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I suppose it depends wether you believe that....some of the overcomplication of metering, focus, in camera file adjustment etc leaves me cold...I often wonder how we have managed over the last 100 yrs plus to take sharp, emotive and beautiful images.
Quote: some of the overcomplication of metering, focus, in camera file adjustment etc
It's only as complicated as you want it to be! You can set auto-everything on most modern cameras, and just press the button if you wish. 
100 or even 50 years ago it was much more complicated.
Ironically I find this more true of the entry level cameras than the DSLR ones. In DSLRs you can still set it to manual exposure and manual focus, record RAW and make the shooting experience as simple as possible and still get great results. I have a camera config for Aperture priority, with centre spot AF, single shot point that is simple and delightful to use.
I do agree if you pick up many modern compacts and try to take control it turns to a nightmare of interface screens. Its why I like the S90/95 cameras. Aperture on the lens ring, exposure compensation on the rear, my choice of auto IS ranges and off you go. No harder to use than my 1955 rangefinder.
I still handle some of the latest camera bodies and read the reviews and tests and feel that many of the major new features were done just because the makers could rather than a need or a real advance.
Maybe I should judge new kit by the size and weight of the instruction manual...thats unless its cd rom only!!!!!!
Of course another major change in camera retailing over the last few years has been that as cameras have become more akin to electronic equipment, they have indeed begun to be sold more and more by, unsurprisingly, electronic retailers such as Comet, PC World etc. Whether the knowledge levels of the shop assistants in such stores are comparable to those in a bespoke photographic retailer is, I guess, a matter of individuals and their training, what they bring to their job and what they are expected to offer their customers. Some will be lads and lasses doing fill-in jobs while waiting to go to uni, others will be trying to build a serious career.
Quote: Of course another major change in camera retailing over the last few years has been that as cameras have become more akin to electronic equipment, they have indeed begun to be sold more and more by, unsurprisingly, electronic retailers such as Comet, PC World etc. Whether the knowledge levels of the shop assistants in such stores are comparable to those in a bespoke photographic retailer is, I guess, a matter of individuals and their training, what they bring to their job and what they are expected to offer their customers. Some will be lads and lasses doing fill-in jobs while waiting to go to uni, others will be trying to build a serious career.
And so the specialist retailers retreat the the web and those that already know what they want order directly from them. The information Gap is filled by review sites like ePz that help us evaluate and select this new equipment.
The fact is that we dictate pretty much what shops survive and which die by our shopping habits. I used to own a mobile phone business that gave out specialised advice and watched the advice being used to buy from chain stores ... Even on occasions for more than I sold them. If we all shopped at independent retailers then they would still be here in numbers. I see many people, who slag off Tesco, shopping there :0) A phrase I use on many occasions is ... 'We get what we deserve'.
The D800 in the UK is on about 2 months back order - it is a very popular camera.
With DSLR's it is easy to check if it has been used if "sold as new" - check the file number of the first shot you take in the EXIF data.
Quote: With DSLR's it is easy to check if it has been used if "sold as new" - check the file number of the first shot you take in the EXIF data.
Supposing it's been set up to restore the file number to zero, each time you empty the card?
Quote: Supposing it's been set up to restore the file number to zero, each time you empty the card?
My understanding with Nikon is you can change or reset folders, but not file numbers.
Since the thread started Jacobs has gone from the high street 
In the North and North East the "retail shop" situation is now dire.
As regards seeing and handling high end equipment from camera bags to DSLR's there is no no-one in the major Newcastle conurbation.
In the Leeds Conurbation there is only Dale, plus Harrison well south at Sheffield.
In Manchester there seems only Calumet plus Wilkinson well north at Preston.
Taking the D800 as an example the only chance to handle one in 40% of the England by area has been Calumet Manchester Nikon of Spring open days - assuming you could get to these mid week events.
In the context of the OP maybe Nikon and Canon should hold more launch events.
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