Voices December 01, 2020
Annual survey of digital cameras suggests field remains vibrant
By Peter Vogel
Are digital cameras still an in-demand commodity? Apparently they are. When I began my annual cameras survey in November I was expecting to see a sharp falloff in the variety of models for sale, driven in part by changing technology, but also by the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, as I write, I already have over two hundred camera models and packages listed on my survey website, and more remain to be added. When the giant stack of Black Friday/Cyber Monday flyers lands on my doorstep, with quite a thud, it serves as the annual reminder that I have work to do for this column.
Once again then, here is a pointer to our annual survey of digital cameras for sale in the Vancouver area, something we’ve been doing in this space since 2002, and, in a slightly simpler form, going all the way back to 1996 when a sub-megapixel camera went for around $1,000.
One surprise in this year’s survey is just how many models of cameras remain from last year’s list, certainly well over 80 per cent. Some new models appear to be little more than tweaks and rebranding of last year’s models. Prices appear to be up over last year’s as well. Purchasers need to be careful, as some stores appear to be listing discontinued models as current.
High-end smartphone camera functionality, such as that in the Samsung Note line, the new Apple iPhone models, and in Google’s Pixel units, is generally regarded as outstanding, and eating into potential sales of standalone cameras.
Users who develop an interest in photography, through their experience with today’s sophisticated smartphones, are tending to migrate to advanced digital cameras, bypassing the point-and-shoot models that previously dominated the market.
For those considering such a leap, check out our dedicated single-page website, http://vandigicams.ca. Updates are made each day through to January 6. Links are also provided to the surveys from previous years to enable price comparisons.
Cameras on the site are primarily those advertised on retailer websites and from print advertising in Vancouver’s major daily papers, and in flyers accompanying regional community papers.
Prices on the site, rounded to the nearest $5 increment, are the lowest found in the November-December survey period, which often occur mid-November. If you decide to buy a unit on the list, you may be able to convince the salesperson to roll the price back to the earlier low point if it has risen in the interim.
Individual cameras, and camera packages, in the survey are allocated a single line on the vandigicams.ca site. Each listing is hyperlinked to the corresponding manufacturer’s web site for that camera’s full specifications. Along with the camera sensor megapixel rating, there is an optical zoom value, an overview of around half a dozen features and “street” pricing from up to three local retailers.
Dominating this year’s survey once again is the 24 megapixel sensor class, representing around 40 per cent of the cameras, followed by the slightly lower resolution 20 megapixel units with around a quarter. These two classes together account for two-thirds of all the cameras in the survey. The once dominant “16” class has dropped to third place. The remaining 20 per cent or so of the survey is fragmented across classes spanning from 12 all the way up to a staggering 100 megapixels.
As in years past, the survey identifies several cameras as best buys, the optimum combination of features and price within a given class. When considering buying a camera, do check out the manufacturer’s website (they are all listed at the bottom of the survey site) to be sure that the model remains current.
Want an inexpensive point-and-shoot digital camera? A Nikon A300, with a 2.7” screen and basic 720 HD video recording is just $155, the same price as this time last year. A starter DSLR camera such as Canon’s T6 with a basic kit lens can be picked up for around $440, also the same as last year. At the other extreme you’ll find a 102 megapixel unit from Fuji for around $13,000, and a unit from historic Swedish manufacturer Hasselblad approaching $50,000!
Looking for a rugged camera? The Olympus TG line (shockproof, freezeproof, waterproof, dustproof, and crushproof) remains popular. Olympus offers two TG units and Nikon has its W300 model. Fuji, Panasonic, and Ricoh also offer ruggedized units. Prices range from $180 up to approximately $500.
As for a solid general purpose camera, how about something like the Nikon P900 with an incredible 83x zoom lens? Priced in the $500 range, this unit takes fine outdoor shots and perfectly acceptable indoor ones as well, something often lacking in lower cost units. Its successor, the P1000, is the first unit to pass a 100x zoom, offering an amazing 125x zoom, at, mind you, a price about double that of its predecessor.
Most of the manufacturers offer high-zoom models in their lineups. Examples include Panasonic’s FZ80 (60x, $430), Canon’s SX70 (50x, $670), and Sony’s HX400 (50x, $530).
Want a DSLR package with two lenses, say, a basic 3x zoom and a telephoto? Canon and Nikon used to have several such packages around the $600 mark but these have mostly disappeared for 2020. This year you might consider for example the Canon T7 package with 18-55 and 75-300 mm lenses priced at $700.
Just starting out with a DSLR? Consider buying an inexpensive 50 mm f1.8 portrait lens. Such a lens does wonders in low-light situations, even with a modestly priced camera. With this combination, a beginner photographer can start taking decent indoor portrait shots for a price that is not too challenging.
It is worth noting that MILC (mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras) units have now surpassed DSLRs in popularity. Canon and Nikon, the big two in the camera business, have come late to the MILC party, first dominated by Fuji, and to a lesser extent by Olympus and Sony. MILC units represent 43 per cent of the listings in this year’s survey. DSLR units by contrast represent just 30 per cent. The remaining quarter is mostly of the point-and-shoot variety.
Do check out this year’s survey list: http://vandigicams.ca. You’ll find cameras at every price point, from around $150, all the way up to that multi-thousand dollar Hasselblad. In between you’ll find cameras equipped with Wi-Fi, GPS, and OLED touch screens, and numerous other features.
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