DSLRs vs smart phones
Jul 28, 2019 13:12:04 #
Link below showed up in my news feed this morning. With none of the companies being profitable selling DSLRs, how long can they last?
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cnbc.com/amp/2019/07/26/japanese-camera-companies-fight-for-survival-in-the-smartphone-era.html
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cnbc.com/amp/2019/07/26/japanese-camera-companies-fight-for-survival-in-the-smartphone-era.html
Jul 28, 2019 13:20:57 #
I wonder what percentage of those using smart phone cameras would/may have purchased a DSLR.
I'm guessing not many. I wonder how many of the cell phone camera users would have purchased an "Instamatic" back in the day instead of a SLR. (Purchased a pocket camera if their phone didn't have a camera in it.)
So I don't think it's like a ton of people saying I'll use my cell instead of getting a DSLR.
Could it be that many people with DSLRs are hanging onto what they have instead of buying a new camera every so often?
I'm guessing not many. I wonder how many of the cell phone camera users would have purchased an "Instamatic" back in the day instead of a SLR. (Purchased a pocket camera if their phone didn't have a camera in it.)
So I don't think it's like a ton of people saying I'll use my cell instead of getting a DSLR.
Could it be that many people with DSLRs are hanging onto what they have instead of buying a new camera every so often?
Jul 28, 2019 13:31:41 #
The big problem, of course, is that smartphones have virtually replaced point and shoot cameras. These were a much higher volume than "real" cameras. So any company that sold a lot of point and shoots has a major problem - it's very hard for a company to downsize quickly enough to offset that kind of hit to profits. So the major DSLR makers have to figure out how to survive based on the camera enthusiast market.
Not a simple task.
Sony is well positioned because of it's in-house semiconductor capability, giving it the ability to bring advances in semiconductors into its cameras relatively quickly.
I used to supply chips to the Japanese camera companies.
Not a simple task.
Sony is well positioned because of it's in-house semiconductor capability, giving it the ability to bring advances in semiconductors into its cameras relatively quickly.
I used to supply chips to the Japanese camera companies.
Jul 28, 2019 14:15:39 #
It is a major generational paradigm shift that many industries are struggling trying to come up with a new business model. Just read yesterday younger people in urban settings (growing) don't want the upkeep, garaging, depreciation and other costs of owning a car, preferring Uber, etc. They also are not wanting to invest in single-family homes for the same reasons. With whole generations growing up whereby cell phones are "good enough" I see the whole camera industry dying... just a matter of how soon the death comes.
Jul 28, 2019 14:23:26 #
I have taken on a project of taking photos of Texas County Courthouses and in doing so, have been to 74 thus far, have started taking a few with my iPhone 8 at each stop in order to send to my sister and daughter along the way to let them see where I am at. I have been amazed at the quality of the pics I have taken, will try to attach a few.
Jul 28, 2019 14:36:31 #
Being a PHOTOGRAPHER and not a photographic equipment manufacturer, distributor or retailer, I am sometimes curious why so many folks on the forum are so interested, worried or even preoccupied with all of these trends and sales statistics as to who's buying what and why.
As I have written many times, as have others, there is a camera or device for every photographer- amateur, professional occasional snapshooter and just folks who wanna have fun taking pictures. There are a time and a place, as per practically, for every kind of camera. You can't engage in the scope of photography that can be enabled by a current DSLR or up-to-date mirrorless camera with a cell phone device, nor can you tuck the aforementioned advanced camera systems in your shirt pocket and use it spontaneously for casual image capture and fun.
If the cell phone, iPhone or smartphone will eventually replace anything in the retail market, it probably will be the point and shoot cameras.
As a full-time professional photographer, I won't leave home or go on assignment without my "device". I use it as a tethered monitor, a quick, convenient and efficient communications with clients where I can transmit images for input and approval to art directors and customers at distant locations, etc. I can do quick and dirty edits on the apps and plan my post-processing. I use I for fun on days off when the last thing I wanna do is lug around a carload of gear.
Most photographers will purchase gear that is appropriate for their requirements. Good equipment doesn't come cheap so it's good to do the research and determine if their system the are contemplating will be serviced and lenses and accessories will be accessible for a reasonable time going forward. I have not seen most of the well-known brands or models entirely disappear and there's stuff dating back many decades into the film era that are still plentiful on the used market. Yes, good gear is costly, but you are not buying a house. Many avid photographers upgrade, run parallel systems and go into more sophisticated gear as they progress and outgrow their older equipment. Many talented and savvy shooters do great work with extremely simple, modest and even older gear.
Much of the technology in cellphone cameras are derived from more sophisticated systems but surprisingly, some of the miniaturization and innovations in cellphone cameras is finding its way into the big stuff make it more compact, and able to function better in low existing light.
What's great is that cell phone photography is very accessible to folks in general- younger people and older folks who may not, at first, be interested in photography as a hobby, means of artistic expression or even a profession. Once they get into it, as the ofte do, however, they may discover their hidden talents, satisfaction and just pure fun. Decent results are encouraging and many people will want to progress. Not a bad "bug" to be bitten by!
As I have written many times, as have others, there is a camera or device for every photographer- amateur, professional occasional snapshooter and just folks who wanna have fun taking pictures. There are a time and a place, as per practically, for every kind of camera. You can't engage in the scope of photography that can be enabled by a current DSLR or up-to-date mirrorless camera with a cell phone device, nor can you tuck the aforementioned advanced camera systems in your shirt pocket and use it spontaneously for casual image capture and fun.
If the cell phone, iPhone or smartphone will eventually replace anything in the retail market, it probably will be the point and shoot cameras.
