In 2025, the majority of camera brands have generally shown us how little they really care for photographers and instead care more about content creators. Yet without us, everything that they do will pretty much just fall apart. There’s no way that Fujifilm or Nikon, for example, could make their digital imaging divisions survive by just doing cinema cameras. This year, perhaps more than any other, is the worst time to buy a new camera. Brands might blame it on the state of the global economy. But even if the US President didn’t act like a child when making important decisions, I still think that the camera brands would generally still not do very much at all to improve or innovate on their products because they are all still holding themselves in comparison to the smartphone.
I recently stumbled upon a poem I wrote in my creative writing endeavors that speaks of wishing wells. Here are the words:
I am sick of throwing
My hard-earned
Most shiny golden dollars
Into the wishing wells
That never return the grace
This metaphor can be applied to so many things in life. There are people in my life who were wishing wells and that never returned the favors. And there are also companies that do the same. I’ve spoken to several colleagues and people over the past weekend who all state that they’re getting off of social media and various other platforms because they’re just not giving back.
In the case of the photography world, wishing wells are the camera brands with billions of dollars.
I’m sick of giving them money, so often, I don’t. Instead I’ve bought used products instead because they’re cheaper and it means that the money isn’t going to the brand at all. As a journalist who is fundamentally pro-human, I can’t feel sorry for brands with billions of dollars. Instead, I feel for the photographers who haven’t very much worth purchasing for years.
The rare exceptions to this rule are cameras like the Leica M cameras, the S1R II, the Zf, and the A9 III. Otherwise, there isn’t a whole lot.
And ultimately, this is the worst time to buy a new camera. The brands just aren’t trying to push themselves because they already think that they have your money. They’re only going to listen to you if you stop spending.
Phoblographer is partially funded by affiliate marketing where we get a percentage of purchases. But even so, I’d still tell you to go buy used or instead buy something like an innovative and unique lens instead.
