"In case any of you were wondering about Nikon's new plastic $3400
(Canadian) digital camera (D100), check out how small it is (next to a metal
D1X). Don't know how plastic made its way into everything photo. I think in
10 years there will be no metal cameras left. Hope no one drops a D100!!!"
Especially if they drop a D1X at the same time, because the D100 will
(probably) survive the drop, and the D1X (probably) won't.
Plastic is popular because, if it's of the right quality and used correctly,
it's a better structural material for cameras than metal. You might not like
that (I don't like it, myself), but it's true.
Plastic also allows a tiny body with complex innards. That tiny
auto-focusing/zoom-lens camera you tuck into your shirt pocket would be
virtually impossible to manufacture if it were made of metal.
About seven years ago I was getting out of my car, holding an IS-10 in my
left hand. The neckstrap caught on the steering wheel and the camera was
pulled from my hand. I watched it in slow motion (!!!) as it hit the asphalt
and bounced.
There were some tiny marks, but the camera was otherwise undamaged, and
continued to operate reliably for another three years.
I invite any reader to try the same thing with a Nikon F, Olympus OM, etc,
and let us know what happens. (No? If metal cameras are so rugged, why are
you afraid of dropping one 3' onto an asphalt surface?) Plastic withstands
all sorts of abuse that would severely damage a metal-bodied camera.
I've been wondering for the past few years whether Nikon or Canon will be
the first to "bite the bullet" and introduce a "true" professional camera
with a plastic body. My guess is that, if it does occur, the camera will be
essentially identical to their current top metal-body camera. This will
allow pros who already own the top camera to buy the plastic version as a
backup without having to "apologize" for their purchase.
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