Cameras have become so expensive, I have only bought second hand gear for the past 5 or 6 years. I am currently using a Pentax K5 and left mirrorless cameras completely now
To me, the most obvious contributors to the shift in camera gear sales are the saturation of smart phones and the general acceptance on the part of social media users that the software capabilities tied to those smart phone cameras (e.g., fake bokeh, etc.) are "good enough" to avert any purchase of real photographic equipment. You've mentioned Pentax as a niche-market filler, and I think that is indicative of where any of the surviving companies will be within a few years. You'll truly have to be tapping the photography "purists" market if you're somebody like Pentax or Leica, or the sports photojournalism market if you are someone like Nikon, etc. I'd be scared to be a company like Olympus (er, OM), or Fujifilm or even Canon. Technology giants like Sony and Panasonic can always pivot away from camera manufacturing and still survive, but somebody like Canon or Fujifilm - I don't know.
I have to agree that the used market is firing on all cylinders! Which is great for anyone who cant afford the latest & greatest or that just loves to try out cameras from yesteryear!
The used market is atrocious in some countries though. For whatever reason, there are some cameras here in Australia that are more expensive used than new. Probably because a lot of them we don't get high stock levels.
Straight off the bat, love your videos Lee. Smart phone impact for sure, but all those millions of cameras sold are still out there. You are right people are still keen on buying older digital and even film cameras.
It is, I understand that for someone that's not really interested in photography the convince of having a good enough camera in their smart phone is all they will ever want or need. BUT I also think so many would actually enjoy the experience of using a compact camera that could lead to them picking up the hobby that we all know & love . . . Photography.
I think the decline in sales is multi-factored. For one, the cost of living vs wages is so out of whack, coupled with the high camera prices, many people just can't afford a brand new camera, so they go used. That doesn't generate money for the company, so, to recoup expenditures, they keep raising prices, which just keeps the circle of unaffordability and the used market going around and around. Not everyone who may want a camera, needs, or wants an interchangable lens camera. A well thought out compact camera that's not labelled as just for vlogging would probably do well in sales and be a proper alternative to a cell phone. Lack of innovation compared to Smartphone camera tech. Phones have built in AI that remove people and fill in the gap, allow computational shots done handheld for 2-6 seconds with no blur, plus instant sharing via text, social, cloud storage backup. Even using a camera manufacturer app to connect to the phone to achieve some of these things always ends up like this "Why would I bring a camera AND my phone to do that when I can just use my phone since it does all that on its own?". Unfortunately, the market will continue to diminish because of these factors. Unless one of them really steps up and solves at least some of these issues.
Yeah the price point is a big factor for sure. I bet that Samsung are really kicking themselves as they nearly got to that point, in making a "Smart Camera". Can you imagine having post processing apps in your camera & being able to share in an instant! It's a tough one to call, I think that the whole niching down thing might work for some but not for all.
EXACTLY! Smartphones have made the process of taking pictures as easy as it can get. And, everyone pays a pretty penny for their smartphone. Unless you are completely involved into a very niche of photography, like birds or motorsports, you don't NEED anything more than a smartphone. And to be honest, it also makes sense. Why carry around a dedicated camera bag when you have a pretty powerful tool already in your pocket? You can watch RUclips on it, listen to music, makes videos, take group selfies, photograph all your trips.. it's easy & convenient. For having experienced MANY times handing over a beginner-camera to a person who never used a camera, they get better results from a smartphone. Then you look at the cost of even getting into photography... So they have very little incentive on spending 1000$ on a camera kit that won't really get them more than what they already feel they are getting. You can show them nice photography and they love it, but to them, that's an ultra-dedicated hobby. Photography with dedicated camera equipment is a niche. ...and as you said, with the crazy cost of living, most are reducing outings and various luxuries to compensate. A hobby, such as photography, isn't "necessary" when you consider it all. Now, I'll be burried with my Pentax... so, good luck telling me smartphones do a good job... 😂
Hi Kobie, what you say is true. Add to that absolutely no outlet to show your work to anyone and complete apathy of any potential audience for your work and what's the point of it all? At least in the 1960's the family was polite enough to sit through grandpa's slide shows. (And the high level of quality of Kodachrome slides projected on a 4x5 foot screen would SHOCK most people today!) The only hope of people seeing anything you shot for 5 seconds is on your phone. It happens to me all the time: I stand there while someone flips through 1000's of images on their phone as they search for a crap image they want to show me because I'm standing behind my 8x10 film camera, or my K1 Mark II on a tripod... 🙂🙂
Hi Lee, Peak camera happened 10 years ago. Now all that is improving is marginal AF, speed and video improvements. Bragging rights doesn't even work, because most people don't know and don't care. And prices are getting stupid for features that most don't need or want. Those that really know and care, know a DSLR is preferable to an EVF for serious work. I'm really curious what the K1 Mark III is going to look like. But a K1 mark II and the LTD lenses for landscapes and the K3 Mark III for sports and an LX for film work and most people would learn photography and produce better work than with any of the gear they're currently using.
