>>Olympus OM system falls in the same line as Hasselblad and
>>Linhof.
>>Good quality manual focus, manual exposure cameras that,
>>with a knowledgeable photographer, produce exceptional
>>quality photos.
Not so fast. In the case of Large-Format there really isn't any
new technology. Large Format isn't about automation--it's about
ultimate control. Ultimate control and automation do not mix.
When it comes to Hasselblads, well, 'Blad has a couple of new
models that address the technology advancements nicely--except
for autofocus. Since 'Blads serve a hybrid world (halfway
between 35mm and large-format) I would say that the
latest/greatest really are as close to the current
"state-of-the-art", of which the Contax 645AF is.
When you look back at the past century and break out camera
developments decade by decade, you will see that only a couple
of cameras have stayed viably current for 50+ years: Hasselblad
and Leica. But each addresses a particular shooting style that
forces the user to adapt to a methodology instead of the
methodology adapting to the use.
Each decade has seen camera developments which has always caused
feathers to ruffle. Can you imagine! THE OM-1 HAS A BUILT-IN
METER! Heresy! Besides, IT'S TOO SMALL! Good quality cameras
have to be three times the size and weight.
My OMs are still usable--no doubt, but for certain shooting
styles they are woefully out-of-date.
Today's cameras are disposable? Any more so than in the past?
Get real, cameras have always obsoleted before they wear out.
Again, look at the camera developments between 1945 and 1975. A
twenty-year old camera design in 1975 was completely worthless
in comparison to a twenty-year old design in 2002.
Digital rewrites the life-cycles, though.
It has been said that the basic bicycle design was perfected in
the 1950s. Since then we've had 50 years of material and
manufacturing improvements, but the basic bicycle design remains
the same.
AG-Schnozz
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