I don’t even know how to begin this article because I’ve got so many thoughts on how the camera industry has become even more of a smoke and mirrors game as life has gone on. But here’s the truth: Chinese-made lenses are so incredibly good these days. For years, everyone used to tout Japanese lenses so much so to the point that they forgot that German lenses often have much better warranties and longevity. Most recently though, we’ve arrived at the point where in terms of image quality, it’s very hard to tell the difference between a German, Chinese, and a Japanese lens. On top of that, the build quality is also becoming very similar. And so everyone — the Japanese and Germans included — really need to find ways to make their lenses unique and to stand out from others. The answer isn’t going to be to find the same clinical and sterile image quality.
This is how bad it’s become. The other day, I tried a Panasonic LUMIX 35mm f1.8 against a Sigma 35mm f1.4 DG Art II. Traditionally, we’d all say that the Sigma lens is much sharper and pricier in addition to being built better. But the truth is that it’s a negligible difference in terms of image quality, and the build quality is about comparable. Considering I bought the LUMIX lens used for around $350 and the Sigma lens goes for over $1,000 I couldn’t really justify purchasing the Sigma lens.
To further this, $400 Chinese lenses are also now rivaling multi-thousand dollar Leica lenses. And before you say that Leica’s tech isn’t all there, Leica’s warranties and service quality are things that the Japanese never have been able to mimic.
Others call this the point of diminishing returns. And I think that it’s critical. In fact, it’s been critical for years, but YouTubers and other journalists are too stuck in their ways to really agree with me.
All the brands now need to find ways to stop using the same components and techniques and instead start making their own products.
For example, why is an f1.2 lens desirable when everyone has one? Seriously, all the Japanese manufacturers pretty much make one. And the Chinese manufacturers can make them even more affordably.
That’s to say that we have to move beyond super shallow bokeh. We now need real character, control of said character, etc. And we need to have tools that encourage us to make photographs beyond just setting the camera to aperture priority and seeing what comes out.
If you’re really curious about what could be done: darkroom techniques and many other things should be studied. You know, all the stuff that AI can’t do or replace photographers with.
Digital has become way too similar and it’s time to fix that.
In 10 years, everyone will be accepting Chinese-made lenses the same way that Japanese-made products were accepted so many years ago. And by then, the Japanese will really be in the same space as the German-made products.