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Use Flickr's Camera Finder to see how a camera performs in real life
Flickr is one of those websites that are so chock-full of stuff (whether it is features or just images), I almost always find something cool when I go prowling around in it. And the other day I found out about something which many of you may know, but was certainly new for me: Flickr's Camera Finder.
When you take a photo, the camera includes its own make and model, as well as a whole bunch of other data, into the image file as metadata (EXIF, in camera-nerd parlance). When you then upload said photo to Flickr, the site automatically knows what was the exposure level, did you use the flash or not, and of course, the exact camera make and model used to take the photo!
Approaching the problem from the other side, when you want to buy a new camera, it's very easy to get its exact specs, as well as insanely detailed reviews from DPReview and the like. And while that is an important step, it certainly doesn't give you the whole picture (get it? Ha!)
One of the most important questions to answer is "what kind of pictures does this thing take when handled by a non-pro, in day-to-day conditions?" And that is exactly what the Camera Finder lets you find out. The tool lets you browse endless amounts of photos taken with the exact camera you're thinking of buying. It also has one of my favorite features in web tools generally: human-readable URLs. To see how my own camera is rapidly declining in popularity, you can just go to http://www.flickr.com/cameras/canon/eos_digital_rebel_xti/.
Now, if only they would add the same thing, but for lenses ("Lens finder"), that would truly take things to the next level.
Comments
3
Subscribe to commentskevjohnMay 4th 2010 3:34PM
You don't get out much do you? I mean out on the Internet. First it was the humorous "hey, have you heard about UrbanDictionary?" post, now this.
There's a better site, IMO, for camera research called pbase.com. Same amount of EXIF info available (which is up to the user to share or not share), but a less Flickr-y layout.
james 42May 4th 2010 9:38PM
The problem with this post is that it works off the assumption that the camera will have much effect on the quality of the image. Cameras don't make great photo, great photographers do. An pro level camera will not let you take better pictures, the only thing that can do that is experience.
A great camera can make it easier for a great photographer to make a great photograph but the great camera can't make a great photograph by itself.
But, that does not make the EXIF feature of Flickr any less fun. Here's a fun fact, if you upload an unedited JPG image to Flickr, you get a lot more EXIF data than if you edit and save it before uploading. Including (at least for Nikon DSLRs) the number of shutter actuations.
masongreennMay 5th 2010 9:06AM
Yeah!! I have used it and I found it very useful tool on flickr. I am a professional photographer and I have to check the quality of photos on regular basis. This tool is gonna help me in this a lot.
http://cleancolonpro.net/