Where Are We Headed?

[Poppyrob]

After having read "Abobe updates Lightroom CC to Lightroom Classic and there is a "new" LR CC for Mobiles???" a thread started by Dennis this morning, it got me to thinking, where are we headed? Are software manufacturers beginning to prioritize pads and phones over desktops and laptops? Is the smaller, more portable "now" technology an indication larger computers, particularly desktops, are on the decline? And like VHS, and eventually disc players, will they eventually almost vanish? My middle aged sons () do not own desktops and probably never will. Laptops and phones are their choice, and I'm sure the laptop is used when they're home because the screen is bigger than the phone. My 16 year old grandson just purchased a laptop for his final 2 years at high school. His ipad is used by his younger siblings and his phone is always at arms length. I don't think any of this mob will ever own a desktop.

Many years ago I almost scoffed at my wife (bad move) when she suggested purchasing a digital point and shoot to replace her aging compact film camera. "They 'll never be any good! They'll never replace film." And they haven't. But new technology has had such an effect that film processors in supermarkets and chemists went out the door almost as quick as Kodak went down the gurgler. And I've been trying to get my foot out of my mouth ever since. But where are digital cameras headed, especially DSLR's? A lot of youngsters buy a DSLR because "they give the best pictures". But do they? Straight from the camera, an unprocessed image captured by someone with little to no idea of how to use a camera and software, can often look far inferior to the same 'instant' photo from a phone or pad. So the camera is placed into the back of the cupboard awaiting the next house move. Will the consumer demand for DSLR's and associated software decline because phone photos and software are good enough?

Hard copy encyclopedia are dead. Printed reference books and manuals gather dust. And magazine publishers are falling off the newsstand quicker than autumn leaves in the cold country. Will software manufacturers eventually tailor toward the smaller "now" technology, tapering away from the larger machines? Will the requirements of today's youth see desktops and laptops comparable to VHS and disc? And what's going to happen to all our carefully preened and stored images? The kids fire off photos, look at them, snapchat or instagram them, and ... well that's about it. If I show my mob a photo I captured a few weeks ago, it warrants a cursory glance because it wasn't taken today. I don't think they'll have the time or inclination to bother with my hard drives of images when I someday fall off the perch.

But that's not why I take pictures. I take pictures because I enjoy the challenge. Sometimes I'm pleased with the result and often I'm not. It's fun. I think today's youth enjoy photography too, but in a much different way than I. And I don't think they appreciate an image and the work that goes into achieving that image. That's nice. Next.

I class myself as an enthusiast photographer, but I think the kids of today can already be classed as enthusiast photographers. Where do you think we're headed?

[Shuttered]

Well Poppyrob,
I have to agree with you on a lot of the honest points you make. As a father to three teenagers I see the same pattern that you have mentioned. I think we all take photos for the same reason, to record something we like. Maybe it is the technology that has changed the speed in which we can share a photo and get instant feedback which is how kids like to communicate. I still think there are a lot of advantages of a good DSLR over a phone but maybe I will have to take my foot out of my mouth in the future.

[Mark L]

So I guess the lack of posts here may show were photographic forums are headed.

I'm happy to play with my DSLR and they still have a place. What cameras can be used for more specialised things like bird or macro photography?
Of cause these things will hopefully continue to interest an ever decreasing some.

[aussirose]

I can't stand that app the kids use that changes your face. I dont want to see myself with a big bunny nose or toungue that you can wrap around your head.

- - - Updated - - -

Yes I think the thing for me with the DSLR is the excitement of capturing a great photo. My kids have no appreciation. I've given up showing them my photos

[Geoff79]

I personally don’t see the demise of dslr cameras coming anytime soon. As noted above, a lot of point and shoot type of stuff, you can basically capture similar images with a phone or iPad. But if you really want quality images, the same photography enthusiasts that have existed through the ages will, I’m sure, still come along. DSLRs have never been a token item for the masses anyway. Generally just those a bit more serious about photography. Which, for me, is the main difference between a camera and music, video, computers etc, which are items used and enjoyed by most.