Yeah I'm not a fan of the EVF on my Canon R50, granted it is an entry level mirroless camera but I just find it weird. I've become use to the OVF especially in the K3iii it's just a joy to use. I agree there's not really any new "must have" features that warrant upgrading at the moment, at least not for myself. I still need to get my hand on a K1 or K1ii at some point if for nothing else just to experience the files that camera produces!
@@LeeIveson The K1's are really something special. A little big and heavy, but I actually like the interface better than on the K3 III. It's more Pentax and less Ricoh if that makes any sense. The K3 III is more Ricoh. Still the best in the industry, but not as good as the old school Pentax layout and screens.
I think like many have already said; smartphones are easy & convenient. Gone are the days where you needed that disposable point & shoot for that beach day, or that DSLR for those higher quality memories. People want easy & convenient. Dedicated "photography", as a hobby, has become a niche. I think that's ok too. Companies need to adapt and offer special products to attract different mindsets. I personally like the approach that Pentax and Fujifilm have, more focused on the artsy and street stuff, with lots of in-camera film-like modes and lenses like the Limited series (for Pentax) that are nicely machined bodies... photography, as a hobby, is also a tactile experience for myself.
Yeah, it's hard to tell what they're gonna do with cameras nowadays. I've seen some pictures of the Aurora we just had with cellphones. Amazing. You're 55 to 300 Hasn't fallen apart yet.
I'm not worried. The chart includes point-and-shoot. If you look at just interchangeable-lens cameras, there are similar sales now compared to 2010. And there are *more* sales now than in the 2000-2008 period, before the smartphones! So for serious cameras, we're still in a golden age. It's the cheap point-and-shoot market that collapsed.
True, what's funny is that the used market for point & shoots is ramping up at the moment. I've noticed price hikes over the last year or so, probably down to all the YT reviews.
Hi Lee, I'm one of the problems for the manufacturers, In the time of the sales decline I have bought one "new" camera, My K10D, one almost new x100F, but used, K7, K5, K3, K3II,. Fuji, XE-3, xPro3 XT3, x100V. I still have the K3II and XT3. I suppose that I support the new market by buying used but .....
My philosophy on cameras seems to value capturing moments and memories, perhaps seeing photography as a way to freeze time and preserve experiences. I appreciate the artistry and technical aspects of photography, aiming to capture the essence and beauty of my subjects. There might also be a belief in the power of photography to communicate emotions, stories, and perspectives, reflecting my passion for both photography and the art of storytelling. Thanks for sharing.
I'd like to see the stats for just DSLR and mirrorless camera sales because a lot of point and shoot cameras would have been made obsolete by phones but not the better cameras.
There is also the fact that technology is reaching or has reached a plateau. Leave out for a moment specific photography genres with specific needs, birding, high speed sports, etc. For general usage, but even professional work in non extremely demanding situations like wedding for example, we have reached a point where almost every camera you can buy, even entry level, has "good enough" core performance: AF, general image quality, that it could do the job. Even relatively "old" MLs from 6+ years ago can be "good enough" for most. This slows down the need to upgrade camera bodies for a large slice of the market. So manufacturers have to distinguish their products by pushing specific niches where there is still demand for "more performance". So new models are all heavily marketed towards "wildlife" , more speed, etc.
