In my annual run down of the world of photography for 2024, I made some predication for this year. But was I spot on or wide of the mark with my 2025 Predictions. Oddly a mixed bag but better than I could expect.

It’s been a while since I have posted. For personal reasons I’ve fallen behind & lost my mojo but I’m hoping to get back in 2026. But Here’s a quick post looking at my 2025 predictions. I’ve divided it into those bang on, almost right, as well as my misses

In the back of the Net – the spot on ones

2. Either Canon or Nikon (or both) will stop dSLR production

This one brings me no satisfaction but Canon and Nikon have essentially stopped production with only existing stock being sold. You’ll not find any confirmation but with even Google AI for once matching insider and press comments on this, the dSLR only exists in production thanks to Pentax

7. Harman launch a second colour film with a different ISO

Okay in fairness Harman Red is a redscalefilm based off Harman Phoenix. But it is rated as a 125ISO film so I’m taking a win from that. Alongside Harman Red are now 2 generation of Phoenix in production but both the original and Phoenix II are 200ISO

8. Camp Snap launch a higher end version for the photogs

So Camp snap did launch the CS-Pro just in time for Christmas. DCW noted the significant improvements over the original including the upgraded flash and the selectable filter dial. A still sub £100 camera that is likely to be the lo-fi digital to beat in 2026

9. New Digital Compact announced by key manufactures to keep up with current craze

Lots of new compacts turned up from the big names. but most were geared for the higher prosumer end like the new Ricoh GR IV, Sony RX1R III or the vlogging geared like Canon PowerShot V1. Not exactly cheap.

But there was some interesting action. Fujifilm launched the slight odd half frame concept X Series camera the the X Half. And Canon genuinely brought back a basic P&S digi-compact from 2016 with the PowerShot Elph 360 HS A ( or Ixus 285 HS A for us Brits and Aussies). Pretty much the same 20.2MP camera as the old 2016 model which lacks the A suffix bar 2 features. On a plus to some it uses micro SD cards but it weirdly uses all the fancy wi-fi connectivity including connecting to PictBridge WiFI printers

But hand it to to the small kids…

But that remains quite pricey for the budget savvy Gen Z’er and enter 2 other old name who definitely got the memo. Neither Yashica or Kodak cameras are made by the historic companies. But both names have returned to the camera buisness under licenced names in recent years. I’ll not focus on Yashica here other than to mention their budget orientated City line. But the real start was Kodak. JK imaging who make Kodak PixPro camera have got the budget market thing long sewn up. Their FZ45 and FZ55 compacts did huge business in 2024 filling the vacuum for reasonable budget compacts.

And in 2025 they launched the Kodak PixPro C1, arguable aimed as a budget vlogger camera but without IS, yeah use your smartphone or action camera for that. But as a photo shooter it certainly gives amodern twist for not much change coming in at a third of the price of Canon’s reheated Ixus/ELPH. It has joined the best selling ranks for digital cameras in 2025 which is dominated by it’s FZ55 brother over high end models . Go Figure.

Now just hang on… the Kinda Rights

3. Reto Launch a full frame camera using the hybrid lens from the H35N

I could have got this spot on by dropping the word hybrid and the _N suffix. In 2025 Reto lanched their Pano Camera., which has been their most below the radar camera to date. It’s main selling point was bring back the faux panorama format developed by Kodak – in brief half frame’s landscape orientated evil cousin. You get a half frame 13x36mm image (3:1 ratio actually more widescreen than Xpan) but you only get a single half frame per shot which begs the question of why not shoot in full frame and just crop. The Pano allows you to switch in a mask at any point or just shoot full frame. On it’s 22mm 1:5.6 2 element lens

Yup spot that lens. Sound familiar ?

We have a VUWS lens as seen on the H35 (the predecessor to the H35N) with a built in flash and Pano feature.So basically a full frame H35

I’m currently shooting this so expect a review early next year.

4. Pentax will tease, at the very least, a AF high end compact

I’d actually written this off. The rumour was the Pentax 17 never quite hit the expected demand and that Ricoh was pulling the Pentax film Camera project. But literally this month a Rumour was picked up that Ricoh were about to relaunch a oldie but Goldie Espio model (The Espio 140). Even mighty DCW picked this up but with health sense of scepticism which is why I’m not claiming a win (yet)

… And wide of the Post (so far !!)

1. Leica will announce a new SOFORT 3 instax based off the mini 99
2. Fujifilm announce plans for a 800ISO colour film to be made in China
10. Nikon announce ahead of 2026, a limited run of a film SLR to celebrate 70 years of the Nikon F

I’m listing these as although the proverbial fat lady has sung on 2025 there may be an Encore

There will most likely be a Sofort 3 at some point and the Fujifilm Instax Mini 99 is still a good candidate although other high end Instaxs have arrived. Fujifilm may still make 800ISO film in China although that very much depends on the success one suspects of existing production. Even if it’s announced next week , expect a long lag time to hiting Western stores as Fujifilm seem happier selling us rebadged Kodak film. And Nikon does have form with limited celebration runs of cameras (notably the Nikon SP in 2005 on the 50th anniversary of the original). I goofed and said 2026 as the actually launch Nikon F was 1959. Which may mean a limited run will be announced in the next 2-3 years.

5. Kodak will consolidate budget 200ISO colour production into either Gold or ColorPlus

Yeah that didn’t happen although we got Kodacolor 100. As Kosmo foto discussed there is some money on that they may not be a new film as such. Likely culprits are the same emulsion as Lomography 100CN (aka Kodak VR 100) or Kodak Promage 100 (although analog Cafe think they’re subtly different) or Kodak Aerocolor IV

That’s the 2025 Predictions. And now for 2026….

You’ll need to wait. I’m currently running stuff through the quantum computer, wading through KosmoFoto‘s rubbish bins and putting my feelers out for what might be coming.

But I can tell you is that the backer of the Nu-box box camera will still not get their cameras in 2026 (we’ve not forgotten Robert Hamm)

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cover image is “They really were queueing to see the clairvoyant. “We need to know if we’ll make it through the weekend.” said one. ” – by Bryan Ledgard, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons