Camera News, Used Gear Insights, and Industry Trends at KEH
The PetaPixel Podcast Live from KEH
In this episode, recorded on-location at the KEH Camera headquarters in Atlanta, hosts Jaron Schneider and Chris Nichols explore the current landscape of the photography industry. The discussion spans new gear releases, market trends in used equipment, and technical challenges faced by modern photographers.
Gear Reviews and Industry Analysis
• Camp Snap 2: The hosts offer a candid critique of the newly announced Camp Snap 2, expressing skepticism about its "toy-like" build and limited electronic longevity compared to more robust, repairable cameras.
• Zeiss Anamorphic Lenses: An exploration of the new Horizon series, highlighting their advanced motor-driven anamorphic design intended for high-end cinematic applications rather than manual operation.
• GoPro's Financial Struggles: A look into the company's recent challenges and the potential impact of their latest camera launch, the Mission One.
The Used Market and Sustainability
"Pre-owned is probably the best bang for buck you'll get."
Joined by Dinko Ivojevic from KEH, the team discusses the thriving circular economy of photography gear. Key takeaways include:
• DSLR Resilience: Despite the market shifting toward mirrorless, older DSLRs remain highly valued for their performance-to-price ratio and mechanical reliability.
• Repair and E-waste: A deep dive into the importance of maintaining a repair infrastructure to keep cameras operational, emphasizing how circularity prevents equipment from unnecessarily becoming e-waste.
• The Social Factor: They discuss how social media trends, particularly on TikTok, rapidly influence the demand for specific "fashionable" vintage cameras, regardless of their actual technical superiority.
Technical Debates and Listener Feedback
The episode concludes with a Tech Support segment, where the hosts address questions about professional career paths, the importance of rolling shutter in action photography, and the elusive "film look" in digital sensors—debating whether it stems from hardware characteristics or processing pipelines.