertino.

Sure, Apple would need to make glass too, but this would be circumvented if they stuck (at first) just with a single prime lens.

Imagine a Fuji X100 style camera by Apple, running iOS. Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy.

I wonder if others see the magic here?

 

[blackhand1001]

A compact camera with an APSC-sized sensor, running iOS. I think this will be Apple's next big thing.

If it ever happens, I know many casual but serious photographers like myself would sell their Canon/Nikon, etc gear and get something from Cupertino.

Sure, Apple would need to make glass too, but this would be circumvented if they stuck (at first) just with a single prime lens.

Imagine a Fuji X100 style camera by Apple, running iOS. Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy.

I wonder if others see the magic here?

No, they would care more about form factor and profit margins to make it a serious quality competitor. These company's have decades of experience in this. Just being honest, they don't have the right priorities to make a serious camera.

 

[Pooshka]

If and only if Apple can revolutionize photography where you can take both tele, macro, wide-angle, fisheye, and portrait shots all with a single lens, then I'm all for it.

Otherwise, let the seniors like Canon and Nikon continue the job.

 

[neko girl]

No, they would care more about form factor and profit margins to make it a serious quality competitor. These company's have decades of experience in this. Just being honest, they don't have the right priorities to make a serious camera.

Not an inherently good reason by itself. People said exactly the same thing about Apple and phones in 2007.

Nonetheless, the camera is too specialized of a device for Apple. It seems like they would much rather sell a camera with many more options (like a smartphone).

 

[julianbdavis]

I want an SLR camera body with a hole in it the size of an iPhone 4(S) where the screen normally is on a DSLR. It's got a 30 pin connector, and it slides and launches a new camera app. So the iPhone does all the processing, storage, and provides the GUI for the camera, and the body does all the actual camera work with high quality glass. Then when you're done you just slide out the iPhone, the camera app closes, and it's back to normal. Hell, Apple doesn't even have to do this, I don't see any reason Canon or Nikon couldn't take a crack at this. And the camera body could be super cheap too because they wouldn't have to include a screen, storage, CPU, RAM, etc (since that's all provided by the iPhone).

The only problem would be if you get a call while you're using the camera lol. But I think it'd still be a great product.

If and only if Apple can revolutionize photography where you can take both tele, macro, wide-angle, fisheye, and portrait shots all with a single lens, then I'm all for it.

Otherwise, let the seniors like Canon and Nikon continue the job.

The physics of optics makes that pretty much impossible.

 

[xraytech]

I think it would be more conceivable that Apple ports a version of iOS to Medium Format Digital Backs, like these.

http://www.leaf-photography.com/products_aptus.asp

 

[pdqgp]

fun thoughts, but I'd like to see them first use better lens elements and improve the processing of images so highlights aren't blown the moment the sun comes out and dynamic range overall is improved.

 

[iDuel]

I couldn't see Apple getting into the prosumer camera business, as other companies like Cannon, Nokia, etc. have a lot of expirence in the business.

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Kind funny how lately people have been creating new accounts to start iOS vs android wars or to inform us that Apple should get into XX business .

 

[austinguy23]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A334 Safari/7534.48.3)

A compact camera with an APSC-sized sensor, running iOS. I think this will be Apple's next big thing.

If it ever happens, I know many casual but serious photographers like myself would sell their Canon/Nikon, etc gear and get something from Cupertino.

Sure, Apple would need to make glass too, but this would be circumvented if they stuck (at first) just with a single prime lens.

Imagine a Fuji X100 style camera by Apple, running iOS. Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy.

I wonder if others see the magic here?

Nope. Discuss.

 

[gentlefury]

I already have one is called an iPhone 4S.

 

[miles01110]

Not going to happen. Unlike the pre-iPod music market/pre-iPad tablet market there is nothing lacking in the prosumer camera market, especially with the price decreases in DSLRs lately.

 

[asleep]

No way.