It’s all AI oriented towards let the camera do everything, that’s not far away either. Battery cars vs combustion engines the petrol engines will be around for a long time yet battery powered vehicles just don’t cut the mustard just yet. The point you make is a good one Lee, I think it is safe to say many people will want to practice their craft and not leave it all to the camera. Hopefully that’s the way it will generally go, and give a bit of a chance to a very high quality manufacturer like Pentax. By the way when you were walking across the field it was minted to hear the skylark’s singing. I stay in a horrible part of Scotland where it was all coal and shale mines , but we still had plenty of wildlife. The coal mines disappeared and along came the M8 motorway no longer have the Skylark’s no longer have partridges, no longer have snipes or curlews. So progress is not always a good thing Sir.
I agree mate, the AI movement seems to have come a long way in a very short period of time. I still say it's good to work with it rather than against (defiantly for paid work) but it is crazy how good that stuff is already! I really don't want to lose the passion for photography so that's probably why I'm still shooting DSLR's they at least make you think a little more about things I feel. It's funny you mention the coal mines from your area, as it's very similar around where I live in County Durham which has a deep coal mining history, it was lovely to hear the birds on the walk out with the camera, signalling that spring is FINALLY here it seems. Cheers
The big manufacturers are not going anywhere & still advancing mirror less tech rapidly. Canon have been focusing on lower end cameras the last few years. I think had they not gone mirror less the situation would be worse as there would not be the new tech so you would not need to replace your dslr. Realistically if you upgraded to the Pentax K3 mark iii the upgrades would be nowhere near say the Nikon Z8.
i suppose the compact camera buyers have been replaced by mobile phone users , and then theres so many good second hand cameras available,that theres less of a market for new digital cameras
Concerned? Yes and No. Consumers are not buying as many cameras because of cell phones. This seems a good opportunity to get back to camera manufacturers getting back to focusing on photographers. Plus - the resurgence in film. Pentax is a good example as they have always been known as the manufacturer that focused on the photographer and the photographic experience. To some extent, I think it would be nice for Nikon and Canon and Sony to get back to that focus of designing cameras for photographers instead of mass producing cameras solely for the sake of selling cameras en-mase that really never get used to their potential. Cell phones are great for so many people and families for day to day - honestly, even for me on a random moment out and about. It would be nice to buy actual cameras that are designed for me to do true photography and not have to pick through 1,000 models that are focused as doing things my cell phone can do to get to that one camera that actually has me as a photographer in mind.
Cell phones have their place 100% especially anything that's from the last 5 years or so. I get what your saying with Canon, Nikon & Sony churning out model after new model camera, I think that's why I like picking up old DSLR's to try out! They really make you think about your photography rather than it being the cameras decision. Granted the benefits of mirrorless cameras with all the tech is brilliant, especially for working photographers but when it comes to using a camera in my spare time I love nothing more than playing around with my DSLR's old & new models. Cheers
Lee A very good question if i had it to do again would i buy a DSLR along with my smartphone. I know i can take pictures my camera that my smartphone would struggle or take would not be able to take i do photography as a hobby not as a job its for my own personal enjoyment. I like the challenge of seeing if i can get the shot with my camera .
I can say that I don't disagree, it's nice to see new camera products coming out once and awhile with new features, and have the ability to do great things. But I've seen in big stores, such as Walmart, BestBuy, and target, where their decreasing their camera sections and selling most of the more expensive stuff online. With that said, I recently went to a convention and I had a chance to take my Canon 90D with a 24-105mm F/4 L lens and it did surprisingly good, but after that I plan on using my Pentax cameras for conventions as they come out cleaner than canon on high ISO. The fact that the camera market is in decline doesn't surprise me anymore, I've accepted that but I still don't like it.
We don't really have too many stores over here that sell cameras to be honest 😔 I've had the same high iso problem with my 7DII, I think its more noticeable as that's one of Pentax's strengths.
@@LeeIveson Very true, in spite of having 32.5 MP I found that even at 1600 ISO the images looked noisy and had colors that seemed off. Rather than my Pentax KP, I had it at 3200 ISO with few issues and the images just looked amazing. So, I agree that Pentax does do very well in terms of cleaner images.
