Why Not 'Made To Order' Cameras: It occurs to me that we spend LOTS of $$ on our camera purchases, and why isn't there a company out there that will create a camera to order, like the...

Wanda Krack Loc: Tennessee, USA

It occurs to me that we spend LOTS of $$ on our camera purchases, and why isn't there a company out there that will create a camera to order, like the car companies do. For instance, we each have little things about cameras that we like, such as a tilt/swivel screen, and a self-cleaning sensor, and buttons in easy to use spots, or a large review screen, etc. It just seems that all the possible changeable items about a camera should be available for folks who would like them on their camera, regardless of the brand. Anyone else have this thought? Is this even a reasonable thing to consider?

Roger Hicks Loc: Aquitaine

Wanda Krack wrote:

Is this even a reasonable thing to consider?

Probably not. First, a camera is an integrated design, and (unlike a car) very small: changing bits is more difficult than it looks. This includes even the software. Second, consider the logistics: this demands special ordering, skilled assembly on a one-off basis, and special delivery. For their M-series, Leica offers an 'à la carte' service for finish (body covering, engraving) but this adds more than the price of most compact cameras to the base price of the Leica, which is pretty stiff anyway.

Cheers,

R.

dennis g

Of course it is. Mass produced products are so much cheaper. A one-off, and not even a good one, would be astonishingly expensive for the factory to not loose money.

The second one made costs only a few dollars, but as the first bears all the cost of research, development and tooling, it could easily cost millions of dollars.

The option is to make it yourself. But it would have to be large and simple for ease of construction. That would limit it to being a film camera, most probably a pinhole camera, probably not what you had in mind.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Actually there are custom camera makers, but just like custom car makers, they are very expensive. Those that I have seen are pretty much limited to large format film and medium format digital. Prices compare to the average home.

Wanda Krack Loc: Tennessee, USA

LOL, sounds like the answer is that it would be just too expensive! Maybe I started this thread with the idea of just sending out an idea, that maybe some day in the future this would be possible..........a photographer's dream!

Thanks MT Shooter,dennis g,and Roger Hicks for your input!

BigBear Loc: Northern CT

Wanda Krack wrote:

It occurs to me that we spend LOTS of $$ on our ca... (show quote)

You just described a Canon 60D. :thumbup:

iresq Loc: Annapolis MD

Most of the car stuff is just add on options (except for the true one off shops). The underlying engineering and production lines are not bothered much by bolt on custom orders. I would be curious to know if any of the DSLR manufactures have toyed with the idea of different colors like you see in the P&S lines. My guess is that has been discussed in the marketing department and ultimately shot down.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

iresq wrote:

Most of the car stuff is just add on options (except for the true one off shops). The underlying engineering and production lines are not bothered much by bolt on custom orders. I would be curious to know if any of the DSLR manufactures have toyed with the idea of different colors like you see in the P&S lines. My guess is that has been discussed in the marketing department and ultimately shot down.

Nikon makes the D3100 and D5100 in Ruby Red! Pretty!

iresq Loc: Annapolis MD

I stand corrected. Thanks.

hangman45 Loc: Hueytown Alabama

iresq wrote:

Most of the car stuff is just add on options (except for the true one off shops). The underlying engineering and production lines are not bothered much by bolt on custom orders. I would be curious to know if any of the DSLR manufactures have toyed with the idea of different colors like you see in the P&S lines. My guess is that has been discussed in the marketing department and ultimately shot down.

Pentax had a bunch of different colors on the K-x and K-r lines I have a white K-x they came in red,green,pink,brown,camo,and others.

MtnMan Loc: ID

While I suspect the hardware options will remain limited (e.g. colors or add-on viewfinders) due to the reasons mentioned I think we can expect more software options. Some controls on my Nikon D5100 are already reassignable with the software; e.g. which way the thumbwheel effect goes and what the fn button does. Some cameras have recently come out with touch screens which will increase the flexibility on controls.

Nevada Chuck

Those of you into hotrodding may remember this saying from my youth. The top race car builders (drag racing, not formula 1) used to say that all you needed to go faster than the next guy was more cubic dollars.

Given today's level of technology, almost anything that you can conceive of can be built, but would you pay a quarter-million dollars for the camera you describe? Me neither.

shadow1284 Loc: Mid-West Michigan

Given the array of camera options offered by the many camera mfgrs, I believe they are are trying to do just that. Imagine what it is in a camera that you want and you can most likely find one that fits the bill. Just don't set a price.

RobertMaxey

Wanda Krack wrote:

It occurs to me that we spend LOTS of $$ on our ca... (show quote)

There are a few. Not as many as in times past, but they likely still exist. Very costly.

We had a special Hassleblad A12 magazine made and it was $9,000.00 in 1980. Hasselblad also offered a slide bar for stereo. It was ten feet in length and $30,000.00 through their custom shop.

Wanda Krack Loc: Tennessee, USA

LOL, wow, big-scale!! Might as well hire your own engineer and designer! Yes, I think the camera companies do try to design items for sale that they think the GP (general public) would want.