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March 10, 2007
The camera business has become the consumer electronics business. Companies like Sony, Panasonic and Samsung, giants of this field, see the camera as being no different than other electronic devices. The shift to digital that has taken place means that few pros are shooting film any more, whilst sales of medium format cameras are in decline, and have been for several years. Bronica is gone, Contax is gone, and if industry rumours are to be believed, Mamiya isn't in the best of shape.
Gary Sauer-Thompson, Boatshed, Second Valley, 2006
I mentioned pros above--- that implies a distinction between amateurs and professional photographers. In the amateur category is everyone who doesn't make their living from photography, and in the professional category Iincludes everyone that does. Simple but effective. I'm an amateur and the economics is a huge problem now that the digital photographic era is now in full swing, given the need to re-tool camera systems and acquire digital backs for medium format cameras.
For example, a decent 35mm SLR film camera cost somewhere between $500 and $1,000. You could pay less and get a plastic toy, or somewhat more and get a Canon 1V or Nikon F5. But lenses aside, about a thousand dollars ($US) was what it took to buy a good quality 35mm camera body. The shift to digital has changed in this equation. Base level DSLRs like the Nikon D100, Canon D60 and Fuji S2 are now between $US 2,000 and $2,500 --- a doubling or more over the price of comparable film-based camera bodies. High-end digital SLRs like the Nikon D1 and the Canon 1D families are priced between $5,000 and $6,000, triple the cost their film-based equivalents. This is way beyond the amateurs budget limits.
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Nice pic. I tried to get corrugated iron wallpaper for our bedroom. I wanted it to be waist high - but no-one makes it. There is probably an opportunity there, but not one I want to pursue.