Digital cult cameras?

Jamie Pillers

Jamie Pillers

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Cult
Adjective
• [usu. as adj. ] a person or thing that is popular or fashionable, esp. among a particular section of society : a cult film.

I've seen some film cameras become 'cult' favorites over the years: Olympus Stylus Epic, Konica Hexar AF, Yashica T4 Super, Ricoh GR, Hasselblad, Leica M's and Barnacks, etc.. Until recently, these cameras held their value due to their popularity, well after they were discontinued. But even they are beginning to lose their luster in the flood of innovative little digital cameras.

I'm wondering if there will be any digital cameras that will be able to lay claim to the title "cult favorite" in the coming decades. It seems that digital innovations keep coming so frequently that it may be hard for any one camera to rise above the "What's new today?" noise. Maybe the Epson R-D1 and Leica M8? Leica Monochrome? Any others that you can think of?
 
The RD1 achieved cult status for two reasons: its was never updated by new models, and its ability to make beautiful images. Had there been an RD2, 3... we'd like have forgotten about the RD1. For these reasons, its most likely that the Leica Monochrome will be legendary! :)
 
charjohncarter said:
Sony Mavica, circa 1998.
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Cameras like the Mavica will certainly be necessary for any complete museum collection. But I wonder if cameras like these will be 'cult favorites'? A camera like the Mavica isn't a camera that will be demanded by large numbers of people due to its ongoing popularity, I think.
 
The Sony R1, Ricoh GR-D series, Epson R-D1 comes to mind at first thought.

I suspect in the coming years, the Sony NEX-5N, the Olympus OM-D, and the Sony RX100 will be classics and sought after.

Amongst DSLRs, Canon 5D Mark II, Nikon D700, and Sony Alpha A900 tend to have very loyal followings.
 
Possibly the D700 ... the first prosumer digital camera to really make people's eyes pop with its amazing high ISO performance ... and three years on it's still right up there IMO.

I know in theory it's just another mass produced DSLR but I think it was a significant camera for the price ... and I haven't heard a lot of owners saying they're keen to move onto the replacement D800.
 
Formula for making a digital cult camera: Put an analog meter on top of it and a shutter crank, instant classic. It can only be bested by a rewind lever.
 
jammcat said:
The M9 is a cult camera for those who can justify the cost of owning it.
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I wonder if it will truly make it to the level of 'cult favorite' several years from now. It seems that Leica intends to keep pumping out newer (improved?) M models and thus will likely leave the M9 behind as just another model in a long line of models not much more special than the last. Maybe?
 
bugmenot said:
The Sony R1, Ricoh GR-D series, Epson R-D1 comes to mind at first thought.

I suspect in the coming years, the Sony NEX-5N, the Olympus OM-D, and the Sony RX100 will be classics and sought after.

Amongst DSLRs, Canon 5D Mark II, Nikon D700, and Sony Alpha A900 tend to have very loyal followings.
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All good choices, but I wonder if they'll become 'cult-ish' if Sony, Ricoh, Canon, Nikon just keep pumping out "new, improved" models every year, for years to come. If there is significant innovation yet to come, then these models might not be so popular a couple of years from now. On the other hand, if digital camera technology is reaching some sort of plateau (due either to lack of any further significant innovations, or a downturn in demand for any more 'bells and whistles'), then maybe these will make to the 'cult'... they are all certainly excellent cameras.
 
Keith said:
Possibly the D700 ... the first prosumer digital camera to really make people's eyes pop with its amazing high ISO performance ... and three years on it's still right up there IMO.

I know in theory it's just another mass produced DSLR but I think it was a significant camera for the price ... and I haven't heard a lot of owners saying they're keen to move onto the replacement D800.
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I might agree with you, Keith. It certainly has had a niche all to itself for a LONG time. However, if the D600 turns out to be a cheaper, just as good, giant killer... hmmm?
 
Jamie Pillers said:
All good choices, but I wonder if they'll become 'cult-ish' if Sony, Ricoh, Canon, Nikon just keep pumping out "new, improved" models every year, for years to come. If there is significant innovation yet to come, then these models might not be so popular a couple of years from now. On the other hand, if digital camera technology is reaching some sort of plateau (due either to lack of any further significant innovations, or a downturn in demand for any more 'bells and whistles'), then maybe these will make to the 'cult'... they are all certainly excellent cameras.
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I don't think we can ever talk "cult" status in terms of tens of years after when it comes to digital cameras. That's just my opinion. Almost nobody uses digital cameras from the 90's for example.
 
Jamie Pillers said:
I might agree with you, Keith. It certainly has had a niche all to itself for a LONG time. However, if the D600 turns out to be a cheaper, just as good, giant killer... hmmm?
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Cheaper is not always better in many people's minds IMO ... Leica certainly hasn't followed that policy and they seem to be doing OK! :p

If anything my D700 has made me want a D3s or D4.
 
Current digital cult cameras:

- GRD series
- Canon 5d
- Epson R-d1
- Possibly the kodak DCS-14n


Future digital cult cameras:

- Fujifilm x100
- Leica M9
 
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