Designing an "ART" camera?

chip j · Jul 8, 2013

My dreams aren't hollow--I've been working at the highest levels of art photography since I was 19 (now I'm 66). What's wrong with IMPROVING TOOLS for those of us that take photography seriously rather than just try to make a buck at it? All I did was post a simple thread asking what people desire in a 35mm camera, and I get all this flak telling me I don't know how to use what I have. What a Crock!

Poisson Du Jour · Jul 9, 2013

chip j said:
My dreams aren't hollow--I've been working at the highest levels of art photography since I was 19 (now I'm 66). What's wrong with IMPROVING TOOLS for those of us that take photography seriously rather than just try to make a buck at it? All I did was post a simple thread asking what people desire in a 35mm camera, and I get all this flak telling me I don't know how to use what I have. What a Crock!

LOL! They're not the words I used, I see.
Good for you, that's a long stretch. But no, you are not being given flak. There was an important message in my response. Irrespective of experience or skill, what else do you think could be done for your work, not about the camera? Cameras have been "improved" (not entirely to the benefit of the craft) since Nelson lost an eye. But they still are only a little box to hold a roll of film. As an artist, a camera is a means to an end, but not an end in itself. The product is a print, a step toward your vision, and it should be unbridled by a coterie of technology to bring it to fruition (e.g. medium and large format do not need the electronics you speak of e.g. autofocus sensors around the edge of a viewfinder. Why do you need that? Workaround: Compose, move the camera, recompose). Maybe even chuck away 35mm and use a pinhole camera for an entirely new perspective, and do away with viewfinders, electronic gimmickry, focusing aids and flashing lights?

chuck94022 · Jul 9, 2013

A camera that is connected full time to the internet, monitoring buying patterns of potential customers. When the scene in the viewfinder contains content someone is willing to pay for, the frameline turn GREEN. The camera then automatically chooses the post processing art style that will generate the highest revenue, and will post the image for saie on the most desirable stock photo sites, and mail exclusive offers to individual clients most likely to buy the image. Additionally it will post the image on the owner's personal photo website, and on a social website of the owner's choosing, and will tweet it for the photographer's thousands of adoring followers. The camera will include a Google maps feature analyzing the most likely geographic locations for taking a photo that will increase the artist photographers reputation or bank account, or both.

The camera will also display the amount of money each image in the camera has earned.

Oh wait, this is APUG...

Any Nikon F series...

chip j · Jul 9, 2013

This site should be retitiled ASUG--Analog Simpleton's Users Group.

PaulMD · Jul 9, 2013

erikg said:
A camera that would allow you to swap as many lenses as possible regardless of make would be great. Variable picture formats too.

It's called a NEX. I guess the film equivalent would be something like the Bessa L, just a box that holds the film behind the shutter. Or a view camera.

semi-ambivalent · Jul 9, 2013

dpurdy said:
It seems to me that Holga users think they are using an art camera. For the rest of us... how about a digital camera with nipple recognition focusing.

I like it! It would make selfies easier too.

s-a

erikg · Jul 9, 2013

Wow, this place is getting pretty harsh.

Chan Tran · Jul 9, 2013

Chris Lange said:
Fair enough...I can agree with you on that point as far as AF is concerned. If we can have 5000 AF points clustered in the center, would it kill them to put one more in each far corner?

The way most AF SLR are doing right now it would need a large piggy back mirror to provide AF near the corner. This may be the reason why we don't see they make them that way.

Chan Tran · Jul 9, 2013

chip j said:
How about a SLR viewfinder that shows you more than you"re getting on film, like a Leica M?

You would need new lenses that cover a much larger area than the 35mm frame. Something like a 6x9 format lenses to provide the same coverage as a Leica M.

E. von Hoegh · Jul 9, 2013

erikg said:
A camera that would allow you to swap as many lenses as possible regardless of make would be great. Variable picture formats too.

8x10 view camera.

erikg · Jul 9, 2013

E. von Hoegh said:
8x10 view camera.

Thanks, it has been mentioned. View cameras are pretty flexible. I can imagine something more, beyond what currently exists.

gone · Jul 9, 2013

It's not the camera. Let's give 3 people the same camera. In the hands of a pro it's a professional tool. In the hands of an amateur it makes nice photos. In the hands of an artist it makes art

removed account4 · Jul 9, 2013

momus said:
It's not the camera. Let's give 3 people the same camera. In the hands of a pro it's a professional tool. In the hands of an amateur it makes nice photos. In the hands of an artist it makes art

naaah the OP was complaining about that sort of camera,
he wanted something "innovative" whatever that means ..