 

[daviddth]

Not for a while, no. I think more TV oriented for a bit longer yet, starting with an A5 Apple TV, but more with full PVR functionality over a network (and limited on-board storage as an option), then household music oriented with an Apple TV like wireless device with a decent amp and speakers (Optional) to stream music through the house, maybe even following you as you go.

After that maybe a camera, but while I did not mind dropping $2k for my D90 and glass, I think the "Apple Premium" would give a great camera, but it will be more pro priced, with consumer features - not a good mix IMHO.

 

[malloryjones]

Not going to happen. Unlike the pre-iPod music market/pre-iPad tablet market there is nothing lacking in the prosumer camera market, especially with the price decreases in DSLRs lately.

I would respectfully venture (I'm the OP btw) that something pretty huge is lacking in the top cameras I've used, and that is UI.

Canon, Nikon and Pentax do a nice job, but it's hardly super intuitive. I'd bet that Mr Jobs would agree with me that the user interfaces on these machines are far more complicated than they need to be.

 

[thewitt]

Jobs philosophy - pick 5 things and be best in class - doesn't fit the vision

 

[daviddth]

I would respectfully venture (I'm the OP btw) that something pretty huge is lacking in the top cameras I've used, and that is UI.

Canon, Nikon and Pentax do a nice job, but it's hardly super intuitive. I'd bet that Mr Jobs would agree with me that the user interfaces on these machines are far more complicated than they need to be.

1. Turn on,
2. take lens cap off,
3. Aim,
4. press Shutter,
5. repeat 3 & 4 as required
6. Turn off
7. replace lens cap

I never "use" the UI in normal use - I rarely look at info, unless it is in manual and even then I bracket the shots by hand. I could have a Nikon, Apple, Startrek or Leggo interface and 99% of the time I would not notice the difference...

 

[NachoGrande]

No way.

I agree, like Sony, very few people would be willing to ditch their Nikon and Canon cameras for an Apple camera with limited and expensive lens choices. It has taken Canon a long time to perfect their line of lenses. Apple could never compete. The 24-70 2.8 L and 70-200 2.8 L IS II are just two of Canons unmatched lenses.

As for IOS I don't care to have IOS on my camera. I just want to take pictures quickly and with as little hassle as possible. I'll do my post after the image is on my computer.

 

[AdeFowler]

I couldn't see Apple getting into the prosumer camera business, as other companies like Cannon, Nokia, etc. have a lot of expirence in the business.

Which is exactly what people were saying when the iPhone was released, but with the likes of Nokia and RIM quoted. That said, I don't see Apple entering the camera market beyond where they are now.

 

[wrinkster22]

A compact camera with an APSC-sized sensor, running iOS. I think this will be Apple's next big thing.

If it ever happens, I know many casual but serious photographers like myself would sell their Canon/Nikon, etc gear and get something from Cupertino.

Sure, Apple would need to make glass too, but this would be circumvented if they stuck (at first) just with a single prime lens.

Imagine a Fuji X100 style camera by Apple, running iOS. Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy.

I wonder if others see the magic here?

There is little if any chance of this happening. Why you ask? Apple already tried the photography business and subcontracted it. It was not very successful. [Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_QuickTake] As quoted grow wikipedia: "They were discontinued in 1997 shortly after Steve Jobs came back to Apple. In an attempt to streamline Apple's operations"

 

[vitzr]

Jobs philosophy - pick 5 things and be best in class - doesn't fit the vision

Neither did my Antennagate iPhone 4. Failed in areas that my 3GS worked perfectly in.

Next?

iPhone 4S. Battery is crap, more trips back to return it for a new one. This has got to be costing Apple money.

But what do they care, will all the money in the world they can afford to get lazy, not do comprehensive tests before releasing. Just rely on their stores to take the heat and hand out more phones

Nice eh?

Apple

 

[GovtLawyer]

Nothing Compares

I love all things Apple. I have an iMac, iPd, iPad and two iPhones. I also have a Canon DSLR. Canon cameras are are at the top of the heap - along with Nikon.

