2008 Camera Of The Year?

Nominations open for 2008 Camera Of The year. I want to know what you guys think. After I get a few nominations, I think I'll add a quick poll to the Home page. I already have an idea of what camera I'll pick. But I want to see what you guys think.

It may be sacrilege to some for me to say this, the winner I've seen and put hands on is the Nikon D700. I used a D3 rather extensively over the course of a week and a half this year while working a large wedding and associated events this past summer. Then I got to use a D700 in early November.

I'd nominate it for the the combination of pricing, Full Frame sensor, slightly more compact size than the D3, and that it produces great photographs. Now if I can just 'borrow' the camera again for a few days . . .

The price is a higher than a typical consumer camera, but it might be the last body you would need for several years.

It handles better in many ways than the D3 and I never met a camera body that I felt was too big!

The self cleaning FF sensor, even if a bit small in resolution by some standards is seemingly a great performer. The resolution is a bit lower than the competition but that isn't a big deal at this size. I wasn't totally satisfied with JPEGS straight from the camera, but I rarely ever shoot that way so didn't have time to fully tweak the camera or my technique for this sensor/camera combo.

If it is too soon for this camera to be fully evaluated as Camera of the Year, then I'd have go with the Canon XSi (450d). This is a winner on every score. Price, performance, sensor, and potential market. I've seen almost every category of photographer using this camera. It may be limited in some of the more extreme ranges of photographic demands but generally this has all the goods to deliver great photos at an extremely attractive price.

So either the Nikon D700 for the overall techno-winner top of the line, or the Canon 450D for the anybody will get their money's worth and a great camera award.

Yes, they are different segment of the market and don't really 'compete' against one another, but these are the two current cameras I'd put at the top of the standouts of something 'new'.

Canon has expanded/continued their line of pro 1D cameras. The EOS 5D-II just hasn't been out long enough, and I haven't used one yet. The 450 just pops out and says, here I am a stable affordable camera that delivers a lot new and usable features, cheap.

Nikon has had a somewhat mixed success with Digital SLR's since their transition to them. The D3 and then on its' heels the D700 show Nikon has come a long way. As follow ups to the D200 and D300 predecessors, which were both very good cameras for what they were built for, the two new stable mates are so far worthy flagships.

Decisions, decisions, decisions . . .

Happy New Year !

What - no opinions on this? Ok, here are some cameras I'm thinking qualify. In no particular order:

Canon PowerShot G10
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Panasonic Lumix LX3
Sigma DP1
Nikon D90
Nikon D3X
Nikon D700
Sony Alpha A900
Panasonic Lumix G1

What do you think of the list? Did I live any contenders out? What do you think was the best / most important new camera of 2008?

Well, I haven't used any of the cameras mentioned here. But I thought I'd pitch in with my opinion, hope that's OK...

I would say Sony Alpha A900. It is Sony's first real "top-of-the-line" full-frame sensor DSLR, and has one the highest megapixel counts in its class. Not to mention a rather impressive feature set which includes body image stabilization...

Though the Lumix G1 might come in for 2nd place. :)

There is no Oly's on the list. How about the 520?

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Originally Posted by Greg McCary

There is no Oly's on the list. How about the 520?

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I didn't think the E-520 qualified as a really important camera. If you're an Olympus owner it's definitely important. But in the whole 2008 camera spectrum, I don't think it really offers anything groundbreaking. If Olympus had produced a Micro Four Thirds camera, I might have included it. But as much as I like their stuff, I don't think they had any Camera Of The Year stuff this year.

I believe the Canon 5D Mark II is a game changer.

For only $2700 you get a camera with nearly the same quality (image wise) as Canon's top of the line $8500 1Ds Mark III. Combine that with some of the newer features that the 5DII sports (including 1080p video) and you have a killer camera for less than $3000.

Sure, it can't compete with its more expensive sibling on AF speed or weather resistance, but for many photographers, it'll be a lot easier to buy two 5D II's (thus having a backup camera!).

Canon G10
Nikon D700
Nikon D90
Panasonic Lumix G1

Welcome to the site, dwterry! Happy to have recruited another Twitter user :)

So far, the popular vote is leaning towards the EOS 5D Mk II. It's not my first choice. But that's the reason I asked for other people's opinions. I want to really think this out.

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Originally Posted by Axle

Canon G10
Nikon D700
Nikon D90
Panasonic Lumix G1

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Pick one and tell me why :p

Hands down the winner in my book is the D700. I bought one for what amounted to about $2400 two months ago and have never been more pleased with a camera purchase in my life. I have owned nine Nikons and this is by far the best of the lot. That's saying a lot since the first one bought in 1972 is still going strong.

I would have said D700, except that the 5DII has the same noise performance at almost twice the resolution and with the addition of 1080p video. My vote is the 5DII.

I added a new Quick Poll. We'll get more results that way. Please add your vote:

2008 Camera Of The Year Quick Poll >>

Thanks!

Voted!!!!!

To me the story of this year is the transition from pure DSLRs to SLR/video hybrids (Nikon, Canon, RED). I think it will have a huge effect in 2009 as more people upgrade -- there's already been a major transition this year with video Web sites (Youtube, Facebook, etc...) to support HD and the SLR/video hybrids could become a major new source of content online.

With that in mind, that narrows the choice for me to the 5D II and the D90. I chose the 5D II because it seems like a more serious foray into video than the D90, even if it is not as affordable.

D-700 but I think the d300 should be on there too.

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Originally Posted by Frog

D-700 but I think the d300 should be on there too.

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Why should the D300 be included?

Panasonic Lumix G1

Points to the (distant???) future. I see the DSLRs as more of the same. Not saying that's bad, just that it's the same.

TF

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Originally Posted by OldClicker

Panasonic Lumix G1

Points to the (distant???) future. I see the DSLRs as more of the same. Not saying that's bad, just that it's the same.

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That's why I included it. But what about the new DSLRs with video? Don't they change things?

Can I put in a vote for the Fuji folder prototype? :D

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Originally Posted by Xia_Ke

Can I put in a vote for the Fuji folder prototype? :D

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Sure. A dream vote for a dream camera :p

I do not have first hand knowledge of these cameras to make an informed choice but I can tell you the camera I would like to own and would buy if I got the money is the Nikon D700.
I don't think it has a chance of happening but I will purchase one if the opportunity presents itself, Jeff

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Originally Posted by Photo-John

Sure. A dream vote for a dream camera :p

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Hey, after 2008, all we can do is dream right? ;)

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Originally Posted by Photo-John

That's why I included it. But what about the new DSLRs with video? Don't they change things?

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I would think (with zero actual knowledge) that if you want video, you would get a video camera and do it right.

Another point, to me, is that the DSLR and Video (at this level) are two different worlds. The DSLR mostly?/often? is for the sake of the picture - the photograph. Any video that I've seen that would be done on a DSLR/Video is for the sake of the subject. The video technique is terrible and irrelevant to the shooter. Is there a convergence happening on the snapshot level? Probably, but I would not think that would qualify for 'Camera of the Year' on a Photography forum.

TF

If the Sony Alpha 700 had come out a month later, in January, it should definitely have been on the list....

Mette