My first thought after looking at this DSLR collage is: Why hasn’t anyone made a white SLR? Why are all SLR’s black or dark grey? Seems like an opportunity for someone to stand out. [via df]
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My first thought after looking at this DSLR collage is: Why hasn’t anyone made a white SLR? Why are all SLR’s black or dark grey? Seems like an opportunity for someone to stand out. [via df]
Brian
on 08 Jan 09White SLR you say?
http://www.dcresource.com/news/newsitem.php?id=3832
Jermaine Oosterling
on 08 Jan 09Nikon:
http://www.iblogispeak.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/nikon-d3-weeding-photographer-edition.jpg
CJ Curtis
on 08 Jan 09The Canon Digital Rebel used to be silver…maybe it still comes in silver? It always had that amateur toy look to it.
But then again, grey lenses are incredibly hard to find because they supposedly look more professional.
Kinda confusing, really.
Brooks
on 08 Jan 09Form follows function.
Cameras are used outdoors and are generally held with two hands. A white camera is soon going to be a dingy brown/grey camera.
Michael
on 08 Jan 09Form follows function in that regard…unless you’re apple til recently :-)
Miguel
on 08 Jan 09CJ, I think grey lenses are more expensive because they’re body is made of a special kind of ceramics in order to endure all weather conditions, where a metal body would expand and contract.
David Smtih
on 08 Jan 09Way back when, quality cameras were chrome (think of a Leica). AFAICR, the first black ones were the Nikon Fs that GIs brought back from Japan…my first black camera was a Brownie Hawkeye in about 1955.
Marko
on 08 Jan 09The “Stormtrooper” Pentax is the answer. Then again, why not a choice of colours…
Alain
on 08 Jan 09Definitely a form function consideration but there are a few other reasons as well. Pros don’t generally want the camera to stand out (for certain types of photography) – you get a more natural photo if it’s not as obvious that the camera is there. Additionally, you don’t want reflections off the camera affecting what you’re seeing from behind the lens.
As for grey lenses, Canon started making all of their giant zoom lenses (the L series) white specifically to make them stand out at professional sporting events. See this article for an explanation – they claim it is to reduce heat, which it definitely does, but everyone knows that marketing had a hand in it as well.
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Canon-lenses/Canon-L-Lens-Series.aspx
Jared
on 08 Jan 09As a teacher of mine explained years ago, a matte black finish on a camera body and lens draws less attention, and makes it much easier to blend into the background. It’s particularly useful for a photojournalist not to act as a giant blinking neon light screaming “I’m taking your picture!”
Josh Williams
on 08 Jan 09I shoot a Leica SLR and I can hardly go out in public without someone asking me about it. It’s not white, but the old-school silver body stands out: http://us.leica-camera.com/photography/d_system/digilux_3/
Farski
on 08 Jan 09Repeating what’s been said already… Most of these bodies are rubberized. All of the prosumer or professional bodies are definitely rubberized, cause once you add an 11 pounds lens to an already beefy body you want as much grip as you can get. Most of these manufacturers do a lot of selective featuring, (e.g. it probably costs about a dollar to add and HDMI connector to an SLR, but only higher end cameras actually come with it) in order to get people to buy a higher end model for one or two features. They would either be making white bodies for pro cameras that would get dirty in a hurry, or be making white bodies for the less used, less rubberized consumer models, thus providing an option for the cheaper models not available up the line? Doens’t make a lot of sense. Also, asking camera shops to keep another SKU in stock when is tough unless they are Amazon, BH, or Adorama I think.
Chris
on 08 Jan 09There are white DSLRs pictured in that collage. You just can’t see them. ;)
Jed Christiansen
on 08 Jan 09DeWalt made a hell of a splash when they introduced a brand of power tools in bright yellow. This was quite a contrast to the consumer-level black/grey colored tools, and even fairly different to the green/red tools of Makita and other pro-level tools.
It was well outside the traditional color boundaries, but it was backed up by being a consistently great product line. We’ve all seen the success in Lowe’s and Home Depot’s nationwide.
Aaron
on 08 Jan 09I know nothing about cameras, but wouldn’t the manufacturer then have to provide lenses that are also in white…effectively adding to the manufacturing costs?
