how much technology do you get for your money?

[lophiomys]

Recently I got my hands on a brand new Lumix DMC GH-1 photo/video camera.
Playing with it I wondered how much technologie you get for EUR 1500.

This nifty thingy has
+ a big image sensor with ultrasonic wave dust removal and special cooling
+ 2 CPUs for realtime imaging functions
+ 2 HQ LCD screens: an internal electronic view finder, and an external swivel screen
+ a smart sensor which organizes the automatic switching between the two LCD displays
+ full HD video recording - - it is a fully featured video camera!
+ face recognition with automatic follow-the-face function (if a camera can do that, Big Brother is watching you for sure)
+ good stereo microphone including noise reduction
+ a 14-140 lens, means HQ optics inside
+ an auto focus with silent and quick ultra sonic motor
+ the whole device is quite small, felt rock solid and is manufactured to the micrometer
... amongst all the other standard features you have in a modern mid-range camera today.

I had the impression, that if you'd be able to attach a keyboard to it, you'd have a great computer.

Compare all that to what you get for the same money in terms of a Thinkpad.

I'd be curious to read your opinion about this comparison?

[killer]

That sounds a lot of money for a camera, although its spec is very high. Does it have a Leica lens? If so, that would explain the cost. IMO, the Leica company produces the best lenses in the world, however, feel free to shoot me down on that. My opinion is based on their spotting telescopes (Televids) which are the best I have ever used.

[lophiomys]

I do not want to get into a photo equipment war here,
as I do not know much about it, and it does not help the comparison in this topic.
For me as a non-professional all those lenses and camers are a technical marvel.

I got the GH-1 handed over from a professional photographer who bought it for a special on-the-road project, as his own best choice.
He is very happy with the standard lens on the GH-1 and also attached other (Mircro) Four Third lenses from Zuiko (prices around 2000 EUR!)
If you want to learn more about that, I'd recommend the review on dpreview.

I just looked up the prices - the Panasonic Vario HD 14-140 lens is about 900.- EUR, therefore the camera about 600 EUR.
Pushing the analogy, there would be room for a 900 EUR LCD display and a 600 EUR Thinkpad body.

I'm more interested in the comparison on how much high-tech you can get in the photo market compared to the laptop market for the same price.
There seems to be a huge gap!

[killer]

Quite understand your reply. I don't want a camera war either. I know that Panasonic use Leica lenses for some of their cameras and at 900 Euros for a lens I suspect that this is a Leica lens. That is good news, IMO, as you'll get stunning images. All you need are the cunning stunts to photograph. (I had to be careful to type that correctly )

Anyway, you get what you pay for. Usually the more you pay the better you get ... which is why we are Thinkpad users and not HP, Dell, or Acer users. I have always preferred to pay more for better quality which is why I enjoy good hi-fi, HD TV, and a Thinkpad.

[lophiomys]

Do we really get what we pay for, when we buy a more expensive Thinkpad nowadays? (consider HW and SW integration)
What features it would it have to have, if it should be at par in technologie offered by the carmera above?

[Puppy]

What features it would it have to have, if it should be at par in technologie offered by the carmera above?

Acceptable display quality.

As for the comparison with current digital cameras, it is a very good example. While new digital cameras are better with every new model, new ThinkPads (and notebooks in general) are going the other way round. Sad. I guess that the camera display quality is better than screens in any of new ThinkPads (T400s with 98:1 contrast ratio and similar jokes).

Another aspect is that you have broad selection of cameras starting with cheap models to very expensive ones where the price is in par with the quality delivered. This is what you no longer have with notebooks. Top 3000 USD ThinkPad delivers display with Ultra-Crappy technology exactly same (in case of Lenovo actually even worse than ...) like a 500 USD netbook. Where is the choice ?

The biggest camera producers also make the important components (sensors, lenses, image processors firmware) itself. It is just Lenovo who is still whining about "notebook display suppliers". Well, while they are not evidently willing to spent more than a 2.99 USD on the display component, the quality is as is. Can you imagine Canon or Nikon selling the same crap reverting in terms of quality almost ten years back telling their customers "we don't have better sensors" ?

[qviri]

As for the comparison with current digital cameras, it is a very good example. While new digital cameras are better with every new model, new ThinkPads (and notebooks in general) are going the other way round.

Right, it's not like we get faster CPUs or more RAM or bigger hard drives...

You are picking on one aspect of a complex product which is important to you and evidently a fairly small minority of users. Where is your complaint that Canon only manufactures one film SLR these days, one first introduced in 2000?

[Puppy]

Where is your complaint that Canon only manufactures one film SLR these days, one first introduced in 2000?

One is still more than zero ThinkPad models with ten-years-back-quality-display.

[ssd_thinkpad]

You are picking on one aspect of a complex product which is important to you and evidently a fairly small minority of users.

Regardeless how fast the product reacts to your input, there are only two alternatives it gives you direct feedback:

• by display
• by sound

Which is more important for the people remains questionable. But I do think it is the display. Why lenovo deproves (is it a word?) it over the time is beyound me. Ever seen a horrible looking website with good informations? A very informing but horrible presented speach? Fast service but worst presentation?