PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

Paraphrasing from "Spaceballs," "...when will soon be now?"

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

A new wafer fab was announced in the Georgetown/Austin area of Texas a few months ago. I don't recall when it will come online, but seem to remember the year 2026 in the article.

Texas Instruments has just announced a new wafer fab to be built on the site of their old plant in Sherman, Texas, about 60 miles north of Dallas. The part of the cost that has been made public is about $32 billion (yes...with a "B"). The first of four phases of the plant is hoped to come online in 2025. Not sure how long the "shakedown," along with the resulting adjustments, corrections, and fine tuning is likely to require.

Bottom line...the catastrophic loss of two semiconductor manufacturies in Asia is a catastrophic event. The recovery goes far beyond solving the comparatively minor logistics problems currently being addressed.

My suggestion is to plan on spending the next three or four years learning to master what you have now, then learn and apply some basic artistic principles to your photography. Use the money that you don't spend to take your family (or yourself) on a nice vacation with lots of opportunities to practice your new skills and apply your new knowledge.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

"Soon" reminds me of the exchange in "Space Balls" about the movies being on DVD.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5drjr9PmTMA

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

It's complicated by international relations, the CoVid-19 crisis in China, a slowing economy with various uncertainties such as interest rates and inflation, the lack of semi-conductor manufacturing resources outside of Taiwan, and many other factors. Plus, with the shrinking camera market, camera companies have to be very careful to produce products that will sell at a good profit.

It could be a while.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

I'm glad to see that someone is using reliable sources instead of just guessing!

Nickaroo

That really is the truth. It seems like a Company comes out with a New Camera Body, then People have to rush out and buy it before the first Firmware update is unleashed.

RightOnPhotography Loc: Quebec,QC

How many new cameras do you buy each year? More than one? If yes, you have a serious case of GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrom)

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Right! A company can produce a great product, but if it costs too much to research and produce without enough people buying it, why bother. The Concorde was a perfect example. That lost money on every flight, but it was great for the prestige of Air France and British Airways. I knew someone who flew on it, and she wasn't impressed: "Too small!" She was a bit of a snob.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Funny! I didn't read that before I posted my similar response (below).

dick ranez

Camera companies are having a difficult time delivering the cameras they have already announced. Wait time on the Nikon Z9 is supposedly a year, the Canon R3 some what shorter. Why whet appetites you can't feed? Use the time to master your current gear - when was the last time you picked up your owner's manual? Concentrate on new lenses or new lighting techniques or new whatever. The intriguing thing about photography is there is always something to learn, something to improve, and yes, something to "want".

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Improvement begins with I, not $.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

A new company is building a plant in the Greensboro, NC, area to make the next generation supersonic airliner.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

About one every 6 to 7 years. I want lots of new features for my cash.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Some companies do a firmware upgrade give the camera a new model designation and consumers fall for it every year or 2 at most.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Lumix just keeps adding new features to their current models via firmware updates. They are nearly always pre-announced. They stop when the hardware no longer supports the new features.