The Death of Digital Photography as We Know It

[farmersteve]

As digital camera sales continue to slow and manufacturers struggle to excite consumers, the key players would do well to stop ignoring the rebirth of analogue media. The potential for growth is clear, and the opportunity to take film camera sales away from the second-hand market is staring camera makers in the face.

https://petapixel.com/2017/04/04/death-digital-photography-know/

 

[keenmaster486]

The market is ripe for a brand new, affordable "real" film camera (not instant, or a plastic toy camera) like a rangefinder or something. Fuji could easily make a compact, capable rangefinder and price it very competitively. They could aggressively market it as a camera for all those hip young Instax users who are looking for something a little more "pro"-ish. A major selling point to such people could be its economy compared to instant.

 

[BMbikerider]

I thought the title was a hoax, but no, it is actually something that is possible but the take-up will probably very slow.

The main problem I can see is the actual lack of places that can readily process the film and produce pictures. I cannot quote anthing about the USA but in England there is hardly a High Street that has a mini lab to drop your films into.
Not only that the people who may choose to do it themselves will possibly struggle to find someone somewhere who is available to pass on the skills

 

[canuhead]

maybe it's me but it seems like PP has been on a digital is dying kick lately. it's not dying but what's changing is what people are using to take photos. film will never recover enough to kill digital imo. use it, enjoy it and forget about these clickbait stories...

 

[Dali]

I am not sure that analog photography will take the full benefit of it. I see more and more people using their phone or tablet to take a snapshot. This certainly is a big hit to the camera makers.

 

[Pioneer]

A late April Fools Day story.

 

[Trail Images]

Many analog users I knew shifted to digital with resulting analog product losses and escalating costs. They will never return IMO.....

 

[Cholentpot]

The market is ripe for a brand new, affordable "real" film camera (not instant, or a plastic toy camera) like a rangefinder or something. Fuji could easily make a compact, capable rangefinder and price it very competitively. They could aggressively market it as a camera for all those hip young Instax users who are looking for something a little more "pro"-ish. A major selling point to such people could be its economy compared to instant.

XA5 mayhaps?

Or a film camera with a tiny cellphone sized sensor that allows a quick review, histogram and all the other digital goodies. A hybrid rangefinder...

 

[farmersteve]

I'm not a spring chicken but I notice that on APUG the average age seems to be much higher than some of the film groups on Facebook. I've seen the group go from a couple thousand to almost 30,000 members in less than 2 years. I don't think all those young kids necessarily want old cameras. Look at Instax! I think many would like a modern film camera that functions like a digital camera would be a boon. I bet Nikon takes the bait first...

 

[Chan Tran]

I'm not a spring chicken but I notice that on APUG the average age seems to be much higher than some of the film groups on Facebook. I've seen the group go from a couple thousand to almost 30,000 members in less than 2 years. I don't think all those young kids necessarily want old cameras. Look at Instax! I think many would like a modern film camera that functions like a digital camera would be a boon. I bet Nikon takes the bait first...

Yup Nikon could work with Kodak and create a film camera with an EVF and although it shoots film when you send the film in you only get digital images back. Kind of the new Kodak super 8 camera. That model would seem to attract young shooters.

 

[Agulliver]

I think there are a few issues at play here.

First, almost all digital cameras perform to at least an acceptable standard for 95% of users. An accomplished amateur or pro can pick up a £70 camera from a shop window and get decent photos with it. This wasn't the case with digital cameras even 10 years ago. Longevity of digital cameras in recent years has been much better than it was prior to 2005 or so. Put simply, people are generally satisfied with their cameras and don't buy new ones often.

Second, for a whole bunch of people their phone is now their camera. They're not buying cameras, prints or accessories.

Third, digital cameras are no longer something new and exciting, nor are they especially cool or hip.

So necessarily, money spent on digital photography is slowing. Heck, I use my DSLR and a compact digital and indeed my phone a lot...but the last time I actually bought any digital photo products was probably an SD card in 2014, and some printing paper in 2015.

Whereas there is a measurable upswing in the analogue photography market...sales of film are up....ditto chemicals, prices of used gear are increasing....which all means people are becoming interested again. Sure, it will never be as big as it was when your choice was 110, 135 or 120 (rather than film or digital)

Note also the significant niche that Fuji have nurtured with Instax.

I'm thinking that before 2019, somebody will bite the bullet and produce a mid spec film camera at an affordable price....comparable with a low-mid range DLSR or top end compact.

 

[faberryman]

Petapixel is drivel. They are a click bait machine.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Film market is so over saturated with used film cameras, it makes no sense to make new ones. Digital cameras market is almost the same. Old digital cameras are still working and still in use. Amount of photographers who would buy new cameras and lenses and use them to the dust is miniscule. Here is another small amount of gearheads who are at forums like P.O.T.N., where you are cool if you purchased new even if you are clueless and gift-less. And majority of buying digital cameras are buying and using them for decade or longer.
I can't convince my wife to update trashed 5MP P&S which is 10+ old. I can't convince myself to update 16 MP DLSR which is capable of ISO6400 images and was purchased as open box in the store almost ten years ago.
Plus, film P&S and digital P&S are replaced by mobile phones.

