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Well I remember when all cameras were totally manual. The meter suggested correct exposure but you had to make the settings - f-stop and shutter speed.

You learned to focus and to compose a photo.

You learned the relationship between light, film speed, f-stop and shutter speed.

You learned how to control Depth of Field and how to use it effectively and selectively.

You practiced "fast focusing" by standing beside the road and trying to focus on fast moving traffic coming towards you and snapping the shutter at just the right moment.

You learned to "read" a scene based on the light and what you wanted to accomplish and made the necessary changes.

You viewed a scene from different angles and perspectives before you committed a frame of film to it. You learned to see all the extraneous things that could adversely affect your photo. You developed a hatred of litterbugs. You developed an equal dislike of powerlines.

You learned to be selective about what you photographed. After all, you might have only 36 exposures unless you were carrying more film.

You subscribed to two or three photography magazines and read then cover to cover every month. You saved them for future reference.

You took classes and set up a black and white darkroom. You got goosebumps every time a print "came up" in the developing tray. You quickly learned that sepia toning was best done in the garage with doors and windows open (think rotten egg smell) since you were using a sulphur-based compound.

Cameras were made of metal and heavy and felt substantial. My MINOLTA XE-7 weighs 27 ounces without a lens. If attacked I feel confident I can beat the mugger senseless with it and then photgraph his bloody carcass.

Lenses were all glass and metal - and heavy.

You quickly learned to appreciate a comfortable wide neck strap.

You longed to be a Playboy photographer but knew the wife would use the XE-7 to knock some sense into you. :)

You and a friend tried wedding photography as a way to have extra money to buy more cameras and lenses. You paraphrased an old saying into "One can have too many cameras and lenses but one can never have enough."

My only complaint about digital photography is that it - IMO - encourages people to use a "shotgun" approach. They take 500 exposures and then spend hours winnowing out 40 or 50 worth keeping. I think photographers should adopt the old song "Slow down, you move too fast..." as their motto.

I will continue to use film until its no longer available. Am I anti-technology? Of course not. I simply like to practice photography as I have since 1971. Plus I like the looks I get when I'm out with one of my MINOLTA X-700's with a motor drive attached and a 70-210mm zoom. When I cart out my elderly Twin Lens Reflex the looks get even stranger.

What's the old saying? "Jack of all trades - master of none..."

I don't mind addon capabilities, if it doesn't minimize the prime task of my device. For example, I just upgraded my GPS to one that has a picture viewer, currency changer, and language translator built in. I know, I should have saved up for the blue tooth model to work with my cellphone. lol

BUT, I wouldn't have gotten that model if it was less of a GPS than the model I replaced.

Cellphones? I can live without an MP3 player (though my phone has one, never used) but the option of 1.3mp snapshots have been nice for times when my DSLR isn't hanging around my neck. And yes, I surf the web while waiting in line or on the bus.

But my camera is my camera. I want a dedicated "your image is my command" device that won't compromise with added bulk or added complications. And if it was pink, don't get me started.

One of the reasons I got an SLR a long time ago was so that I could change it (lenses) to fit what I want to photograph. That's the only kind of 'multipurpose' camera I'd want in my bag.

That reminds me of the not so old idea of the all-in-one television, you know, with a built in VCR and DVD player. They were usually more expensive than the regular stand alone television and were just gimmicky. Well, they sold like crazy, until people started finding out that if one thing breaks it meant usually the whole thing didn't work. What are you going to do with a TV-VCR combo if the VCR doesn't work?

The more things or functions you put in one device, the more things you will have that can break. Believe me, I know. Everyday I see the product of the 'reinvention of the wheel' and the over-engineering that goes into devices that seem to work in theory, but end up causing more problems than they solve.

So, to specifically answer your question, yes I can remember when cameras were for photography, but can you remember when phones were used to call people?

I want them to bring out a pink one with a 104inch LCD, lightweight, and smart.

Features would be automatic perfect exposure under any lighting situation, automatic artistic composition, automatic depth selection for the optimum image, automatic MP3 player that plays "girls on film or the theme from shalf or something appropriate to the mood of the image.

In camera it would turn shots black and white and any flowers or flying disks would be red or one colour. It would also automatically take average shots and make them poor shots by photoshopping them. Mainly any feature that doesnt help photographically would be helpful.

I think wheels would be good on one to, and a heater for those cold golden hour morning shots. Coffee and tea making facilities would be handy also.

The camera would automatically arrange lights and the tripod. I would get one much smarter and more artistic than me with more years of study programmed into it.

I hear its been announced but I cant find it in the shops.

Thanks Terisu

Love some of the answers above why dont they multi function like my car/houseboat/jet ski/Mp3 player?

EDIT: oh come on that linked question is good, what if they confuse the camera with a jetski and try to use it in the pool? no question is a silly question surely.

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Try Trick Photography Special Effects : http://tinyurl.com/ca9151oeIn

In spirit I fully agree with you. I love my Nikon DSLRs to bits. They do one thing and do it very well.

Let me relate a tale though. We are looking for a new house to move to. My PDA has a 2MP camera in it. This PDA received an email from my wife asking me to meet the agent at a certain time. I put the appointment on the calendar of the PDA. The PDA reminded me when to go. The email told me the address. The inbuilt GPS navigated me to the address. The inbuilt camera took photos of the house to show my wife (she didn't like it) I meant to take one of the cameras but I forgot.

My point is, that this PDA is an exceptionally valuable tool to help me with the variety of things I do in a day. It is kinda cool having all that in one device.

You may be very relieved to learn however that it is not pink!

Regards, ~~~~teef~~~~

My Kodak Z712 IS offers the complete conteol you are looking for, as well as 12x optical zoom. About $200 new, but may I suggest going for something newer? This camera is a few year old now, so you may want to go with something new and improved. :) Good luck!

Yes, I do remember. There's nothing wrong with change and progress. Things like autofocus, improved flash systems, and metering have made cameras much better.

The ability to record and playback video on some cameras means that users don't have to carry two devices.

I don't think you need to worry. Some devices will be "convergence devices"--all in one, from camera to cell phone to music player. These will be the Swiss Army Knives of devices. Other devices will be specialized, like digital SLRs. These will be the chef quality knives of digital photography.

None of us need to be afraid of change. We just need to know how to take advantage of it.

Why wouldn't you want an electrical device to do more than just take pictures? We have the technology, and someday, there will be very few standalone cameras, because it's technology that can be easily integrated into a device that can also make phone calls, play music and videos, etc. Why not have all of that in one? No more leaving your camera at home when you have a good shot...

That's like saying, remember when personal computers were for programming and typing word documents? Now everyone wants to be able to e-mail, surf the internet, watch videos, download music, play games, what is wrong with them.

I also remember having to change the flash cubes in cameras. My Camera is for photo purposes only. Any of my other stuff that can take photos is just icing.