| Yep, I know it's an easy trap to fall into. That whole | | | | blend of photography and computers. The list of new |
| keep up with the Jones' kind of thing. Always wanting | | | | features seemed to multiply every year. Camera |
| to have something better than the next guy, even if it | | | | enthusiasts, couldn't help themselves. In their quest to |
| is just a digital camera. I know I've fallen into that trap a | | | | capture the perfect photograph, they were willing to |
| number of times. Of course, sometimes it's not always | | | | spare no expense to get the best equipment possible. |
| a case of competitive one-up-manship. Sometimes | | | | Given that digital technology is showing no signs of |
| you get so intoxicated with the prospect of the latest | | | | slowing down, there seems to be no limit to the |
| digital camera features, you can't help buy convince | | | | number of new software driven features that can be |
| yourself that it such a necessary thing in your life. The | | | | included into a digital camera. |
| camera manufacturers know it to, and have been | | | | From face recognition, to auto focus, to higher ISO |
| leveraging it for years. | | | | settings, to "live view", to image stabilization, to high |
| Long before digital cameras came along, the business | | | | definition (HD), to whatever camera engineers dream |
| of selling cameras had plateaued for a long time. I | | | | up in their laboratory, the list just keeps getting longer. |
| mean, a good camera was made up of a few very | | | | And who knows it seems, which of those features |
| basic things. You needed a good and sturdy camera | | | | are truly useful, and which are just marketing ploys to |
| body, that could be taken where ever you need to go | | | | get you to upgrade to the next best thing. Personally I |
| without fear of damaging it. You needed a number of | | | | think all the features mentioned above help to one |
| high quality and versatile camera lenses, that could | | | | degree or another to make photographers and |
| capture any multitude of photograph types in different | | | | photographs better. They generally take a few years |
| environments. Once you had those basic ingredients, | | | | of field testing before their perfected, but generally |
| and a few supporting accessories, you were good to | | | | they deliver on their promise. |
| go. | | | | I for one, am looking forward to the next set of "must |
| But, then came along digital. It was like the perfect | | | | have" features on my next new digital camera. |