High prices and quiet deaths of small matrices for professionals - we chose photo disappointments of the year

Floating prices, deaths of small matrices in professional equipment, on the one hand, and lack of an alternative to full frame, on the other - we chose this year's defeats in the photographic market.

Marcin Połowianiuk: the most important negative trend of 2018 are prices.

The photographic market has shrunk, and cheaper cameras that used to be the backbone of sales are now selling very badly, or not at all. The average consumer fires a much newer smartphone with three lenses than a basic SLR or mirrorless camera.

It's reflected on two levels. First of all, in 2018 there were no interesting premieres of cheap cameras. The baselines are refreshed every year or two, but next generations do not bring anything new. You can see a huge stagnation and no idea to compete with smartphones.

The second problem is the rising prices of advanced equipment. 2018 was full of great constructions, both in the case of corps and lenses. Unfortunately, they are becoming less and less affordable. Each subsequent generation of equipment is noticeably better, but also more expensive than the previous one. No wonder that all sales and cash baskets are popular in which you can buy cheaper equipment from a few years ago.

Łukasz Kotkowski: silent death of small matrices in the professional segment

Not counting the Fuji X-T3, this year there was not even a single piece of equipment with a small matrix, offering professional capabilities. And these are the types of cameras looking for less well-off enthusiasts or professional photographers with a smaller budget. If someone hoped that this year will replace the Nikon D7200 for anything other than the disappointing Nikon D7500 from 2017, or Canon 7d mk II for something a little fresher, unfortunately, there is no luck.

The lovers of the Micro 4/3 system must also be very disappointed. After the last year's premiere of Lumix G9, there was a silence - this year there was not a single important camera segment, and if that was not enough, everything indicates that the micro 4/3 just goes into oblivion, as evidenced by the fact that Panasonic announced the entry into full frame, and Olympus is silent regarding the potential successor of OM-D EM-1 mk II.

Speaking of micro 4/3, I would add my personal failure to the list of KIT years: investing in a small-matrix camera . Given the above, it was a very bad decision.

Krzysztof Basel: no alternative to expensive cameras with a full frame

The biggest disappointment of 2018 was the lack of new, interesting equipment for beginners, which will not ruin the portfolio. All this year's serious new products are high-priced cameras that are largely beyond the reach of the average photography enthusiast in Poland. There is definitely a lack of fresh breeze in the group of cameras up to 2000, 3000 PLN. Who knows, maybe this segment will soon be completely gone, and the companies will focus on the development of more professional designs with larger matrices?

Going deeper into the topic, I am also a bit worried and perhaps a little surprised by the lack of Olympus activity. In addition to refreshing the lifestyle E-PL9, no new camera was presented, and the flagship model E-M1 Mark II is over 2 years old. Olympus is the only major brand in the photographic industry that does not offer full frame or medium format cameras. What will be its future? Although we are to see a new top model, it will still be the M 4/3 corps and rather for a niche, professional group of photographers.

For me personally the biggest KITem 2018 is the resignation of VSCO from the development of their great presets in the desktop version. As a loyal customer for many years, I feel strongly disappointed. Mobile photography is eating the photo industry more and more, which is evidently also in this case.

High prices and quiet deaths of small matrices for professionals - we chose photo disappointments of the year