Well, maybe it was exactly those peak camera days that weren't sustainable. Digital cameras are a by now a mature technology, the market is quite saturated, and many who weren't all that deep into photography in the first place have reverted to their cell phones for their imaging needs. The numbers will likely stabilize before they reach zero bottom, and manufacturers will go on trying to sell more premium models, where profit margins are higher. Some, the smaller players, will try to survive in niches, and, again, some may well succeed in that. What causes me more concern than whether there will be dedicated cameras to buy is actually how shallow people have become in engaging with photographs. Little seems to stand out, conformity rules, everyone has seen a million and a half images of iconic places, yet spends ridiculous parts of their lives quick-swiping through their smartphone feeds, without really looking at anything ... But guess what, I did like the heart-felt photos you shared from your little walk, Lee.
I never thought about it that way, maybe it's a classic case of the "rise & fall"? Thanks mate I enjoyed being out with the camera just because, plus its always nice this time of the year!
@@LeeIveson No doubt, things haven't got easier for the industry, but as long as we photographers insist on using dedicated cameras that are both capable and enjoyable to use, they will be produced. If something like the K-3 III Monochrome - a camera that "shouldn't exist" - finds buyers, not all can be lost. The more I get to use my Mark III regular version, the more I appreciate the love of photography that its designers poured into it.
![Chino Pacas - Modo Capone (with Drake & Fuerza Regida) [Video Oficial]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/zjv8TQ0gBkg/mqdefault.jpg)
Cameras have become so expensive, I have only bought second hand gear for the past 5 or 6 years. I am currently using a Pentax K5 and left mirrorless cameras completely now
Interesting that you left mirroless cameras to go back to DSLRs.
To me, the most obvious contributors to the shift in camera gear sales are the saturation of smart phones and the general acceptance on the part of social media users that the software capabilities tied to those smart phone cameras (e.g., fake bokeh, etc.) are "good enough" to avert any purchase of real photographic equipment. You've mentioned Pentax as a niche-market filler, and I think that is indicative of where any of the surviving companies will be within a few years. You'll truly have to be tapping the photography "purists" market if you're somebody like Pentax or Leica, or the sports photojournalism market if you are someone like Nikon, etc. I'd be scared to be a company like Olympus (er, OM), or Fujifilm or even Canon. Technology giants like Sony and Panasonic can always pivot away from camera manufacturing and still survive, but somebody like Canon or Fujifilm - I don't know.
Fast turnover of new models means that there are loads of cracking hardly used second-hand cameras/lenses out there.
Yep! The used camera market is dangerous & GAS is real 😂📷
I am 60 and I have all the gear I will ever need to keep taking pictures and making videos until I am gone. I don't need the new cameras.
It's being gobbled up by the used market. I have yet to buy a body new from a manufacturer.
I have to agree that the used market is firing on all cylinders! Which is great for anyone who cant afford the latest & greatest or that just loves to try out cameras from yesteryear!
The used market is atrocious in some countries though.
For whatever reason, there are some cameras here in Australia that are more expensive used than new.
Probably because a lot of them we don't get high stock levels.
Straight off the bat, love your videos Lee. Smart phone impact for sure, but all those millions of cameras sold are still out there. You are right people are still keen on buying older digital and even film cameras.
It's almost like old digital cameras are becoming what film was. And thanks I really appreciate it 👍
One must wonder ? At a bare minimum, the future of compact / point amd shoot cameras…………. Irrespective of image quality.
Sad state of affairs really
It is, I understand that for someone that's not really interested in photography the convince of having a good enough camera in their smart phone is all they will ever want or need. BUT I also think so many would actually enjoy the experience of using a compact camera that could lead to them picking up the hobby that we all know & love . . . Photography.
