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What isn't clear is the impact this might have on the used-camera market. Used-camera market? In digital? Until recently, nobody would buy last year's model second-hand, because this year's brand-new at the same price is so much better.
But the rate of improvement, though still pronounced, is decelerating. It's reasonable to expect great advances ahead, but still, last year's models are 5 megapixels and up. Both Socha's Dimage 7Hi and my Dimage A1 are fives, with Sony CCDs. The hotshot photojournalist brought his along on a super-demanding photo shoot. What does that tell you about last year's model?
What it tells me is that a used-digicam market is not such a ludicrous notion as it was when last year's model made a VGA picture. If a used-camera market is forming, its formation could be affected by time bombs, actual or anticipated.
But are all defects created equal? My Dimage A1 has taken a lot of pictures since I received it, in New York's own humidity. New York being what it is, I've also stood in blizzards hand-holding the camera, and it survived to save the day in New Orleans. It did return from the trip, and I've used it since. Will I use it again? No reason to think not, as I would say it's been proved, having come through hell and high water and all.
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