The difference is in what a good camera can do that a phone or iPad can’t. It’s really quite significant if you’re a bit “serious” about photography.

I moved out of home around 2003 I think, and buying a desktop computer never even crossed my mind. My wife and I always had laptops as they’re more practical in every sense, and although I’m not a technical type of person, I believe they can do everything a desktop can. So I understand the decline of the desktop.

And I have about 2000 CDs at home... spent probably close to two decades seeking out and building that collection. Now I just wish I could rip it all into mp3 files and sell off the entire collection. I still love the cd and the booklet and the memories... and most importantly, the music, but I can’t argue that all my music on one device that I can play wirelessly almost anywhere at anytime is so much more practical than a garage full of CDs. And again, the sound quality of a high quality mp3 is every bit as good as a CD and far superior to an LP or cassette tape. So it only makes sense, and although I do miss CD trading and hunting down rare gems, its demise coincided well with having children, where it just wouldn’t be a wise financial choice anymore anyway.

Same story with vhs and DVD. I have thousands I just wish I could sell and recoup some of the costs, because an mp4 file is far more practical and quality is as good, if not better than DVD/blu-Ray, infinitely better than vhs.


But anyway, I’ve rambled. As sad as it is, I think a lot of technological advances are for the better, aimed at reducing clutter and making for more practical use.

But as someone who does have a lot of time for my phone camera, and at times I find it invaluable... when I don’t have my camera with me and there’s something I wish to capture. It definitely has a purpose, but if I want top quality images and have access to my dslr and my phone, I will never reach for the camera first. As Mark mentioned with birds and macro, I feel like it’s almost across the board. An okay camera in a great photographers hands will always achieve better results than a great camera in a poor photographers hands... but there is no doubt that a good photographer can get far more from a dslr than a phone, or the like. Even I took a long while to believe this, back when I stubbornly bought a Canon powershot as my wife bought a 40D, thinking I’d get better results. And I did get good results. But then I took the 40D for a spin and acknowledged the difference far too significant to ignore.

Anyway, I keep losing my point. I don’t believe the dslr is going anywhere in the foreseeable future, but who knows what they’ll come up with beyond that?




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[Steve Axford]

I think the world is changing. It is not that the DSLR will vanish, it's just that the people who use it will change. In the recent past there were a huge number of DSLR users who could rarely get more out of their big camera than a kid could get out of a mobile phone. Often less as the kid would get into more interesting places. There are exceptions, like bird photography, where mobile phones aren't as good as a DSLR with a 600mm f4 lens. But few youngsters have any desire to spend what it takes to buy a small car on a huge camera that apparently only takes birds. So, who will buy the DSLR's when all the oldies have gone? Well, I guess there will still be the professionals and some dedicated amateurs, but 90% of the users will disappear and the marketing focus will move away from a consumer to a professional focus. I suspect that a small core of dedicated amateurs will survive, just like they have with audio, but most will fade away. Audio is a good comparison. In the golden age of Rock and Roll, music systems seemed to have no limit. But now, MP3 is more common than CD and SACD (which seemed like the next great thing in 1999) is virtually dead. It seems that convenience and control is more important than absolute quality. and now Rock and Roll is no longer the major music genre.

[MattNQ]

Audio is a good comparison. In the golden age of Rock and Roll, music systems seemed to have no limit. But now, MP3 is more common than CD .

I have been bemused lately. My 18yo son and his mates buy their music on records at the moments.
Jb Hi-Fi has a big rack of them.


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[Geoff79]

I have been bemused lately. My 18yo son and his mates buy their music on records at the moments.
Jb Hi-Fi has a big rack of them.


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Oh dear. This trend just makes me angry. I just wonder what all these kids do with their records when it’s not “in” or “cool” again, in about three weeks.

That said, I hope there is a massive CD revival that lasts as long as it takes for me to list all my CDs on eBay.


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