I think the decline in sales is multi-factored. For one, the cost of living vs wages is so out of whack, coupled with the high camera prices, many people just can't afford a brand new camera, so they go used. That doesn't generate money for the company, so, to recoup expenditures, they keep raising prices, which just keeps the circle of unaffordability and the used market going around and around. Not everyone who may want a camera, needs, or wants an interchangable lens camera. A well thought out compact camera that's not labelled as just for vlogging would probably do well in sales and be a proper alternative to a cell phone. Lack of innovation compared to Smartphone camera tech. Phones have built in AI that remove people and fill in the gap, allow computational shots done handheld for 2-6 seconds with no blur, plus instant sharing via text, social, cloud storage backup. Even using a camera manufacturer app to connect to the phone to achieve some of these things always ends up like this "Why would I bring a camera AND my phone to do that when I can just use my phone since it does all that on its own?".
Unfortunately, the market will continue to diminish because of these factors. Unless one of them really steps up and solves at least some of these issues.
Yeah the price point is a big factor for sure. I bet that Samsung are really kicking themselves as they nearly got to that point, in making a "Smart Camera". Can you imagine having post processing apps in your camera & being able to share in an instant! It's a tough one to call, I think that the whole niching down thing might work for some but not for all.
@@LeeIveson Yup, the Galaxy series cameras were WAY ahead of their time. As was the NX 1.
EXACTLY!
Smartphones have made the process of taking pictures as easy as it can get. And, everyone pays a pretty penny for their smartphone. Unless you are completely involved into a very niche of photography, like birds or motorsports, you don't NEED anything more than a smartphone. And to be honest, it also makes sense. Why carry around a dedicated camera bag when you have a pretty powerful tool already in your pocket? You can watch RUclips on it, listen to music, makes videos, take group selfies, photograph all your trips.. it's easy & convenient.
For having experienced MANY times handing over a beginner-camera to a person who never used a camera, they get better results from a smartphone. Then you look at the cost of even getting into photography... So they have very little incentive on spending 1000$ on a camera kit that won't really get them more than what they already feel they are getting. You can show them nice photography and they love it, but to them, that's an ultra-dedicated hobby.
Photography with dedicated camera equipment is a niche. ...and as you said, with the crazy cost of living, most are reducing outings and various luxuries to compensate. A hobby, such as photography, isn't "necessary" when you consider it all.
Now, I'll be burried with my Pentax... so, good luck telling me smartphones do a good job... 😂
Hi Kobie, what you say is true. Add to that absolutely no outlet to show your work to anyone and complete apathy of any potential audience for your work and what's the point of it all? At least in the 1960's the family was polite enough to sit through grandpa's slide shows. (And the high level of quality of Kodachrome slides projected on a 4x5 foot screen would SHOCK most people today!) The only hope of people seeing anything you shot for 5 seconds is on your phone. It happens to me all the time: I stand there while someone flips through 1000's of images on their phone as they search for a crap image they want to show me because I'm standing behind my 8x10 film camera, or my K1 Mark II on a tripod... 🙂🙂
Hi Lee, Peak camera happened 10 years ago. Now all that is improving is marginal AF, speed and video improvements. Bragging rights doesn't even work, because most people don't know and don't care. And prices are getting stupid for features that most don't need or want. Those that really know and care, know a DSLR is preferable to an EVF for serious work. I'm really curious what the K1 Mark III is going to look like. But a K1 mark II and the LTD lenses for landscapes and the K3 Mark III for sports and an LX for film work and most people would learn photography and produce better work than with any of the gear they're currently using.
Yeah I'm not a fan of the EVF on my Canon R50, granted it is an entry level mirroless camera but I just find it weird. I've become use to the OVF especially in the K3iii it's just a joy to use. I agree there's not really any new "must have" features that warrant upgrading at the moment, at least not for myself. I still need to get my hand on a K1 or K1ii at some point if for nothing else just to experience the files that camera produces!
@@LeeIveson The K1's are really something special. A little big and heavy, but I actually like the interface better than on the K3 III. It's more Pentax and less Ricoh if that makes any sense. The K3 III is more Ricoh. Still the best in the industry, but not as good as the old school Pentax layout and screens.
I think like many have already said; smartphones are easy & convenient. Gone are the days where you needed that disposable point & shoot for that beach day, or that DSLR for those higher quality memories. People want easy & convenient.
