Why do sensors in compact cameras have to be so small? Before we had compact digital cameras, we had compact film cameras. I had some Olympus Stylus model in the early 2000s that took...

therwol Loc: USA

Before we had compact digital cameras, we had compact film cameras. I had some Olympus Stylus model in the early 2000s that took great pictures. I think it cost more than $300 new when I bought it. I don't remember the model and don't have it any longer because my son let someone "borrow it" permanently. Anyway, the film opening was 24x36. If you took a camera like this one, took out the film motor drive for space, utilized the space where the 35mm cassette goes, filling the empty space in the camera with electronics, AND put a full frame sensor in the thing, I think you'd have a heck of a good, small camera.

https://www.amazon.com/Olympus-Stylus-Epic-Zoom-Camera/dp/B00005ATZP/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1497025142&sr=8-4&keywords=olympus+stylus+35mm

Okay, I know it's probably because the expectations of people who buy compact cameras and use cell phones for pictures are not super high, but I believe that some of us would like to see something like what I've described above.

tbpmusic Loc: LaPorte, Indiana

What I'd like to see is affordable digital backs for film cameras, both 35 mm and 4x5 !!!!

Had2 Loc: Long Island, NY

Good question. Not so long ago, I posted a message along the same lines http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-435052-1.html

and I got a bunch of wise-ass comments in response. It seems that many who come to UHH don't like or don't want a powerful, small superzoom camera, or are so pessimistic that camera manufacturers will ever produce one because it would be so unprofitable. I think it would be a market killer to have the near equivalent of a DLSR that you could slip into your pocket, say the size of a Canon PowerShot SX730 HS. Now watch for all the nasty naysayers!

chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA

tbpmusic wrote:

What I'd like to see is affordable digital backs for film cameras, both 35 mm and 4x5 !!!!

I have an old Bronica I'd *love* to have a digital back for...like you say, "affordable" is key...

chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA

Had2 wrote:

Good question. Not so long ago, I posted a messag... (show quote)

...a few years back a friend let me use a Canon G9 (I think?) and the results knocked me out! Doesn't *that* sizing qualify for your search?...absolutely fine by me, just limited in tricks...

ken_stern Loc: Yorba Linda, Ca

Interesting post:
I have had the privilege of owning the Canon 5Ds since the beginning of this year -- With out a doubt the very best camera I have ever owned
However wouldn't it be nice & nifty if Canon came out with a light weight fit in your pocket fixed lens companion camera with a 24x36 sensor with 50.6 million pixels --- If Leica did that they would charge you 5to10K -- But I bet canon could pull it off for 15 hundred to 2k -- If so I would have one in my pocket now

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

therwol wrote:

Before we had compact digital cameras, we had comp... (show quote)

It is mainly due to cost. Small sensors are much less expensive for a manufacturer to put into a camera than large sensors. And second, a lens for a small sensor is much less expensive than a lens for a large sensor.

The camera manufacturer wants to actually make a profit selling their cameras and the sum of all the parts used to build the camera plus all the manufacturing and marketing costs and overheads are going to be used to set the final cost. Add that large sensor and larger lens, and suddenly, that camera is not so affordable.

therwol Loc: USA

Had2 wrote:

Good question. Not so long ago, I posted a messag... (show quote)

I should have recalled your post, since I replied to it. I was looking at compact cameras at the time to replace my Canon PowerShot SX 230 HS. I finally settled on the G7X Mark II. The Panasonic ZS100 was also in the running, but in two comparison reviews, the pictures looked a bit flat next to the Canon's. I'm making the bold suggestion that they could actually put a full frame sensor in some of these things. Perhaps it's all just a marketing decision.

As for the SX 730, it would have been a logical replacement for my old camera, but I'm leery of 40x zooms, and test pictures from the SX 720 I saw became soft at the longer focal lengths. Even my old camera with a 14x zoom becomes soft as you zoom out that far.

Had2 Loc: Long Island, NY

Ha, so you did respond to my earlier post...and nice to see you picked the camera I had at the top of my very short list. I am still on the sidelines, but to your point, I still think that they could put a slightly longer zoom on the G7X Mk II. The sensor size is probably acceptable, and the fact that it shoots RAW and has a flip up screen make it a good choice. Hard to say, but I think there is a market for a more serious pocketable camera that completely blows cell phone cameras out of the water. (I got criticized for calling such a camera a "point & shoot" when in actuality what I was describing does not fit into any known camera niche; someone suggested EPS, for "Enhanced Point & Shoot". I think I would prefer Power Compact, but I'm sure the marketing folks at Canon could come up with something if there was a perceived market and the will to roll out such a product. )

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Cost of sensors, fitting electronics into smaller bodies and critical heat loads.

therwol Loc: USA

chasgroh wrote:

...a few years back a friend let me use a Canon G9 (I think?) and the results knocked me out! Doesn't *that* sizing qualify for your search?...absolutely fine by me, just limited in tricks...

If you read my other post here, you'll see that I bought the Canon G7X Mark II, which is slightly larger and heavier than the G9X Mark II. I went for the slightly longer zoom range, and I can still put my camera into a pocket. These cameras both have 1" sensors in them, which is a step up from the tiny sensors in most compact cameras, but still a long way from full frame or even APS-C. I look at a camera like the Olympus film camera in the link I provided in my first post and wonder why they can't just slap a 35mm sized sensor into the film opening and build some electronics around it. I'm quite sure they can if they want to. I guess it comes down to cost and expected demand. I'd sure buy it.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

therwol wrote:

Before we had compact digital cameras, we had comp... (show quote)

Optical. Bigger sensors require bigger, heavier lenses. Your Olympus probably had a fixed 35mm lens.

If you want a small full frame camera you still have a couple of choices:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?A=details&O=&Q=&ap=y&c3api=1876%2C%7Bcreative%7D%2C%7Bkeyword%7D&gclid=CjwKEAjwjunJBRDzl6iCpoKS4G0SJACJAx-VGdtigKoYjarS4iHTPF64kG682TyQZre1egXTDCDWSxoCmwvw_wcB&is=REG&m=Y&sku=1190330

https://www.adorama.com/lcm10b.html?RRref=productPage

I am certain that either of these will give you images that far exceed anything you took with the Stylus.

MW

therwol wrote:

Before we had compact digital cameras, we had comp... (show quote)

Good question but I have no answer. I think sometimes about my old Olympus XA - basically a FF analog camera that fit in a shirt pocket

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

therwol wrote:

Before we had compact digital cameras, we had comp... (show quote)

Coming soon to a camera near you -- a 65" diagonal sensor previously developed by Samsung for their latest model television! Now all you have to do is buy a case or a pants picket to carry it in... /Ralph

tdekany Loc: Oregon

ken_stern wrote:

Interesting post:
I have had the privilege of owning the Canon 5Ds since the beginning of this year -- With out a doubt the very best camera I have ever owned
However wouldn't it be nice & nifty if Canon came out with a light weight fit in your pocket fixed lens companion camera with a 24x36 sensor with 50.6 million pixels --- If Leica did that they would charge you 5to10K -- But I bet canon could pull it off for 15 hundred to 2k -- If so I would have one in my pocket now

Look at the Sony rx1 series. The new "II" version has the 42mp sensor from the A7rII

Fixed lens, FF, very tiny body. Amazing resolution.