Chris
on 08 Jan 09How about navy blue? That’d be dark enough to keep from staining, and visibly different.
Alexey
on 08 Jan 09Professional photo equipment is black, because white surfaces reflect light.
Bill
on 08 Jan 09There is a VERY good reason why professional grade cameras are ALWAYS in black. Reflections. You never want the camera to reflect in windows, eyes, any subject you are photographing. The suggestion of making a White DSLR is an example of a marketer designing a product instead of an end user or product expert. Sometimes when you stand out it is NOT a good thing.
bvs
on 08 Jan 09Sometimes, you want your product to be as similar as possible to the others in the market to avoid standing out from not only the competition but also from the consideration of the prospective buyer. Although, Nikon or Canon can give it a shot with not a mainstream model but as an option to a model or as some special edition model.
Derek K. Miller
on 08 Jan 09That’s my collage, and I could have included the limited-edition white Pentax K2000D, or the silver variants of some other models (like the Leica), or the various different funky colours of the G1 non-reflex model. But the black images were the easiest to find, and I also didn’t want any particular model to stand out to make the point about what a sea of SLRs and near-SLRs we have right now.
That said, most are black for the various reasons listed here, and because that’s been the trend for some time in SLR camera design. As one of my commenters said, “I like the black one with all the buttons and stuff.”
Sean Iams
on 08 Jan 09KitchenAid uses the technique of “differentiation by color” to stand out on store shelves and to stand out as a brand.
Jesse Stay
on 08 Jan 09My SLR (Digital Rebel XT) is Silver.
Duarte
on 08 Jan 09Is there anywhere I can find a higher resolution version of this image?
Peter
on 08 Jan 09@Duarte Yes: http://www.flickr.com/photos/penmachine/3177722200/sizes/l/
Bruno Bergher
on 08 Jan 09As I remember from Industrial Design History, back in school, in the 60s cameras were not black, except for ‘pro’ ones. So Canon (or Nikon, or whoever) started making amateur cameras with black bodies, so they would look ‘professional’.
Since then, in most kinds of electronics, black is associated with a pro grade of quality/features, while other colors are for general use. I think after that they could not come back from setting black to professional cameras, and then most are that way.
Perhaps the silver Digital Rebel is less common simply because it’s less popular: people think less of it than of the black model.
But, of course, I might be entirely wrong.
Ricky Irvine
on 08 Jan 09What about sage, ruby, lime, or flower power?
The Gorilla
on 08 Jan 09Black has practical advantages as well. In situations that photographers need to try to go unnoticed, like weddings, event photography and spy assignments, black cameras help to blend you in with the background and not draw too much attention to yourself.
Besides, if you REALLY want to stand out, you can always get the yellow Hasselblad. I know I want one. http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=112995
Andrew
on 08 Jan 09Pentax just released a white camera. Silly, I think. But check out the Panasonic G1. Not only does it come in nice shades of red and blue (plus black), but it is simply an amazing camera, and causing waves among serious photographers since any lens can be used on it with easy manual focus. It’s especially making Leica lens owners happy. Innovative and colorful. The red, though the cheapest color, seems to be the underground fav among the geriatric set. They’re having a blast.
anthony
on 08 Jan 09You can get most Dslrs is either black or silver. At least I know you can get Canon ones for sure.
nickd
on 08 Jan 09As a street photographer I would never, ever buy one. Ever. It would simply be too distracting towards my subjects. I even cover the white logos on my camera with gaffer tape.
Nate Berkopec
on 08 Jan 09As has been said, Canon makes white pro lenses.
But, also: where are the left-handed SLRs? Why is that handgrip thing always on the right side of the camera?
TR1
on 08 Jan 09One thought I had is “Light”. Since a camera is all about attracting light, maybe a black camera will gather more light toward it. I am no physicist though.
ratchetcat
on 08 Jan 09Any good book about Robert Capa will make it clear why black matte camera bodies are preferred by professionals. Hint: 9 gram letters and twitchy trigger fingers.
The handgrip and shutter release is usually on the right side of the camera because the majority of the population is right-handed and it’s logical to put the grip in the most dextrous, stable hand. Keep in mind that the film advance had to be operated by that hand as well in the days before motors and CF cards!
