My Ideal Camera Checklist
Reading and looking at my current equipment, I think I know what I want in my next camera (arsenal).
Here are the things that I would love to have in my next camera:
1. Full Frame Sensor
Reason: The dynamic range on a full frame sensor camera is just unmatched. The ISO performance in video and photography is also of the highest quality. It's not about the mega pixels, it's about the sensor size.
One of the things that I did when I got the Panasonic GH5 was I compared the photos from the GH5 and I pitted it against my CANON T1i. This camera came out 9 years ago (damn, I old...) in March 2009. This camera has an APS-C sensor and has 15.1 mega pixels.
The photographs was pretty telling - I couldn't believe that a 9 year old camera was still doing slightly better than a brand new camera in 2017. The difference is slight but can you imagine the feeling that I felt? The T1i was a $800 camera at the time of release and I think that price included the kit lens. The GH5 is a $2000 camera with no lens kit when it came out.
So yeah, sensor sizes matter. And the bigger the better.
2. Video capabilities.
Reason: The future is 4K and eventually 8K and beyond. You want to future proof yourself with technology because let's face it, unless you are rich, you are not going to be replacing camera equipment every few months.
So the one you buy is the one that should last a while. So my current requirements is 4K at 60 frames per second. Anything less is just not good enough. And I do hope that in 2019, we will have a few cameras that can do this. So far in terms of mirrorless and DSLR cameras are concerned, I think only Panasonic GH5 and the CANON 1DX Mark II does 4K at 60 frames per second.
3. Lens selection.
Reason: By picking a camera you are also picking an ecosystem. That means when you choose, you will essentially be stuck unless you are rich and can afford the different brands. And basically a brand is an ecosystem. When you look at CANON, yeah sure they have 3rd parties making lens for them, but their own branded lens are very good if not the best. I think only micro 4/3 cameras can share lens without any adapter. Which means Panasonic and Olympus can share lens but the likes of CANON and NIKON or even SONY cannot without some sort of adapter. Adapters can limit the results of lens and add more expenses.
I would require a lens for vlogging so a wide angle lens at a low aperture, something like a 1.8 or 2.8.
Next I would like to have a prime lens also at a low aperture. And last I would like to have a telephoto lens also at low aperture, but with this lens, sharpness is probably going to be the deciding factor for the purchase. This goes for all 3 lens.
4. Flip out screen
Reason: Because it's 2019 and every DSLR or mirrorless camera should have this. I have no idea why camera makers just does not give the consumer what we ask for. This is what everyone wants and everyone should get it in all brands of cameras.
When you are your own cameraman it's the one thing that you rely on the most. You can frame the shot in any position - virtually. And if you are vlogging, it's the perfect because you can make sure everything is in focus.
5. AUTO FOCUS
Reason: The next camera in my arsenal needs to have good auto focus. Both in video and in photography modes. Currently the best auto focus technology is found in CANON cameras. SONY is a distant second. Everyone else just cannot compare.
CANON does not want to give its customers what they want = 4K 60 frames per second and a flip out screen with dual pixel auto focus technology in 4K video mode. If CANON would do that, they would rule the kingdom that is cameras. But instead SONY is up and coming and may be in line to offset the throne that is CANON.
6. Wireless Capabilities
Reason: Being able to control a camera without physically behind the camera is a godsend. And every camera needs to have this option perfected. I have the SONY RX100 V and the wireless capabilities is okay, SONY is not a company of great software - their PLAYSTATION consoles never had the best interface. I've own their XPERIA phones and the interface was buggy and laggy and flat out sucked. Their cameras are much of the same - bad menus, laggy software, and often slow responses.
Panasonic on the other hand have better software. Their menu system makes senses and is quicker to response but still not the best. Camera makers needs to understand that the current consumers all have smartphones that are no longer laggy and so their menu systems should reflect that of smart phones = fast and responsive.
But the wireless capabilities on the SONY is crap. On the Panasonic it is somewhat usable but crashes a lot and can get frustrating sometimes.
So above are the 6 requirements of my next camera. And judging from how slow the camera industry is, I might be waiting a while for my next camera.