Dedicated "photography", as a hobby, has become a niche. I think that's ok too. Companies need to adapt and offer special products to attract different mindsets. I personally like the approach that Pentax and Fujifilm have, more focused on the artsy and street stuff, with lots of in-camera film-like modes and lenses like the Limited series (for Pentax) that are nicely machined bodies... photography, as a hobby, is also a tactile experience for myself.
Those LTD lenses are a thing of beauty 😍
Yeah, it's hard to tell what they're gonna do with cameras nowadays. I've seen some pictures of the Aurora we just had with cellphones. Amazing.
You're 55 to 300 Hasn't fallen apart yet.
I was impressed by shots taken of the Aurora with phones too! The 55-300 is still going strong 💪
I'm not worried. The chart includes point-and-shoot. If you look at just interchangeable-lens cameras, there are similar sales now compared to 2010. And there are *more* sales now than in the 2000-2008 period, before the smartphones! So for serious cameras, we're still in a golden age. It's the cheap point-and-shoot market that collapsed.
True, what's funny is that the used market for point & shoots is ramping up at the moment. I've noticed price hikes over the last year or so, probably down to all the YT reviews.
Hi Lee, I'm one of the problems for the manufacturers, In the time of the sales decline I have bought one "new" camera, My K10D, one almost new x100F, but used, K7, K5, K3, K3II,. Fuji, XE-3, xPro3 XT3, x100V. I still have the K3II and XT3. I suppose that I support the new market by buying used but .....
Me & you both! To be honest it's a chain/cycle no different to car sales really.
My philosophy on cameras seems to value capturing moments and memories, perhaps seeing photography as a way to freeze time and preserve experiences. I appreciate the artistry and technical aspects of photography, aiming to capture the essence and beauty of my subjects. There might also be a belief in the power of photography to communicate emotions, stories, and perspectives, reflecting my passion for both photography and the art of storytelling. Thanks for sharing.
Yes story telling is a key part of photography for me too, those tend to be my favourite images.
I'd like to see the stats for just DSLR and mirrorless camera sales because a lot of point and shoot cameras would have been made obsolete by phones but not the better cameras.
There is also the fact that technology is reaching or has reached a plateau. Leave out for a moment specific photography genres with specific needs, birding, high speed sports, etc. For general usage, but even professional work in non extremely demanding situations like wedding for example, we have reached a point where almost every camera you can buy, even entry level, has "good enough" core performance: AF, general image quality, that it could do the job. Even relatively "old" MLs from 6+ years ago can be "good enough" for most. This slows down the need to upgrade camera bodies for a large slice of the market. So manufacturers have to distinguish their products by pushing specific niches where there is still demand for "more performance". So new models are all heavily marketed towards "wildlife" , more speed, etc.
It’s all AI oriented towards let the camera do everything, that’s not far away either. Battery cars vs combustion engines the petrol engines will be around for a long time yet battery powered vehicles just don’t cut the mustard just yet. The point you make is a good one Lee, I think it is safe to say many people will want to practice their craft and not leave it all to the camera. Hopefully that’s the way it will generally go, and give a bit of a chance to a very high quality manufacturer like Pentax. By the way when you were walking across the field it was minted to hear the skylark’s singing. I stay in a horrible part of Scotland where it was all coal and shale mines , but we still had plenty of wildlife. The coal mines disappeared and along came the M8 motorway no longer have the Skylark’s no longer have partridges, no longer have snipes or curlews. So progress is not always a good thing Sir.
I agree mate, the AI movement seems to have come a long way in a very short period of time. I still say it's good to work with it rather than against (defiantly for paid work) but it is crazy how good that stuff is already! I really don't want to lose the passion for photography so that's probably why I'm still shooting DSLR's they at least make you think a little more about things I feel. It's funny you mention the coal mines from your area, as it's very similar around where I live in County Durham which has a deep coal mining history, it was lovely to hear the birds on the walk out with the camera, signalling that spring is FINALLY here it seems. Cheers
The big manufacturers are not going anywhere & still advancing mirror less tech rapidly. Canon have been focusing on lower end cameras the last few years. I think had they not gone mirror less the situation would be worse as there would not be the new tech so you would not need to replace your dslr. Realistically if you upgraded to the Pentax K3 mark iii the upgrades would be nowhere near say the Nikon Z8.
i suppose the compact camera buyers have been replaced by mobile phone users , and then theres so many good second hand cameras available,that theres less of a market for new digital cameras
Yeah I could agree with you on that.
