jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

There are hundreds of different high quality cameras available, and many people would like to own the "best" one. The features a camera offers help move it into that "best" category. Why, then, would manufacturers leave out features that they could easily include to make their cameras more appealing? I know they offer more on their high end models to attract buyers who are willing to spend more, but even at the high end, some brands offer features not available in other brands.

Let's say that four top level cameras have identical features, how could a lab determine which one is the absolute best camera. Using that system, they could also determine the best entry level and pro-sumer model. I know personal opinion might play a part, but it shouldn't. The feel of a camera is irrelevant when what you want is quality. I have lots of differently shaped cameras, and my hands adapt to them just fine. Magazines and online sites like to pick the best cameras in different categories, but they never seem to agree.

Another consideration is the weaknesses of cameras. If Camera A has a weakness in a certain area, and Camera B doesn't, why wouldn't the makers of Camera A correct that? They can see what the competition is doing and where they are coming up short. I don't think this is a financial situation, just design and attention to details. So many cameras have so many features and such good quality, that it seems like it would be possible to combine all of that into one brand.

Ideas? Comments?

Tet68survivor Loc: Pomfret Center CT

I find this interesting! WHY? Because just about all the Manufacturers have a best camera! The problem, if it is a problem, they all have different "best" qualities, none have all the best qualities! So I think this question is a bit out of touch with reality! If I could build a "best" camera, it would be something from every Manufacturer! But then someone would come out with another new feature! So, as an Amateur Photographer, I say there is no such thing, just what's "best" for you and the style of photography you take!

BebuLamar

For example a DSLR and a mirrorless which one is best? Different people like different cameras.

JBK Loc: Illogan U.K.

I think the best camera is the one you have in your hand......!

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Having worked in the manufacturing area for a good number of years causes me to think why do the camera companies offer so many variants of the same camera. Back some 40 years ago, Nikon offered two 35mm cameras, the F and the Nikkormat (Nikomat in Japan). The cost alone of running a manufacturing line affects the price of the camera. Add a slightly different model and the cost and issues involved don't just double. Add a third line, and the cost is not just 3 times as much. As such, it would be far better to offer a top of the line and a less expensive version. Both FX, both take the same lenses. Every so often improves the models and that's it.

The average consumer has little idea of the internal issues involved with making these numerous variants. The cost would be reduced dramatically and hopefully passed on to the end product. For instance, Nikon makes cameras for distribution to various countries. The serial numbers are assigned to the different cameras to determine which camera will go to which area of the world. That alone has to be an internal issue that costs money. There are other examples.
--Bob

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

The absolute best they could ever do is determine which Camera was best IN A LAB! I however do not and probably never will take pictures in a Lab. I suppose if I did mostly studio work, lab based tests might be more helpful to me. But even then they would not be testing what I do. DXO comes to mind, their camera tests are sensor based tests. My camera (currently an 80D) has a sensor as only a part of the camera. While I would like to have the best sensor, I am MUCH more interested in the focus system and how the camera performs with the range of lenses I need. For most photographers acquiring accurate focus is the single most important aspect of a camera system. You can have all the dynamic range in the world, but an out of focus picture is only good for deletion.

berchman Loc: South Central PA

Since when has rationality been the criterion of product design? Look at cars, for example. Which is the "best" car?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

No best?! What a disappointment. For me, the best is the D750. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

As for the "best" qualities, that was my point. Why couldn't a maker include all the best features into its cameras - Wi-Fi, GPS, HDR, etc. It's not like they would have to add lots of parts to the camera. It's just software. I have no experience with designing and manufacturing, but if I were to start a camera company, I would like to include every feature I could so that reviewers couldn't say, "Too bad it doesn't have this feature." Of course then there's the actual quality of the camera - material, construction, and assembly.

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

Every camera is a compromise in certain ways as are most all things from breakfast cereal to super yachts. My wish for the Canon 1Dx MkII is the full implementation of a touch screen like the 5D4, but it probably will not happen even though it probably could very easily.

When I worked for GM I was always amazed at the amount of money spent each model year changing little things like control switches, interior details and such. But part of this is the simple fact that you need projects for recent college graduate engineers to work on and learn the whole design/build process. These changes impacted everything from design to tooling to manufacturing and assembly processes, yet that was how the system was designed to work. But I also is why prices went up about 5 percent a year and after 20-30 years that 5 percent becomes a big number. And I have not even touched the impact of Regulations, both state and federal....

Best,
Todd Ferguson

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Right. A lab would have to scientifically determine which camera was the best. The sensor is one part, focusing is another, etc. A lab would have to come up with numbers for each component of each camera. Even then, determining the best would be difficult because one camera might focus better but have weaker exposure control.

I remember the early American poem, "The Wonderful One Horse Shay." A man wanted to make the best shay - wagon - that he could. He found out which was the weakest part of shay, and he made that stronger. He kept going down the list until every part of the shay was very strong. His shay worked fine for years, but one day, every part failed at the same time.

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

I think you are missing that each feature adds cost in design, tooling, components and manufacturing costs whether hardware or software. Software is far from cheap too. It requires a lot of design and testing, as well as development. Why do you think there are so many vehicles to choose from and not just 4 or 5. To me it all starts with a set of requirements that are trying to be met. And it must sell, because if a product doesn't sell, nothing else is necessary nor will the company be in business long.

I have spent decades working in automotive, discrete manufacturing, aerospace and defense industries so I have a pretty good idea of what it takes to build complex products.

Best,
Todd Ferguson

Tet68survivor Loc: Pomfret Center CT

Exactly what I meant, theD750 is best,"FOR YOU" not necessarily for me! The D750 is a great camera, no question, but so is a Canon, an Olympus and a dozen others! Best? There is no one "BEST"! Each has a best feature or a a quite a few! I stand by my statement, "There is no one best"!

Tet68survivor Loc: Pomfret Center CT

To have the "absolute" best camera, you would be infringing on another Manufacturer's copyright! Anyone willing to build the best camera? And pay the Royalties, and not pass it on to the customer? ANYONE?

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Jerry, as far as we both know the "perfect" camera has not been built yet. If it will be in the future that I do not know.
Look at dSLR cameras. Since digital went into the old bodies of film cameras there has been a progressive improvement in functions and quality but they lack many features that at least in my case I consider so useful for the photographer. We have to spend good money to get a dSLR camera with live view that will reflect live the actual exposure on the monitor. High shooting rates for this cameras is something like 8 FPS. There are so many functions and parameters that could be incorporated for a better photography and instead they are not there, at least in the most popular models.
Look at mirrorless cameras. No mirror allows for a shooting rate that exceeds 10 FPS. They are smaller, lighter and very competent when it comes to image quality. With my Olympus cameras I can see in the monitor my actual exposure, a godsend of a useful feature. I have no doubts in my mind that mirrorless cameras are technologically speaking far advanced than dSLR cameras. I do not know of a dSLR that has all the useful features a mirrorless has.
It is true as Mr. Ferguson says that there is cost involved but, isn't it the same cost for both types of cameras? Why mirrorless with more features than even professional dSLR bodies?
As I said, the perfect camera has not been built yet but there are plenty of bodies out there that can do what we want in our photography and the majority are full of the features we need.

BebuLamar

Yes it's for you. For me it's the Df which I don't think you would even consider so Nikon made them both.