I’m one of those people fascinated by technology. Particularly with its implementation in consumer electronics. If I was a wealthy man, I would have a very, very nice sound system, a top of the line computer or three, an extremely expensive digital SLR, plus any number of gadgets (ipod, mobile etc). As it is, I’m not wealthy at the moment, and so I make do with a good computer with a decent sound system, and an entry level digital SLR.
But since I purchased my last kit a couple of years ago, my camera has been rendered obsolete by two models, and my computer is now very middle of the road, instead of the cutting edge beast it was.
This is natural enough, but the cycles seem to be getting shorter and shorter. Less than three years, and my camera is nearly laughable?? And my computer’s lifespan is only expected to be three short years. Is that OK for something that cost $3000??
Being interested in photography / web design it seems essential that we throw lots of money at our equipment. $5-7000 every couple of years doesn’t seem to be unreasonable at all. And if you want to be a professional, it’s probably three times that at a bare minimum. But it’s starting to get to me. It’s killing my love for consumer electronics. For a start I don’t have that sort of money to throw around. But more to the point, I think it’s obscene that I am virtually forced to do that. Fair enough, one must purchase the latest if one really has to be “up to date” but it’s the life cycles of these products that I think is the problem. A $2500 digital SLR should hold its value and relevancy for more than two years!
It makes me want to become a gardener or something. Technology is becoming a consumer trap, or if you don’t haqve the cash, you are increasingly left out of the game. It used to be you could save up, purchase your equipment and expect it to serve you ten or twenty years. Certainly that was the case with top notch camera equipment. But the world has clearly changed, and these multinational companies have figured out that they can lock us into these absurd upgrade cycles, and we all jump on the bandwagon to keep up to the latest and greatest.
Personally, I’m not happy with my equipment. I need a better camera. If I had a Canon 1Ds MkIII for example, I’dbe happier than a pig in shit. But even that camera, which is the top of the tree as far as digital imaging goes, will be absolutely obsolete in as little as 7 years time. Think of that. It will have been superseded at least three times in that time. It will be like a 10D is now compared to a 4oD. Ancient, and out of date. You would be laughed out of town if you brought it out in a professional context. But is that reasonable? The picture quality would be the same. And considering the 1Ds Mk III, the image quality is absolutely superb. What is the 1ds MkVI going to be like? So much better? I don’t think so. When is enough enough? When will this craziness slow down, and quality cameras made to last 20 years again? When will computers last more than 3 years? Will we ever get off this tragic technological road we have embarked upon? When will anyone give a damn about the mountains of electronic waste clogging our landfills? When will it ever end?
Sorry to say, I think I already know the answer. Today however it is just difficult to cope with. Partly I am driven by jealousy, and as I said, if I was a rich man, I would have succumbed to the temptation long ago. I am the sort of guy who could spend $50,000 on consumer electronics tomorrow. I’d love to. But not having it, and trying to live without it makes me question the whole system. Maybe in the upper markets (Hasselblad, medium format etc) it’s not so pronounced, but even there, digital backs are getting bigger each year…
Hmmm… strange world we live in.
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