Left-handers just have to deal - as usual - though it is possible to hold most cameras upside down and fire the release with your pinky. (Full disclosure: I’m left-handed.)
ols
on 08 Jan 09Image. Big, serious, important-looking equipment is unfortunately a big part of being perceived as a good photographer. Dark = power & tradition.
Josh Catone
on 08 Jan 09Hmm, white DSLR? Ask and you shall receive, Jason:
http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/08/hands-on-with-pentaxs-new-lineup-including-the-white-pentax-k2/
;)
A Guy From South America
on 08 Jan 09As a photographer I can’t imagine a white camera. I wouldn’t buy one and I wouldn’t put a white one on the market either. Your statement is like: Why all PCs are grayish? Why not have PC in bright duck yellow color and stand up? So dumb.
Peter Urban
on 08 Jan 09White likely causes reflections in a photograph (in windows etc) more often then you would want them. Also a bright white camera draws more attention which you also try to avoid as a photographer more often than not.
However, canon has made most of its pro lenses white and since they are usually the longer focal length kind they really stand out. I guess that works for their biggest target group of sports / action photographers where you can see an entire army shooting i.e. a game on the sidelines – all with white big lenses. This works for them in a sense of “see all the pros are shooting with our stuff, so why wouldn’t you?”
@peterurban
ratchetcat
on 08 Jan 09According to Canon, their high-end telephoto lenses are white because they contain a lot of glass which is temperature sensitive. White paint is just an easy way to keep the glass at a more consistent temperature under bright sunlight.
(But yeah, the color differentiation probably doesn’t hurt there for marketing purposes…)
Brian Jones
on 08 Jan 09I know a lot of people have said this before, but black doesn’t reflect light. Use other colours and chances are you’ll end up with reflections in your picture.
Brian.
Peter Urban
on 08 Jan 09@ratchetcat
Good point with the heat problem, haven’t thought of that. Altough Nikon has similar long lenses in black and I’ve never heard of overheating problems.
Al
on 08 Jan 09http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/08/hands-on-with-pentaxs-new-lineup-including-the-white-pentax-k2/
PSolus
on 09 Jan 09It appears that none of the commenters in this blog know how to do this.
Nate Cavanaugh
on 09 Jan 09Couldn’t the same be said of tires? I’m really surprised that with the import/customization market being as popular as it has been for 15+ years, no one has made tires that actually match the color of the car. Unless DOT has some draconian law that says all tires must be boring.
Tom Bland
on 09 Jan 09I’ll second (third?) the point that is at the heart of the black DSLR matter – pro cameras are black so they don’t reflect in your subject.
Add to that some other factors, such as dirt/sweat accumulation, black rubber grips, making them more inconspicuous etcetc, and you have enough convincing reasons to assume that there will never be a pro-level DSLR camera body in anything but matte black, and if there is one, it won’t sell well.
Also, when it comes to pro-level cameras, they are not fashion accessories – photographers don’t spend $5000+ on a camera body so they can look cool when they whip it out on the bus.
The only non-black DSLRs in the Canon range are the entry-level 450d/500d/rebel XTi range. As far as the white L-series lenses are concerned, the above commenter got it right when he said they are mainly for sports and event photography and are probably white so they stand out when TV footage scans across photo pits at sporting events. As the smallest focal length in that range is 70mm-200mm, you’d be unlikely to use one in a studio setting where minimizing reflections is a priority.
Gyorgy
on 09 Jan 09There was a white dSLR camera from Pentax. I believe it was a limited edition K2000
Marko Lokas
on 09 Jan 09Why does everybody assume that DSLR cameras are for pros or aspiring photographers? The cameras in the first 2-3 rows are mostly sold to people that are just buying their next point and shoot camera, and are probably never going to use 75% of the features… so why not a, say, pink micro-4/3 dslr for shooting family events, cats and summer vacation?
Damon
on 09 Jan 09“photographers don’t spend $5000+ on a camera body so they can look cool…”
Are you sure?
