The system camera and compact camera market is shrinking. That we know already. But the following numbers of Futuresource are giving is some insights in new photographic trends:

1. The worldwide population of photographers has grown by a factor of 8 over the last 10 years, to more than 4 billion
2. Number of photos captured annually has increased 6-fold to 1.2 trillion over the last 10 years

That increase is driven by the exponential increase of smartphones. Few more details:

1. 79% of smartphone users regularly take photos with their smartphone
2. 88% of 18-24 year olds regularly take photos with their smartphone

So what happens to the “classic” system camera world? Futuresource writes:

While smartphones represent the primary camera device for a growing share of consumers, the opportunity for users to ‘step up’ to digital cameras grows with every new photographer.
“It is clear that digital cameras maintain key technical advantages over multifunctional camera-devices, in terms of bigger and superior sensors and optics, and manual control, commented Arun Gill, Market Analyst at Futuresource Consulting. However, smartphones are setting the bar in terms of smart UI’s, connectivity and mobile apps, which represents a growing usability delta between smartphones and digital cameras.”

In short: If you offer premium system (or compact) cameras you will have more chance to sell your cameras!

found via Photoscala.

2015 is over and I expect 2016 to bring quite some major innovative products. Both Nikon and Canon will get more “serious” with mirrorless. And Sony will keep improving and probably bring some sort of professional A9 model. Fuji will update both the X-T and X-PRO line. And MFT will bring some new high end GH5 and E-M1II cameras.

So now let us know…

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Samsung reports at Korea Times that:

“We do not have any official plans to withdraw from the camera business. We still have employees working in the division.”

And an interetsing addition regarding the Nikon partnership rumor:

“Should Nikon seek Samsung’s camera business, it could be for diversification of its product portfolio.”

Interesting… :)

Mobile01 interviewed Sigma CEO Kazuto Yamaki. And there are some interesting thoughts he shares:

1) Company philosphy:
“We’re still a private company, not a listed company. Epically we are still family owned. So we don’t need to maximized turnover, sells and profits. Public company have to do that to keep their stock price high. But in our case, our goal is just to continue the business and protect the employees. And that is very important. So we gave up to grow rapidly. We decided to stay in Japan, and to explore what can be done here. And that’s one reason why we change our main business form volume zone to mid-high end product.”
(Editor’s note: I really like the way Sigma thinks about his business!)

2) The best selling lenses (in volume) are:
1. 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC MARCO OS
2. 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM
3. 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG MARCO

3) The lenses creating more “value” (I guess he means earnings) are:
1. Contemporary/Sports 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM
2. ART 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM
3. ART 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM

4) DP camera sales:
“dp0 sells more than our expectation. So I’m happy! dp2 is the highest by far. Over 50% than other three models. ”

5) In a recent Mobile01 poll the users biggest wish was for Sigma to make FE lenses:
He recognizes that he gets the same request from other countries (Editor’s note: Mobile01 is located in Taiwan). And he adds later that “Everything is possible” (when asked if he would make Sony FE lenses)

6) About Sony and Foveon:
“To us, it is very clear that Sony will be the major player in the photo industry. Because they have sensor technology. In order to differentiate the products. the sensor and lens are the most important. Other things can be shared by other companies. I think in the photo industry who has a good technology of making good sensor and lens could survive. That is why we acquired the Foveon company and try to retain the technology to us. ”

7) About Taiwan market:
“Taiwan’s market respond to new products very quickly. Way faster than USA, China, even Japan. Taiwan is one have quickest response country in the world. Once we release a new product, Taiwanese will jump into new product or technology. And also they care about the quality very much, even more than price. I think it’s a very sophisticated market. ”

8) Why not make a medium format Foveon camera?
“One of my dream is to make our camera to produce such high quality image. Medium format is my personal interest. But so far we have not work on it. First of all, In order to make a medium format camera, we need to re-develop a whole series from the beginning. We have to develop the sensor, camera body, lens…etc. It’s a very long procedure. And unfortunately, the market size of the medium format look quite small, even for Sigma. So that’s why we did not enter the market.“