E. von Hoegh · Jul 9, 2013

jnanian said:
naaah the OP was complaining about that sort of camera,
he wanted something "innovative" whatever that means ..

A new gadget. Shiny things for the techno-magpies.

jp498 · Jul 9, 2013

chip j said:
How about a SLR viewfinder that shows you more than you"re getting on film, like a Leica M?

My Graflex RB "Super D" slr shows a 5x5 shaped viewfinder, even though it only shoots 4x5.

Poisson Du Jour · Jul 9, 2013

Seriously, who would ever imagine a 35mm camera to be an "art" camera in any sense of the word? Please explain that to me. And no, Galen Rowell's work was not considered 'art'. Take it to MF and LF, then to ULF and you have a whole new ball game where the intention is to create a memorable image through intimate involvement and interaction with the camera. Reputations and fame have been made on cameras that far dwarf 35mm in function and overall image quality. And by design intention, those same cameras do not have gimmicky technology to make the creation of art easier. Matter of fact, beautiful art has been created as multiple exposures from a pinhole camera; the art bit though takes place after the image, never within the camera. Really, people need to think way, way outside the box and not think 35mm is the start and finish of quality photography.

Chan Tran · Jul 9, 2013

But I still don't understand what's a camera for artists. The features you're asking for don't seem to be requirements for an artist.

Poisson Du Jour · Jul 9, 2013

Chan Tran said:
But I still don't understand what's a camera for artists. The features you're asking for don't seem to be requirements for an artist.

Chan, we are all waiting for an answer to that question from the OP. You do have a strong, valid point in your second sentence.

djcphoto · Jul 9, 2013

I can't wait for the late night 'art camera' infomercials.

"...but wait, there's more..."

LiamG · Jul 9, 2013

Any camera owned by an artist is an artist's camera. I wouldn't want a camera designed by an artist- let engineers dream of better cameras, artists dream of more perfect work (ideally).

MattKing · Jul 10, 2013

LiamG said:
Any camera owned by an artist is an artist's camera. I wouldn't want a camera designed by an artist- let engineers dream of better cameras, artists dream of more perfect work (ideally).

But the question remains: "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?"

chip j · Jul 10, 2013

I give up responding to you mutts who haven't read what's already been posted, and dont't know the history of fine images.

Poisson Du Jour · Jul 11, 2013

chip j said:
I give up responding to you mutts who haven't read what's already been posted, and dont't know the history of fine images.

Pardon!?
"history of fine images"?
Are you trying to impress upon us? There are any number of accomplished artist photographers here on APUG. They don't need to make outwardly impressive claims to be taken notice of. Nor do they need to resort to name-calling and insults, as you are doing. Probably true that a few respondents were having a lark at your expense, but that's the nature of APUG. What was meant in jest wasn't unfortunately interpreted that way. And that's not our fault.

You might like to re-read a few of the responses to your question to see how a number of people have actively probed you to elaborate. You have not.

Mustafa Umut Sarac · Jul 11, 2013

I am thinking in two ways.
First , extremelly minimalist camera which danish design is an example.
Second , reverse of it , there can be a camera influenced by the ideas of Antoni Gaudi. I think if you familiar with Riemann Manifolds , differantial geometry and 5 axis milling machines , use of oak , gaudi casa calvet door handles , anschutz 1917 rifle stock , rock climber artificial wall hand tools , you can reach a vast can be improved area in ergonomics and aesthetics.

What I am talking about ?

A design could be go very far away with the principles of streamlined design but design must have a look like fluid flow like cigarette smoke makes streamlined three dimensional waves curves in the air.

You will get fluids natural 3d shape , carry in to 3d milling machines and carve wood by this way.

I dont think there is still no design software you can manage fluid shapes in to design. Its hard but making a plastic mold would be 4 times more expensive and time consuming but design would be most appealing. And modeling this and apply ergonomic rules is a different branch of science only seen at few european designs.

Mustafa Umut Sarac · Jul 11, 2013

Gaudi and İlhan Koman

Designing an "ART" camera?

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