Camera Industry Predictions & 2024 Outlook
The Final Episode of Season One
This episode marks the conclusion of the first season of the PetaPixel Podcast. The hosts, Jaron Schneider, Chris Nichols, and Jordan Drake, are joined by guest Gordon Lang to celebrate nearing one million total listens.
Bold Predictions for 2024
The panel engaged in a lively debate regarding the future of camera technology and equipment, including the following key forecasts:
• Global Shutter Technology: While Sony has introduced the Alpha 9 III, the panel predicts that global shutters will not become standard in high-end, high-resolution cameras in the immediate future due to current limitations in dynamic range and throughput.
• Panasonic S-Mount: The panel anticipates a restructuring of the Panasonic S-series lineup, with a shift away from the S1 and S1R models toward a more streamlined S2 series.
• Fujifilm Instax Dominance: Fujifilm’s Instax line remains a massive, highly profitable component of their business, arguably overshadowing their digital camera division in terms of raw revenue.
• Camera Licensing: The hosts discuss the potential for camera manufacturers like Nikon or Pentax to collaborate with smartphone companies or release nostalgia-driven, vintage-inspired digital bodies to capture market interest.
Practical Insights
"I have now learned something from Gordon."
The hosts discuss technical challenges that often go unnoticed by casual users, such as:
• Memory Card Reliability: The importance of VPG (Video Performance Guarantee) ratings in CFexpress cards and the potential for unreliable performance if cards are not properly certified.
• The Value of Simple Gear: Gordon advocates for cameras capable of producing beautiful JPEG images straight out of the camera, reducing the need for extensive post-processing.
• The Search for Underwater Drones: A discussion ensued regarding why accessible, high-quality underwater drone photography remains elusive for the average consumer, largely due to technical limitations and high production costs.