'Niche use' cameras? Do you have specific needs of a camera?

[snotrag]

Hi guys, after a little guidance here. I've been set a project to look at a camera with a 'niche' or specific use.

Rather than the usual high end, SLR types, or the ultra-stylish, ultra-small compacts, does anyone wish they had a camera that was a bit different?

The obvious one to me is the sports use, hardwearing, water/weather resistant, usable with gloves, that kind of thing, or alternatively, a camera designed to be used by a child?

Anyone got any input?

[poah]

I wish my dSLR would give me the results I get from my bronica lol

Edited by poah on Thursday 11th October 21:50

[fluffnik]

How about a spherical fisheye camera for making QTVR?

185° lens, circular ~6MP sensor, auto-bracketing for HDR, a rotating base with 90° clickstops and a leveling bubble on top.

[aspender]

There are quite a few niche/cult cameras that seem to be popular in certain circles. Holga and Lomo spring to mind.

[Scalper]

how about a nice 16x20 view camera for some nice large platinum contact prints

you can hardly go more niche than that

[VxDuncan]

Mine gets a fair amount of astrophotography. Low noise, high sensitivity, alibility to cancel in camera noise reduction a must. Other thing is red sensitivity (to Ha emmisions). Most DSLRs have poor IR response so many people take the IR filter off the front of the sensor. Canon made the 20Da esp. for this market with live view and extra red sensitivity.

Other niche is forensic use, where UV and IR sensitivity are both increased - I believe Fuji make a model specially for this.