There are good reasons to make cameras dark and unassuming, but I’d bet a good chuck of change that the marketing folks at Canon or Nikon could whip up a white-bodied super-high-end pro camera that would have photographers salivating over the new white hotness of status. They could tack an L onto the model name and charge 25% more…
huphtur
on 09 Jan 09yawn DSLR… http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/08/casios-ex-fs10-and-ex-fc100-compacts-burst-faster-than-your-dsl/
Adam
on 09 Jan 09As many people here have pointed out, there are white DSLR’s on the market – just not many. From my armchair, I’m going to venture the reasons are twofold:
1. Most DSLR’s are geared towards photojournalists, most of whom would prefer to remain a discrete presence.
2. A DSLR camera is easy to steal. It is also likely to be more valuable than the contents of your wallet or anything else you might have on you. Again, discretion is important.
@Marko: if a casual user doesn’t need an SLR (or know what it stands for) they are unlikely to be able to afford one, much less know how to use it. There are exceptions, of course, but very few of us can afford to treat a Sony Alpha SLR purchase as a casual expenditure.
I would be curious to hear from a Nikon or Canon product manager on this.
Francis
on 10 Jan 09It would become like the white macbook, it would look so cheap after a few usage because of how dirty it would look.
Blowski
on 10 Jan 09I was working for a big online retail site in UK, and the black EOS range used to outsell the silver EOS range about 10 to 1.
Can’t tell you why.
Tom Bland
on 10 Jan 09@Damon -
Good points – I think a white top-range DSLR would probably be a great way to sort the pros from the poseurs :P.
Seriously, though, all of the pros I know agree that they wouldn’t buy a white camera. I, on the other hand, as somewhat of a “prosumer,” might, as all my accessories and gadgets are white :D.
Tom Bland
on 10 Jan 09@Marko – DSLRs are for pros or serious hobbyists because they are expensive and take alot of time to learn how to use them properly. If you want a pink camera to photograph your cat and your kids on the beach, surely you don’t need interchangeable lenses, off-camera flashes and the ability to shoot in RAW…Hence the “super-zoom” genre of cameras, which provide superior IQ to a compact yet without the overhead of an SLR.
Radu
on 10 Jan 09there’s actually an M series Leica in there which isn’t an SLR :)
Marko Lokas
on 11 Jan 09@ Tom & Adam: You can get a new Nikon D40/60 or Canon 450D + 2 kit lens for something like 500$. If you buy second hand, or just with 1 lens, probably for less. That’s scratching the price range of higher grade P&S cameras (super-zooms, or for example canon g10).
Then again, if you’re into buying lenses, you can spend tens of thousands, but then you’re probably not going to be into pink cameras.
I think most people never get anything more than the the kit… and that a lot of them don’t even care about changing lenses, shooting raw, off camera flashes, or any advanced stuff… compared to p&s, a dslr has superior IQ, high ISO, handling and responsiveness… enough real advantages over a p&s for any casual user to be at peace and not need anything more than the kit… because, let’s face it, if you’re not into it, changing lenses and carrying lots of heavy gear is a PITA.
I’m basing my opinion on what I have seen and experienced until now, people with dslr’s that I have met, etc… maybe some survey will tell something different… but I think you can easily find that kind of consumer behaviour in other markets… most people aren’t power users… now I’m guessing, but I can almost smell the power law when trying to think of a ratio between the power users and the ones that buy and don’t care to upgrade or invest afterwards (the ones with the hypothetic pink camera).
Andrew Brown
on 11 Jan 09They guy or gal who buys that white Digital SLR, will be wearing leopard print, driving a PT Cruiser and will have read every single Stephen King book imaginable.
Andrew Brown
on 11 Jan 09I don’t mean to be a double poster but Brian makes a very strong point about white reflecting light.
CJ Curtis
on 12 Jan 09“photographers don’t spend $5000+ on a camera body so they can look cool…”
I tend to disagree, but I also think that a silver or white camera is not the way to “look cool.” It’s really more about creating jealousy, which requires owning the most expensive toys. And in terms of camera bodies, they’re all black.
tiago
on 14 Jan 09you know, not everything needs to match the color of your mbp.
kevin
on 14 Jan 09Like this?
http://www.pentaximaging.com/slr/K2000_-_White/
CJ Curtis
on 15 Jan 09Here’s the lead copy of the above link:
“For those new to the world of digital SLR photography, PENTAX provides a rich learning experience in a lightweight, ergonomic package. Discover the DSLR. Welcome the K2000.”
That means it’s a toy. Toys tend to use color as a gimic.
This discussion is closed.