Digicam gross sales figures on the finish of the yr supply perception into key tendencies – however what do the 2024 gross sales figures for used gear say concerning the trade? On Thursday, December 19, the US-based rental firm LensRentals shared statistics for its most bought gear of the yr, a listing that means photographers don’t thoughts shopping for tech that’s a number of years outdated.
Because the title suggests, LensRentals might be most recognized for its gear rental program. However the firm additionally has a “attempt before you purchase” program that enables creatives to lease gear, then apply the rental payment in direction of the entire price in the event that they resolve they need to hold it for good. Or, creatives that know what they need can skip the rental and go straight to searching used gear on the market. Like with its leases, LensRentals says it rigorously inspects its used gear on the market, an indication of a extra reliable place to purchase used cameras.
LensRentals’ record of probably the most rented gear for 2024 shared final week contained some surprises like a DSLR that also outrented most different mirrorless manufacturers. However the firm’s record of most bought used gear additionally accommodates a number of surprises. Gimbals dominate the record of most bought gear total, whereas the record additionally accommodates quite a few cameras which can be a number of years outdated, together with the 2020 GoPro Hero9 Black (third), the 2015 Sony A7S II (eighth), and the 2018 DJI Mavic 2 Professional (tenth).
LensRentals take? The age of probably the most bought gear might recommend that imaging tech has slowed down. “Does this and the statistics displaying that persons are utilizing and shopping for cameras which can be a number of years outdated show that technological improvement has slowed down lately? Yeah, I believe that’s most likely protected to say at this level,” the weblog publish reads.
Separating the lists by class reveals extra perception, with probably the most bought digicam being the 2017 Canon EOS C200 cinema digicam, adopted by the GoPro Hero9 Black, GoPro Hero10 Black, and Sony A7S II.
Cinema cameras and camcorders take up eight of the highest 20 spots on the record of most bought cameras. Excluding the cinema fashions, that very same prime 20 record has 5 mirrorless cameras and but DSLRs aren’t far behind with three fashions on the record, together with the Canon 5D Mark IV, Canon 6D Mark II and the Nikon D850.
The record of the most-purchased used lenses presents some related perception. Whereas the prevalence of the well-loved however high-priced focal lengths like 24-70mm f/2.8 optics on the record is hardly stunning, the variety of DSLR lenses nonetheless on the record might be. The record contains seven Canon EF mount lenses, in addition to two Nikon DSLR lenses.
The record of probably the most bought used equipment additionally accommodates some older gear, regardless of the Oculus Quest VR headsets taking the highest two spots. The 2021 MacBook Professional with the M1 chip additionally made the record.
However does the info actually present that the event of digicam expertise has slowed? That’s one attainable take, however for probably the most perception, the used digicam gross sales information would should be in comparison with that of new-in-box digicam gross sales. I might be way more shocked if DSLR lenses had been outselling mirrorless within the new market. Photographers searching used gear usually tend to be in search of a cut price and shopping for right into a DSLR package is likely one of the most reasonably priced methods to get a full-frame sensor and pro-grade options on a good funds proper now.
Digicam expertise appears to develop in spurts, with extra minor progress in between key technical feats, so 2024 might very effectively be sitting at a sluggish level within the trade. Decision has reached the purpose the place it’s not laborious to discover a 50MP digicam that has pore-level texture. I don’t assume we actually want cameras with extra decision than that pore stage element outdoors of some particular use case situations, and photographers would wish quicker computer systems for such a bounce in file sizes. The largest development lately is arguably Sony’s international shutter permitting for flash at any shutter pace, or maybe Canon’s means to maneuver the focus to wherever your eye is trying by means of the viewfinder. However, each options are reserved for the priciest cameras that few can afford.
I don’t assume it’s terribly stunning to search out gear that’s 5 years outdated on a listing of probably the most bought used cameras; in spite of everything, a lot of these shopping for the most recent cameras need a model new mannequin. However what I discover extra stunning is that the record didn’t embrace any compact cameras. Because of social media and Gen Z tendencies, compact cameras are making a comeback so steep that it’s simpler to search out them used somewhat than new. Whereas LensRentals used retailer contains in style choices just like the Canon G7 X sequence and the Ricoh GR III, these didn’t make the record. Maybe that’s as a result of demand has pushed the price of these used compacts larger than the unique record value.
What I believe photographers ought to take away from the 2024 statistics is that the strain to have the most recent, best gear is unfounded. Certain, the most recent cameras have some nice options in case you can afford them. However are your Instagram followers or the folks viewing your prints going to know that you just used an older digicam or perhaps a DSLR? In all probability not. That makes me really feel a bit higher concerning the Fujifilm X-T4 and DJI Mini 2 in my present gear package.
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