We all had the feeling that this had to come sooner or later and actually I am surprised it took so long! The iPhone success already showed us for a long time now that connectivity and application support is the way to go. And it looks like one of the Big Things that will arrive this year at Photokina is exactly that…
First Nikonrumors reported that the new Coolpix S800 will be bases on Android! Than SonyAlphaRumors learned that the new NEX-5R camera will have an application support and full Internet connectivity. This is also something Samsung said that they would do as soon as they can and a couple of months ago Panasonic also said that they are “investigating” the technology.
So finally we are going to see something new on the software front. Question is, who will find the best way to introduce this innovation?
17 Responses
While this obviously will provide a whole host of useful additions to the shooting experience, and I welcome the idea of a customisable camera it’s also a further step down a dark path that means even faster perceived obselescence of camera kit.
The pace of technology advances, especially in image quality already means many people, myself included upgrade and change equipment far too frequently. Adding software with a limited support life, or that can just plain stop working and new OS releases every year and you emphasise that problem.
Eventually we’re going to all be walking on a three meter crust of two year old cameras, laptops and mobile phones.
Sure it has always been that way, manufacturers want our money, but these product
with a short “best before date” are made using expensive and rare components, over which actual wars are fought over. The flip side of all these shiny gadgets is rather bleak.
no one is forcing you to upgrade. how does running android make a camera’s os any less likely to remain supported over time(all digital cameras that you have ever owned were powered by an operating system of some kind, in case you weren’t aware of that). if anything, with a ubiquitous os, updates are far more likely to be supported for a much longer period of time.
No need to prove me how logical thinking went out of fashion for you good consumers.
There’s quite huge difference between firmware only controlling/operating device and full blown operating system offering platform for additional software layer running on top of it.
Just compare size of camera firmware updates and Android update.
> updates are far more likely to be supported for a much longer period of time.
Which in real world means cameras get released with more bugs, just like computer software.
Also lot higher complexity of code-hardware interaction needing testing but manufacturers not being able charge you the cost could lead to more cameras using same old hardware with its improvement rate slowing down to avoid need to do so much testing.
Or are you ready to give manufacturers release from responsibility for all software related camera problems?
I sure see day coming when manufacturers make you accept EULA before you get to use camera.
@Admin, the page about Canon on-sensor PDAF patent doesn’t load.
Samsung has the most experience with android,
so they will do it first.
It sounds nice at first…but I buy a camera for taking pictures. A smartphone OS works best on a smartphone.
I don’t need my camera to have all types of photo editing apps with gimmicks…that’s great for a smartphone…but I don’t buy an expensive camera for that option.
I certainly don’t want distractions when shooting pics…I don’t need a web browser, etc…and I don’t want anything that will take away from my shooting.
Camera software is already too complicated;it’s seems to borrow from the Microsoft model that says you put in everything including the kitchen sink. If anything we need cameras that have a more simplified software system, that focuses on great optics and sensors.
This just seems like the latest gimmick.
I think that in 5 years we will be laughing about cameras that are not running a sophisticated OS with lots of apps. For the consumer it will be a big advantage but for the current camera makers, I think not. I look forward to buying a camera which i do not have to replace every year but instead can update the firmware and download new apps which improve or modify the camera’s output. The camera makers will of course have to oblige with an API which developers can use. It will be so convenient, you can take a pic, edit it and post to FB or where ever you want all from one device. And the ability of clever engineers to create apps that correct for various image imperfections, fabulous. Can’t wait!
I think that esp. for entry level DSLR’s it will become mandatory so that they can compete with the convenience of smart phones and still make money selling lenses.
> I look forward to buying a camera which i do not have to replace every year but instead can update the firmware and download new apps which improve or modify the camera’s output.
Guess why many computers end up being replaced?
Not because they wouldn’t have the hardware needed to still do that same job but because “improved” software has gotten so bloated and too slow to run on them!
A camera with an electronic or optical viewfinder, raw images with the DNG format, GPS and WiFi incorporated, all together running on a plain Android OS. But it’s a difficult decision for the camera makers to open their back yards. Let’s hope for a company making the first step in this direction.
A camera that has a computer operating system. We will then start to zsk for our Canon 5D to have 5 Gigs of ram just for the aps and then another 5 gigs for pictures and then another 5 gigs for memory. Hmm… We will need to be computer geeks to understand what we are purchasing.
With yearly or by yearly upgrades to the operating system still does not improve the sensor or the optics. A system upgrade also does not provide a longer shutter life. The operating system still will need other means to clean the sensor of dust.
Professional photographers will still do all post production on a full scale computer with lots of memory, hard disk space and other stuff.
Android OS on a camera will be relegated to the amatuer photographer because the professional photographer will nto want to deal with Android.