2024 Photo Gear of the Year with Kevin Rickert
12/19/2024Well, 2024 has certainly come and gone in a flash, meaning it’s time once again for us to reflect on new photo offerings in our annual Cameras of the Year episode, now renamed Photo Gear of the Year. Featured in our discussion are new releases from Canon, FUJIFILM, Leica, Mint, Nikon, OM SYSTEM, Panasonic, Ricoh Pentax, and Sony.
In the words of our recurring guest, Kevin Rickert, B&H’s Senior Sales Trainer for Photography and Lighting, “Everything old is new again” at least when it comes to this year’s most sought-after camera releases. A penchant for pocketable, fixed lens cameras led us to organize our camera offerings by type rather than in an alphabetical laundry list. Along with debating the current craze for “the digicam look,” we consider whether manufacturers will respond to consumers’ increasing appetite for midrange point and shoots.
After the break, we shift to the newest crop of flagship cameras that are built for speed, while also discussing notable updates to other new releases. We also shed light on the essential role served by firmware updates, both in trimming a new camera’s time to market and allowing you to get more out of the camera you already have. As Kevin points out, “It's an important part of having a camera. Much like if you have a car, you need to get oil changes.”
We wrap things up with some predictions for 2025, including Kevin’s hopes for a continued resurgence of point and shoot models, plus some intriguing new photo accessories that caught his eye this year. Stay to the end to learn about the inventive new Fjordan camera control for the iPhone, recently acquired by Leica.
Guest: Kevin Rickert
Episode Timeline
- 2:30: Kevin Rickert’s role as a B&H sales trainer for photography and lighting.
- 9:34: What camera stood out the most this year: FUJIFILM X100VI
- 18:02: Ricoh GR III HDF / Ricoh GR IIIx
- 20:00: Nostalgia for midrange point and shoots and the digicam look
- 29:36: Leica D-Lux 8
- 31:42: Leica Q3 43
- 35:52: Fujifilm X-T50 (a baby Fujifilm X-T5)
- 37:30: Fujifilm X-M5
- 41:54: Pentax 17
- 48:52: Mint Camera Rollei 35AF
- 51:17: Episode break
- 52:22: Canon EOS R1
- 55:50: Sony a1 II
- 59:31: OM SYSTEM OM-1 Mark II
- 1:02:35: Nikon Z6 III
- 1:05:48: Canon EOS R5 Mark II
- 1:14:40: Leica SL III
- 1:17:55: FUJIFILM GFX 100 SII
- 1:20:31: Nikon Z 50 II
- 1:21:28: Sony ZV-E10 II
- 1:23:19: Panasonic Lumix S9
- 1:27:19: Kevin’s predictions for 2025
- 1:33:36: Peakto Image Management Software
- 1:35:06: Capture One 16.5 with Match Look
- 1:35:49: Fjordan iPhone camera grip
Guest Bio:
Kevin Rickert is B&H Photo’s Senior Sales Trainer for Photography and Lighting. It’s Kevin’s job to keep in touch with camera and lens manufacturers and get details about all the latest releases and updates. His role is to make sure the world-renowned B&H staff has all the information to answer your who, what, why, and other questions that you may ask, so they can satisfy all your wants and needs.
Born and raised in New York, Kevin is an intrepid street photographer, an avid traveler, and a baseball fan with 22 years in electronic retail, the last 10 of which have been spent as a sales trainer at B&H.
Stay Connected:
B&H Photo Video Website: https://www.bhphotovideo.com
B&H Photography Podcast landing page: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/podcasts
B&H Photography Podcast on B&H Photo’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BandH/podcasts
B&H Photography Podcast Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1001107823418353
B&H Photo Video Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bhphoto
B&H Photo Video Twitter: https://twitter.com/bhphoto
Micro 4/3rds YouTube video link: https://cyme.io/peakto-photo-organizer-software/
Fjordan iPhone Camera Grip: https://shop.fjorden.co/en-us/pages/about
Host: Allan Weitz
Senior Creative Producer: Jill Waterman
Senior Producer: Mike Weinstein
Executive Producer: Richard Stevens
1 Comment
Rare that I can offer info on your podcast!
the Canon film camera with eye control - I think last one is EOS3 which I have just because of that feature! Was looking for a film camera could use with my EF glass and Eye Control sealed the deal on this choice and truly is magical! Not sure why the version in modern cameras seems to be having so much trouble for some.
there is an iPhone grip called ShiftCam that also turns your phone “into a camera” and is cheaper but not as fancy as the Fjorden and no app that I saw. But it has been helpful to be more comfortable!
as for Taiwan, yes this is Kevin’s 5th (or 6th or whatever it was by now) sign you should go! My homeland is beautiful and as you alluded to, I’m very worried about the political situation sadly. Hopefully you get to eat some great food there as well and see the eastern coast, enjoy the mountains, as well as the fun tech. There are still many indigenous cultures trying to maintain their ways. Would love to hear about your trip on the podcast if that could happen!