Concerned? Yes and No. Consumers are not buying as many cameras because of cell phones. This seems a good opportunity to get back to camera manufacturers getting back to focusing on photographers. Plus - the resurgence in film. Pentax is a good example as they have always been known as the manufacturer that focused on the photographer and the photographic experience. To some extent, I think it would be nice for Nikon and Canon and Sony to get back to that focus of designing cameras for photographers instead of mass producing cameras solely for the sake of selling cameras en-mase that really never get used to their potential. Cell phones are great for so many people and families for day to day - honestly, even for me on a random moment out and about. It would be nice to buy actual cameras that are designed for me to do true photography and not have to pick through 1,000 models that are focused as doing things my cell phone can do to get to that one camera that actually has me as a photographer in mind.
Cell phones have their place 100% especially anything that's from the last 5 years or so. I get what your saying with Canon, Nikon & Sony churning out model after new model camera, I think that's why I like picking up old DSLR's to try out! They really make you think about your photography rather than it being the cameras decision. Granted the benefits of mirrorless cameras with all the tech is brilliant, especially for working photographers but when it comes to using a camera in my spare time I love nothing more than playing around with my DSLR's old & new models. Cheers
Lee
A very good question if i had it to do again would i buy a DSLR along with my smartphone. I know i can take pictures my camera that my smartphone would struggle or take would not be able to take i do photography as a hobby not as a job its for my own personal enjoyment. I like the challenge of seeing if i can get the shot with my camera .
Yeah nothing beats a "real camera" even if it's just for the experience
I can say that I don't disagree, it's nice to see new camera products coming out once and awhile with new features, and have the ability to do great things. But I've seen in big stores, such as Walmart, BestBuy, and target, where their decreasing their camera sections and selling most of the more expensive stuff online. With that said, I recently went to a convention and I had a chance to take my Canon 90D with a 24-105mm F/4 L lens and it did surprisingly good, but after that I plan on using my Pentax cameras for conventions as they come out cleaner than canon on high ISO. The fact that the camera market is in decline doesn't surprise me anymore, I've accepted that but I still don't like it.
We don't really have too many stores over here that sell cameras to be honest 😔 I've had the same high iso problem with my 7DII, I think its more noticeable as that's one of Pentax's strengths.
@@LeeIveson Very true, in spite of having 32.5 MP I found that even at 1600 ISO the images looked noisy and had colors that seemed off. Rather than my Pentax KP, I had it at 3200 ISO with few issues and the images just looked amazing. So, I agree that Pentax does do very well in terms of cleaner images.
Well, maybe it was exactly those peak camera days that weren't sustainable. Digital cameras are a by now a mature technology, the market is quite saturated, and many who weren't all that deep into photography in the first place have reverted to their cell phones for their imaging needs. The numbers will likely stabilize before they reach zero bottom, and manufacturers will go on trying to sell more premium models, where profit margins are higher. Some, the smaller players, will try to survive in niches, and, again, some may well succeed in that. What causes me more concern than whether there will be dedicated cameras to buy is actually how shallow people have become in engaging with photographs. Little seems to stand out, conformity rules, everyone has seen a million and a half images of iconic places, yet spends ridiculous parts of their lives quick-swiping through their smartphone feeds, without really looking at anything ... But guess what, I did like the heart-felt photos you shared from your little walk, Lee.
I never thought about it that way, maybe it's a classic case of the "rise & fall"?
Thanks mate I enjoyed being out with the camera just because, plus its always nice this time of the year!
@@LeeIveson No doubt, things haven't got easier for the industry, but as long as we photographers insist on using dedicated cameras that are both capable and enjoyable to use, they will be produced. If something like the K-3 III Monochrome - a camera that "shouldn't exist" - finds buyers, not all can be lost. The more I get to use my Mark III regular version, the more I appreciate the love of photography that its designers poured into it.