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| 1951-52 Chevrolet. I’m sure one had to actually ‘drive’ this automobile. No automation, no cruise control, no power steering, no automatic transmission, no power brakes. You are completely involved in the act of driving. This is no self-driving Tesla. (click to enlarge) |
A few posts ago I wrote an article wondering if we photographers are becoming fatigued by the hype, false excitement and extraordinary expense each time a new camera is introduced. The rumor sites start posting a few ‘leaked’ specifications here and there. People speculate. We wonder what the new camera will be like. More rumors. Excitement builds and then when the new camera arrives, it seems as though most people are disappointed. The camera is either a small incremental upgrade over what is already available or it is something we don’t need or even want. As a result, it seems, this may be one reasons why sales of expensive interchangeable lens cameras have dropped. You can read that post here.
As I continued to mull this over, another thought arose. There may be another reason why sales of expensive full frame interchangeable lens cameras has fallen. Have we photographers, in our continuous pursuit to make brilliant photographs that we could not have made in the past, photographs that would have been impossible a decade ago, tacitly welcomed and agreed to using all of the advanced camera technology and features that come in today’s cameras at the expense of our own participation in the process? Are we now realizing that we are deriving a lot less satisfaction when we let all the technology built into today’s cameras do almost everything for us? It just might be.
In that previous post, I speculated as to why expensive interchangeable camera sales continue to fall while simpler cameras, ones with no interchangeable lenses and basically point-and-shoot style cameras, are selling more and more each year. I certainly am not qualified to answer but I can speculate as to potentially one additional reason. I’ll call it “Automation Fatigue.”
I don’t have answers but I have a lot of questions and speculation. My first question now becomes has camera technology gone too far? Are people tiring of all the advanced features, automations, corrections, computations and other advancements in camera bodies that the cameras now act and feel less like a traditional camera and more like a handheld complex computer that does everything for you? Do many of us feel we’re no longer using our brains, talent, vision and skills to ‘create’ our photographs?
There’s more. Are many of us getting tired of the ever increasing numbers of dials, buttons, switches and levers that are stuck all over today’s cameras and yearning for the days of simpler cameras with more simplicity and less ‘do everything’? Have we passed the point in our cameras where enough is enough and is really now too much? Do many people just want to make photographs without complication?
Finally, are the current crop of cameras and ones anticipated in the future too much? More than we, collectively, need or want? Is the automation driving more and more photographers to find more joy in simple cameras and film as we see reflected in sales numbers and the number of people now shooting film? It seems the trend of using film and simple film cameras has grown beyond everyone’s expectations. Is delayed gratification, simplicity and organically participating the difference that people desire?
And here is the crux of it. Do people feel like they are still actively and fully participating in the photographic process or just along for the ride?
As I said, I don’t have answers. You tell me.
Just something to think about…
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Thanks for looking. Enjoy!
Dennis A. Mook
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I am ready and waiting to buy the next camera, but have yet to be wowed enough to buy. I do like the automatic features for some active subjects. For static subjects, the older cameras and lenses are sometimes more fun to use. I have cameras that I set up to simulate old classic film cameras. It is fun to recreate some of the memories while using a much better camera and lens.
ReplyDeleteThe new cameras are essentially slight upgrades to those I already have. All of them seem to make prints that look the same on the wall.
Camera manufacturers seem to slapping a “New and improved” label on a lot new items that in practice provide the same image and experience. It’s all about money. The manufacturers have to sell enough cameras and lenses to stay in business. It’s up to the marketing and a few improvements to convince the buyer to act. Better to have the next wave of innovation be the convincing factor.