Re: Digital Cameras

[Michael Greer <mgreer@cwixmail.com>]

Ed Oliver wrote:

> I say,  Don you self-destructed as you started with "film".  I
> personaly do not see digital replacing film for one very large reason -
> the snapshooter that fuels the camera, film processing industry.  I just
> don't see Joe Everman going on vacation, shooting (digital equivelant) 3
> rolls of film, coming home and setting down at the computer to  process
> these 96 prints and making extras for the in-laws, and then storing them
> somewhere in some fashion so they can be retrieved 5 years later.

Ed,

You've made the same assumption that a lot of people who "don't see it"
make. You're assuming that a digital camera requires a computer. Today,
because the necessary digital camera memory card to photographic print
service isn't as readily available as the film to print service, a computer
(or one of the new inkjets that take Compact Flash and Smartmedia cards
directly) is necessary. But let's say that within 3 years, you would be able
to drop your memory card off at the mini lab just as easily as you drop your
film rolls off today? You would go away and come back in an hour to pick up
your prints. Just like today. A computer would no longer be "necessary" for
the camera to deliver prints. Remember, a film camera is useless to most
people without easy/cost effective access to a photo lab. The digital camera
is simply missing that ease of access right now.

And it is exactly "Joe Everman" who has the most to gain. Most people never
get prints of greater size than 4x6 inches. Currently available
multi-megapixel  cameras can deliver 4x6 inch print that rival 4x6 inch film
prints  today. With a digital camera, he can delete the pictures he doesn't
want printed on the card before he gives the card to the print service.
Thus, he only ends up paying for the prints he wants and he pays nothing for
developing. And he never has to buy film again! It is the average point and
shooter who has the most gain by going digital. There just needs to be
comparable print services available for memory cards as there are for film.

>
>
> I think there is and will continue to be large markets for both digital
> and film and even ,as now, within these two there will be segments for
> snapshots, 8x10 or smaller or commercial or art printing or whatever.
> Each has its own needs and the guy taking snaps at the kids party can
> care less if someone can scan (or digitally photograph)  and print to
> 30" x 40" with "Photographic Realism"
>
> My opinion - yours may differ and I respect your right to be wrong.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Ed Oliver
>
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--
Mike Greer

Come visit my web site on digital photography and other
interesting topics at http://www.greer.simplenet.com .
I have been extremely lazy, so many of the topics are
not finished yet. But they will be, some day.


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