 

[Peter Schrager]

The analog equipment is old and getting older
If I was in the boardrooms of canon or nikon I would begin making at least one affordable film camera...someone is going to do it but it probably won't be the major players..maybe a Chinese company. ..just a thought
As an aside I didn't think the article was bs

 

[farmersteve]

Film market is so over saturated with used film cameras, it makes no sense to make new ones. Digital cameras market is almost the same. Old digital cameras are still working and still in use. Amount of photographers who would buy new cameras and lenses and use them to the dust is miniscule. Here is another small amount of gearheads who are at forums like P.O.T.N., where you are cool if you purchased new even if you are clueless and gift-less. And majority of buying digital cameras are buying and using them for decade or longer.
I can't convince my wife to update trashed 5MP P&S which is 10+ old. I can't convince myself to update 16 MP DLSR which is capable of ISO6400 images and was purchased as open box in the store almost ten years ago.
Plus, film P&S and digital P&S are replaced by mobile phones.

I completely disagree with this. Lomography is thriving. They continue to release new cameras all the time. Still nothing serious from them. Sure there are a certain segment of the population that seeks the retro thing and will buy old equipment, but as in the phonograph industry there has been a huge resurgence in vinyl albums and new turntables. Not sure how long it will last, but it might always be a niche product. So what if there is a thriving niche film industry, I think if Nikon or someone else doesn't step in, somebody like Lomography will take the leap to a serious film camera without them. My point is that I think there is now a viable industry for someone to create a mid range SLR or Rangefinder again. If only Voightlander had hung on...

 

[EdSawyer]

+1

Petapixel is drivel. They are a click bait machine.

 

[wiltw]

Cameras are merely vehicles for exposing film. Film emulsions are fewer and fewer in variety, you cannot get an 'accurate color' slide film any longer (no more EPN) So with fewer emulsions, what purpose is served by a new film camera, when it is increasingly difficult to get your films processed with any degree of consistent quality? 'Process your own' you say...getting harder to find places that sell processing chemistry. My love is for making my own Cibachrome prints, and you can't get that chemistry and paper anymore either.
Digital photography itself is not 'dead', what is happening is that simply the replacement digital camera market is not driven by the same furor of sensor improvement with simple increases in pixel count. So fewer new cameras are being sold to replace perfectly working but lower IQ (fewer pixels) cameras that are only 2 years old.

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

Does anybody think there's a correlation between the progression of digital technology and the rise in interest in wet plate collodion and alternative photographic processes?

 

[Cholentpot]

I completely disagree with this. Lomography is thriving. They continue to release new cameras all the time. Still nothing serious from them. Sure there are a certain segment of the population that seeks the retro thing and will buy old equipment, but as in the phonograph industry there has been a huge resurgence in vinyl albums and new turntables. Not sure how long it will last, but it might always be a niche product. So what if there is a thriving niche film industry, I think if Nikon or someone else doesn't step in, somebody like Lomography will take the leap to a serious film camera without them. My point is that I think there is now a viable industry for someone to create a mid range SLR or Rangefinder again. If only Voightlander had hung on...

It's not like a company would need to build a new lineup of lenses. A 35mm camera is not all that complex when compared to a DSLR. If the Soviets were making knockoff of Leicas way back when I don't see why someone can't blast a bunch of M2,3,4s out of China for a low price.

Some of us would like a new dependable camera. Sure I own 20+ SLRs but either the batteries are not available or very expensive or I have no clue if the shutter speeds and meter are calibrated. Every shot with every camera I own is a craps shoot.

 

[faberryman]

So what if there is a thriving niche film industry, I think if Nikon or someone else doesn't step in, somebody like Lomography will take the leap to a serious film camera without them. My point is that I think there is now a viable industry for someone to create a mid range SLR or Rangefinder again.

Nikon currently offers the F6 and F10 film cameras. I doubt they are flying off the shelves.

 

[Skai King]

Petapixel is drivel. They are a click bait machine.

Agreed. If it has words, it's a story PP will publish.

 

[Peter Schrager]

Nikon currently offers the F6 and F10 film cameras. I doubt they are flying off the shelves.

No something like the FM OR FE SERIES
DEPENDABLE LONG LASTING..EASY TO OPERATE

 

[Skiver101]

As digital camera sales continue to slow and manufacturers struggle to excite consumers, the key players would do well to stop ignoring the rebirth of analogue media. The potential for growth is clear, and the opportunity to take film camera sales away from the second-hand market is staring camera makers in the face.

https://petapixel.com/2017/04/04/death-digital-photography-know/

Re-introduce 'modern' versions of the most popular classic large format cameras with newer, lighter, interesting materials and colours; and more features. Surely that's financially viable ? I mean, it's just a box with holes at either end, isn't it ?
I'm imagining my Crown Graphic ressurected as a waterproof, indestructable titanium box with super accurate inbuilt metering aids, a new fantastic range of lens options, electronic flash innovations, multi-coloured interchangeable tactile grips ...etc. etc. - the options are endless, they could even attach a mobile phone !!

...the kids would love it.

JP

 

[rhmimac]

A long time ago I couldn't resist putting a similar question up:
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

I encounter many times an almost depleted 2nd hand market now in 2017. It's time to wake up canikonricoh.

 

[farmersteve]

Agreed. If it has words, it's a story PP will publish.

Usually I agree, but if you read the article, they did some pretty good in-depth analysis of the situation...