Nothing in the world, no matter how complex or miniature compares to a true SLR. The features in my 3 year old DSLR number around 150. Changing lenses (beautifully crafted and perfected over years) to meet various photographic requirements, is a must. Shooting in rapid fire with the mirror clicking back and forth is essential. Look at a Canon DSLR manual and imagine all of those features on a phone - hard to imagine!

After I take the photos I look at them on the camera screen. I WOULD NEVER EDIT THEM IN THE CAMERA. I put them on my Mac and use Adobe software to process them on a 24 inch screen.

I occasionally take photos on my iPhone 4S. I port them to my computer and process the 8 MB photos on the same computer. Just as I would never buy a SONY DSLR (they've been in the business only a dozen years), I would never buy an Apple camera. They are in the computer business.

If all I'm looking for is non-professional point & shoot results, I can use a camera phone. Anyone serious about photography would find a camera as suggested above extremely limiting.

(TO THE EXPECTED FLAMERS) YES, of course you can get a beautiful shot from a camera phone. Of course you can use mobile photo processing to do cool things as you view the photo you'll want to blow up to 13 X 19 on a 3 ½ inch screen. I suggest that no serious photographers would limit themselves to working in such a minimalist way.

 

[h00ligan]

Of apple makes a camera it won't be prosumer. It will be a poor and shoot. They don't need to do that with increasing capabilities of the iPhone. So no. I doubt it.

 

[xraytech]

I would respectfully venture (I'm the OP btw) that something pretty huge is lacking in the top cameras I've used, and that is UI.

Canon, Nikon and Pentax do a nice job, but it's hardly super intuitive. I'd bet that Mr Jobs would agree with me that the user interfaces on these machines are far more complicated than they need to be.

Chimping sucks!!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimping

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBVCiqEHv7w

Point is...

Point, Compose, Shoot & Forget about it. If you're a good photographer, which is not hard, that's all you need.

EDIT: Look how small those screens were back then?

 

[urkel]

If it ever happens, I know many casual but serious photographers like myself would sell their Canon/Nikon, etc gear and get something from Cupertino.

A "serious" photographer knows its more about the Lens than the body.

That said, the idea of Apple getting into the camera business isn't necessarily crazy but it wont be aiming at "Pros". Apple has gradually been pushing the Pro market aside for years in favor of catering to "average consumers" so the argument goes both ways. They could make an amazing Micro 4/3 iOS device, but more likely they'll just keep improving the cameras in the phones.

 

[xraytech]

I love all things Apple. I have an iMac, iPd, iPad and two iPhones. I also have a Canon DSLR. Canon cameras are are at the top of the heap - along with Nikon.

Nothing in the world, no matter how complex or miniature compares to a true SLR. The features in my 3 year old DSLR number around 150. Changing lenses (beautifully crafted and perfected over years) to meet various photographic requirements, is a must. Shooting in rapid fire with the mirror clicking back and forth is essential. Look at a Canon DSLR manual and imagine all of those features on a phone - hard to imagine!

After I take the photos I look at them on the camera screen. I WOULD NEVER EDIT THEM IN THE CAMERA. I put them on my Mac and use Adobe software to process them on a 24 inch screen.

I occasionally take photos on my iPhone 4S. I port them to my computer and process the 8 MB photos on the same computer. Just as I would never buy a SONY DSLR (they've been in the business only a dozen years), I would never buy an Apple camera. They are in the computer business.

If all I'm looking for is non-professional point & shoot results, I can use a camera phone. Anyone serious about photography would find a camera as suggested above extremely limiting.

(TO THE EXPECTED FLAMERS) YES, of course you can get a beautiful shot from a camera phone. Of course you can use mobile photo processing to do cool things as you view the photo you'll want to blow up to 13 X 19 on a 3 ½ inch screen. I suggest that no serious photographers would limit themselves to working in such a minimalist way.

Totaly agree with you.

If anything Digital Technology has weaken our ability to simply "Point, Compose & Shoot"