The Price of Pyro

Hi! Whatever you’re doing and wherever you are tomorrow, we hope you have a happy, restful, and safe (more on that later) July 4th — we’ll see you again on Friday. Today we’re exploring: - Shutters down: Fujifilm is working hard to make digital cameras cool again. - The price of pyro: July 4th fireworks have dangerous consequences. Have feedback for us? Just hit reply - we'd love to hear from you!   The smartphone crushed the digital camera. Before the picture quality and convenience of modern smartphones rendered the tech obsolete for a lot of users, more than 120 million digital cameras were shipped around the world in a single year (2010), as scores of people picked up simple point-and-shoots to snap candids or artier vacation pics. By 2023, that shipment figure had slipped almost 94% to less than 8 million. Snap back But one camera maker has refocused and is now reaping the rewards of burgeoning demand for its faux-vintage digital cameras: Fujifilm. Online hype — much of it via TikTok — around Fujifilm’s X100 digital cameras has been translating to real results for the Tokyo-based tech giant. The company’s imaging division, home to a selection of buzzy cameras beloved by Gen Z shutterbugs, accounted for 37% of the record-breaking profit it posted [in 2023](. A gushing [Wired review]( of the latest version of the camera, which was originally launched in 2011 and now costs ~$1,600, posited that the X100VI model might be the “most anticipated new camera… ever”, typifying the buzz around the hard-to-get-your-hands-on device. Grid-friendly models like the X100V and the Instax Mini instant film camera have helped to reinvigorate the Japanese company’s imaging segment in recent years — the Â¥102B (~$629M) it brought in last year made it the 90-year-old company’s most profitable division last year. So, why is Fujifilm’s shooter such a rare bright spot in the broader digital camera picture? The X100 has managed to rise above the digital decline thanks in part to its nostalgia-friendly credentials. While it mostly functions like a high quality modern fixed-lens compact camera, the device also offers users the ability to mimic more filmic shots and looks a lot like a vintage film camera — that’s helped Fujifilm tap into renewed enthusiasm for the analog aesthetic that’s helped buoy the [vinyl revival]( and other retro pursuits. To help keep up with consumer appetite, Fujifilm [reportedly doubled]( the launch volume for the VI that debuted in March. But the level of demand surprised even Yujiro Igarashi, manager of the group’s professional imaging group, who said “I was surprised that although we doubled our preparations, it still came up short”. [Read this on the web instead](   The Price of Pyro Tomorrow, millions of Americans will celebrate July 4th, a holiday which — perhaps surprisingly — ranked joint 6th in a [YouGov survey]( of America’s favorite days of the year (Christmas was first, Thanksgiving second, Halloween third, in case you were wondering). Most people agree that some of the key ingredients for a good Independence Day bash include lots of hot dogs, as many mayonnaise-based salads as your table can fit, friends and family, and, of course, fireworks. But, America’s love of a dazzling display of pyrotechnics comes with risks. In fact, a 2020 study by Mietkiewicz et al., originally published in [The Conversation](, found that the number of human-caused wildfires often spikes in the days around July 4th — an increase that’s largely attributed to the widespread use of fireworks during the holiday. This regular uptick exacerbates the pre-existing issue of human-caused wildfires in the US. Nearly 85% of wildfires between 2000 and 2017 were caused by humans according to [data cited]( by the National Park Service. As Reuters reports, wildfires aren’t the only issue [caused by fireworks](. The noise and light can disturb and endanger certain species of wildlife, and pollutants such as perchlorate can enter the food chain if not properly disposed of. Furthermore, most people don’t handle things-that-go-bang very frequently, leading to an uptick in visits to the emergency room: the chart of firework-related injuries is an [even more extreme version]( of the one above. Stay safe! [Read this on the web instead](   More Data - It takes 281,151 hot meals, 50 tons of strawberries, 14,968 liters of dairy cream, and 102,144 scones to [fuel Wimbledon](. - The US men's national soccer team made history by becoming the first-ever host nation to exit the Copa America in the group stage, following a 1-0 loss to [Uruguay](. - Despite causing over a $100 billion drop in Adani Group's market value, short-seller research firm Hindenburg only made $4.1 million from its bet against the Indian conglomerate last [year](. - McDonald's has announced that the $25 billion it makes from chicken each year is now on par with its beef [sales](. - With an average commute time of just 17 minutes, Denmark takes the top spot for the quickest trip to work, while the US ranks sixth with an average of 26 [minutes](.   Hi-Viz - How the renting bubble could impact the [election](. - Exploring the impact AI will have on our energy [systems](. Off the charts: Which EV maker looks like it’s starting to dig itself out of a deep delivery hole? [Answer below]. [Answer here.](   Thanks for stopping by! Have some [feedback](mailto:daily@chartr.co?subject=Feedback&body=Hi, I like the newsletters, but I had a thought for you...) or want to [sponsor this newsletter](mailto:advertising@sherwoodmedia.com?subject=I’m interested in advertising with Sherwood Media)?   Not a subscriber? Sign up for free below. [Subscribe](   [X]( [Instagram]( [Chartr Logo]( Sherwood Media, LLC produces fresh and unique perspectives on topical financial news and is a fully owned subsidiary of Robinhood Markets, Inc., and any views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of any other Robinhood affiliate... 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