The Future of Cameras and Photography

From film cameras to curved sensors, there have been some dramatic advancements in photography over the years.

In this magazine-style chat show, Karl and Ashleigh sit down to tackle the hot topic of the future of cameras and photography.

Together they look back at where we’ve come from before focusing on where we’re going, looking at recent technological advancements (and failures) and weighing in on the mirrorless vs DSLR debate, discussing what impact mirrorless technology is having on the market, and speculating about what the world of photography may look like in the future.

Topics covered in this show include:
  • A brief history of cameras
  • Fundamental principles of photography
  • Notable technological advancements in photography
  • Mirrorless vs DSLR - Where the market is going
  • Technology vs knowledge
Further links:

If you’d like to add to the conversation or have any questions about this show, please post in the comment section below.

Comments

  1. Why did Leica re-introduce the M6 film camera alongside its M11 digital? How come Leica dont display prints form both side by side?
    Why doesn’t Nikon or anyone else actually print 35inx50in from a Nikon D800, Nikon D850 and Z9 with the same lens?

  2. Hi Karl
    I was wondering your thoughts on buying a medium format Hasselblad or Fuji that both use the now 5-6 year old 50 mp sensor. Even now after announcing the Fuji GFX 50Sll… 907x Hasselblad… How important is that when considering an new camera purchase? The new Sony A1 seems an interesting although quite different in many ways alternative with new technologies. I have not owned a camera now for about 5 years.

    Thanks.

    1. Hi Janelle, if the cameras you are talking about both have the Cmos sensor then they will perform well. The H5 electronics were a bit buggy sometimes but I prefer the lenses and the colour look of the H, also the fuji couldn’t flash sync at fast speeds which is big no for me. In terms of image quality though the fuji would put out amazing shots but I’d also be thinking about an X1d2 if that was in your budget as it has upgraded electronics and lenses.

      1. Thanks very much. I was worried because of hearing about the older sensors not being good compared to newer ones like the A1 sony…. As not a good investment.
        I appreciate your help as always.

        1. ksporry

          Just to add to that, the Fuji can use Hasselblad H lenses (they Co developed the H series when it first came out), but only in manual focus, and only with a flash sync speed up to what the original H lenses did (1/800 I think).

          Regarding the comparison to the new full frame sensor from Sony, the sensor story is a complex one. One reason why Medium format remained popular despite full frame having equal mp, is the size of the sensor. Medium format size allows for a better smoother colour rendition and transition.
          I use an old H4 with ccd Sensor as well as the gfx50s, and honestly, I prefer the old ccd Sensor. And both cameras perform better than my D850 wrt image quality.
          Mind you, I think for most people (including myself) skills and knowledge on light is a bigger constraint than the camera (until you get to Karl‘s level of course 😊😊)

          1. Did you produce prints? Please can we see the prints from D850, H4 and GFX50 side by side? Dont you think this would be useful to establish at what print size do you actually see the difference between FF and MF

  3. Karl Taylor is the Carl Sagan of photography.

    So glad I am part of this journey with you. I am 60 years old and have no decent knowledge of photography. I am a clean slate to mold. Thank You

  4. Thank you so much for this chat, super interesting, really appreciate the background on how both gear and industry evolved! Thanks also for answering my question Karl, I appreciate the honesty! I’m a photo newbie but lifelong creator and in it for the long game, so I won’t let the ‘crowds’ deter me lol… I’ll just carry on learning, shooting and improving both my craft and business savvy 😉

  5. For those of us who are not interested in video, for financial and personal reasons. Is there hope to make a living from photography? Ashleigh is a great guest / moderator.

    1. Hi Peter, I’d say in mainstream commercial photography yes but if for example you were doing a shoot for a hotel; interiors, staff, food etc it is highly likely they would look to obtain a few social media clips at least and this is where the benefit of high quality video in 35mm cameras becomes useful. It is not a difficult skill to include once familiar and we are adding new training on this soon.

  6. I often find my images (in post processing) really pixelated when I zoom in. So for example it is really hard to edit skin and eyes. So is it because of my camera or the quality of lens? Or is it that I am doing something wrong(like focus problem maybe)? Unfortunately I only have a cropped censor (Nikon D7200) camera, 24 mix, and kit lens (18-105mm) I always shoot in Raw and usually low ISO.

  7. I hope they also chat about the industry in general (feels so crowded these days, everyone seems to be calling themselves a photographer, offering services and ‘master classes’ two minutes after picking up a camera lol!! 😅so I would be keen to hear Karl’s take on this and what opportunities or strategies might be needed to compete or work successfully in the space these days 🙏

  8. For the upcoming chat show. Maybe Karl or Ashleigh will have a view on this:

    Shouldn’t we pay less attention to gear and focus more on the aesthetics of the final image? Most cameras will do what is asked of them – assuming they’re appropriate, e.g. using a Hasselblad to chase the kids around the pool in flip flops isn’t appropriate, nor is using a smartphone for a high end studio shot. It’s the blob of organic material behind the lens that needs the development, not the gear. We’re getting sucked in by marketing, again. Discuss …

    1. Author

      Hi Barry. This is a great question and one we can certainly explore further during the show 🙂

    2. I agree to a point. I have been using a Phase One for six years because I like the image quality but one of my favorite photographers uses Canons for most shoots and he gets a lot more business than I do. Also, I’ve noticed that after buying almost every lens available for the camera, I’ve settled in on two lenses, a 55mm and a 120mm for almost everything. When those don’t work, I have a 28mm for cramped interiors and architecture. Rarely use my 35, 80, and 150mm lenses. The point, as you suggest, is that how we use what we have is more important than what we have to use.

      1. jmhedrick

        Indeed, it’s become a matter of content for me personally and I feel that it’s the right direction to go in.

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