Frakencamera - Open Sourced DSLR

[comicIDIOT]

First came Linux, then came Firefox. Lastly came Android, Googles Open Source cellular phone. What's next to join the open-sourced party? A DSLR currently being built by Stanford.

But what does this mean for us, the photographer? Instead of paying 1000$ or more every time for new features we can either download that feature and install it to our camera or write the feature ourselves (with C++, I'd imagine.) We'd be able to take a sequence of shots, merge and tone map then to create an HDR image. Then we might be able to connect to a WiFi hot spot and upload this photo to Flickr.

Or we could have the camera perform edits such as a vignette, drop the clarity and add some warmth all in "Camera RAW." The software possibilities are endless, hardware will be more hard to come by. As of now, the open sourced camera is using Canon lenses to take photos. If the camera obtains a big enough share in the DSLR market companies such as Sigma & Tamron may jump in to this band wagon and create lenses.

[Saknika]

It sounds nice, but considering I'm not a big fan of Linux for the very reason that I like the warranty behind everything, I don't think I'd ever switch to something like this. And you can believe that those downloads are going to cost you oodles of dollars, and if not them, then the lenses or body. And eventually, the hardware will breakdown and need to be replaced... So I think I'll just stick with what I've got when the time comes for that to be released.

[comicIDIOT]

I can believe those downloads will cost money? What? Nope.
Nice thing about an open sourced program is that 99% of the programs are free since code-monkeys are usually the ones who create the add-ons and not companies. The 1% that cost something are usually scams. All the enhancements for FireFox are free, as far I as I know same with Android & Linux.

Stanford is trying to make the body under 1000$ and the lenses are lenses so prices will be like they are now.

[Saknika]

I still doubt I could trust it. I'm far happier with specific brand stuff. I think at least 50% or more photographers will be too, since the majority of us either can't code, or don't understand it, and thus they probably won't use it. Look at how difficult it is for some to accept the digital age. LOL

[comicIDIOT]

True, but there are people out there who are willing to accept these open standards.

They're usually cheap to maintain: OpenOffice.org & firefox are both free while Linux is fairly cheap to buy and Android is the most pricey of the four because it comes installed on a phone.

The user support is fantastic: script kiddies & code monkeys generally use open sourced software meaning if there isn't a feature they need, they make it and upload it to a common directory so it's easy for them to share and find extensions (it also means people like me, whom have no to little experience in the programming spectrum, can download these with fairly little effort).

While an open standard will probably never become the industry standard, the use of such software is, in fact, increasing:
OS Statistics - Linux, 4.2% (August 09)
Browser Statistics - FireFox, 47.4% (August 09)
Office Suite Statistics - OpenOffice.org, N/A
Cell Phone OS Statistics - Android, N/A

Meaning that in twenty years or so more products will be open to consumer manipulation. And if the open standard isn't regulated like the rail road was (and still is), we'll see advancements similar in speed to the advancements of the internet.