@ACPress

Pictures speak louder than words.


 

Shocked at the prices? I guess you haven't been looking cameras for a while! 

 

While there are certainly a few cameras that are not as expensive as the top one and certainly a bit more than the bottom one, there are not as many as you might expect. The remaining camera makers are focusing on either the professional or so-called "prosumer" market willing to spend close to $3,000 for an up-to-date camera. Or just amateurs with a LOT of money to throw around. These folks also tend to buy more lenses later.

 

And you can't just blame inflation. A basic $300 film camera in 1975 is about $1,500 in 2022 dollars. But keep in mind that people also want the same camera to shoot high quality video as well, often 4K with stereo sound and microphone input. So when you add a 1975 camcorder to the $300 camera purchase, things even out a bit more. Of course, those not interested in video are paying for something they will not use.

 

I did not pick the top camera as an unusual example. Competition from Nikon and Canon are at almost exactly the same price.

 

Also a $600 or more compact camera is not unusual anymore now that people want very high quality images AND video. A so-called mirrorless compact camera, one that has a removable lenses, will be at least twice as much.

 

 Admittedly the camera on the bottom is what one would consider a bottom feeder. It does not focus, does not zoom and the 20 megapixel resolution is no doubt artificial. The company selling this camera does not have a service department and the models will change virtually every year depending on what they find at a trade fair in China.

 

Surprisingly, online reviews are sometimes positive, as the cameras take a reasonable pictures of the instamatic quality. However they  do not relieve that user of the need to and establish and knowledge of using their computer.

 

Coming soon:

 

More on really off-brand cameras from China

What makes a good USED camera?