Humorous Sketch Imagines if Camera Brands Were People
Every camera brand makes excellent cameras. However, as the popular photography YouTube channel Mango Street shows with its humorous “camera brand support group” video, that doesn’t mean photographers can’t laugh at themselves and some of the stereotypes surrounding their preferred manufacturer.
Any camera can capture beautiful photographs when a capable, determined photographer uses it. But do certain camera brands appeal to specific sorts of people? Further, what if camera companies were people?
“Hi, my name is Fuji,” says Rachel Gulotta pretending to be Fujifilm, dressed in a knit cap and rugged overalls ensemble. “I’ve been shooting film since before most of you were born. I haven’t touched the stuff for the last two months. I’ve primarily just been using Film Simulation recipes.”
Daniel Inskeep, playing Sony, laughs in response. “It’s fine, just say you don’t know how to use Photoshop.” Sony photographers may find Inskeep’s choice of a Supreme hooded sweatshirt and backward baseball cap lame or highly fashion-forward. It’s tough to predict.
Gulotta’s Canon personification asks, “Photoshop, do you mean Lightroom?”
“Sorry my subject matter isn’t so boring that I have to add moody clouds to every photo to make it look more interesting,” Fujifilm pointedly remarks to Sony.
While performing the “dab,” Sony replies, “At least my photos don’t suck!”
Inskeep’s moderator character interrupts, “Pentax, you’ve been pretty quiet.” Sure, Pentax may not have released many new cameras lately, and even the “new” KF indeed stretches the definition of “new” altogether. Still, Pentax remains a significant player in the DSLR market. There is something to be said about being the last company standing in a market segment, which while shrinking, still has its fair share of supporters.
While Mango Street’s video is made in jest and is just a joke, some of the punchlines may hit a bit too close to home for certain photographers. “Sony” jokes that “Canon” won’t be able to afford new cameras after spending so much money on first-party RF-mount glass. Canon replies, “You’ll just let any ol’ Sigma mount that body,” complete with suggestive eyebrow raises a la Milhouse.
Canon has infamously not licensed its RF mount to third-party lens makers, at least not for autofocus lenses, much to the dismay of Canon mirrorless camera users. Canon tells PetaPixel that it’s “in talks with other manufacturers” regarding licensing the RF mount, but refused to offer additional details. A manual focus Cosina RF lens might not quell the growing outrage.
Returning to Mango Street’s video, Gulotta’s Leica character, perhaps unsurprisingly, doesn’t lack funds. “I paid an extra $500 for the panda version,” she chuckles while holding a Leica camera. Leica loves its special edition cameras. A lot. Perhaps too much.
“Who here has been shooting video?” asks the support group leader. Canon and Sony instantly raise their hands. Inskeep’s bird photography-loving Nikon character, complete with a photographer’s vest and bucket hat and an affinity for tripods, lowers his glasses and questions, “These things shoot video?” They sure do.
Even though the video’s only objective is to make people laugh, it highlights stereotypes and misconceptions about the major camera brands that some photographers may find frustratingly relatable. After all, as all photographers know, the only appropriate attire to sport while shooting with a Phase One camera is, of course, a tuxedo.
Image credits: Mango Street