As a full-time professional photographer, I won't leave home or go on assignment without my "device". I use it as a tethered monitor, a quick, convenient and efficient communications with clients where I can transmit images for input and approval to art directors and customers at distant locations, etc. I can do quick and dirty edits on the apps and plan my post-processing. I use I for fun on days off when the last thing I wanna do is lug around a carload of gear.
Most photographers will purchase gear that is appropriate for their requirements. Good equipment doesn't come cheap so it's good to do the research and determine if their system the are contemplating will be serviced and lenses and accessories will be accessible for a reasonable time going forward. I have not seen most of the well-known brands or models entirely disappear and there's stuff dating back many decades into the film era that are still plentiful on the used market. Yes, good gear is costly, but you are not buying a house. Many avid photographers upgrade, run parallel systems and go into more sophisticated gear as they progress and outgrow their older equipment. Many talented and savvy shooters do great work with extremely simple, modest and even older gear.
Much of the technology in cellphone cameras are derived from more sophisticated systems but surprisingly, some of the miniaturization and innovations in cellphone cameras is finding its way into the big stuff make it more compact, and able to function better in low existing light.
What's great is that cell phone photography is very accessible to folks in general- younger people and older folks who may not, at first, be interested in photography as a hobby, means of artistic expression or even a profession. Once they get into it, as the ofte do, however, they may discover their hidden talents, satisfaction and just pure fun. Decent results are encouraging and many people will want to progress. Not a bad "bug" to be bitten by!
Jul 28, 2019 14:48:40 #
Times change, and no matter how much the makers of buggy whips changed their products, people stopped buying them. When the SLR was popular, the alternative was a cheap point and shoot camera. Electronics and technology have changed all that. Cell phones are better than old P&S cameras and just as good as many modern compacts. When you have so much versatility in such a small package, why buy a camera that is four times the size? Cell phones take good pictures. Period. They fit into a pocket and can take movies and stills in any kind of light. The results can be sent immediately around the world.
Expensive DSLRs and mirrorless cameras are for "photographers," like the people here. I enjoy the technology and all the buttons and switches, and for that reason, a cell phone just doesn't cut it for me. Unfortunately, I will not be able to keep Nikon in business.
Expensive DSLRs and mirrorless cameras are for "photographers," like the people here. I enjoy the technology and all the buttons and switches, and for that reason, a cell phone just doesn't cut it for me. Unfortunately, I will not be able to keep Nikon in business.
Jul 28, 2019 16:44:23 #
E.L.. Shapiro wrote:
Being a PHOTOGRAPHER and not a photographic equipment manufacturer, distributor or retailer, I am sometimes curious why so many folks on the forum are so interested, worried or even preoccupied with all of these trends and sales statistics as to who's buying what and why.
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Beats me.
Jul 28, 2019 17:48:18 #
Absolutely, my point exactly. I carry other equipment to photograph but have recognized how handy and exceptional they can be.
Jul 29, 2019 01:11:45 #
If camera manufacturers do not con their clients, they will survive.
If they insist on dong their own thing instead of giving the best they've got, they will have a steep hill to climb.
An example is the D7200. The replacement D7500 is a step back instead of forward.
If we consider the folding screens' position, it is not even a step ahead of the 5300.
If they insist on dong their own thing instead of giving the best they've got, they will have a steep hill to climb.
An example is the D7200. The replacement D7500 is a step back instead of forward.
If we consider the folding screens' position, it is not even a step ahead of the 5300.
Jul 29, 2019 07:30:46 #
My electronic calculator replaced my slide rule (now in my antique collection) and my iPhone’s calculator largely replaced my calculator. Actually the iPhone has replaced many items that I used to carry (calculator, maps, calendar, gps, watch, Walkman, alarm clock, ...). But I still carry my 📸
Jul 29, 2019 07:35:09 #
Wallen wrote:
If camera manufacturers do not con their clients, they will survive.
If they insist on dong their own thing instead of giving the best they've got, they will have a steep hill to climb.
An example is the D7200. The replacement D7500 is a step back instead of forward.
If we consider the folding screens' position, it is not even a step ahead of the 5300.
If they insist on dong their own thing instead of giving the best they've got, they will have a steep hill to climb.
An example is the D7200. The replacement D7500 is a step back instead of forward.
If we consider the folding screens' position, it is not even a step ahead of the 5300.
So if you ran the company, the model numbers would never get smaller, correct?
Jul 29, 2019 12:17:15 #
Cell phone cams are the modern Point & Shoot. They won't make a dent in the SLR, DSLR, MILC, MF, LF film, etc, arenas. Serious amateur, and Pro, photographers will continue to rely mainly on other than cell phone cameras. If there are a dozen big camera makers now, and most go broke, they will be bought out by the remaining one, or two, which stay in business and thrive with less competition. Non cell phone cameras will change over time, but will not fade away completely. Cell phone lenses, sensors, etc, can not match the quality / detail of larger format non cell phone systems. People who care about quality, and detail, in their images will never switch to using only cell phones...no matter how many pundits predict that they will.
Jul 29, 2019 12:30:48 #
Economy car buyers switching from Beetles to Pintos to Sparks does nothing to effect the sales of: Pickup Trucks, Limousines, SUVs, etc. Point & Shoot camera buyers switching from Elphs, and Coolpixes, to iPhones, does nothing to effect the sales of DSLRs, MILCs, etc. Anyone who thinks otherwise is smoking some bad stuff.
Jul 29, 2019 13:00:04 #
Keen wrote:
Economy car buyers switching from Beetles to Pintos to Sparks does nothing to effect the sales of: Pickup Trucks, Limousines, SUVs, etc. Point & Shoot camera buyers switching from Elphs, and Coolpixes, to iPhones, does nothing to effect the sales of DSLRs, MILCs, etc. Anyone who thinks otherwise is smoking some bad stuff.
Agreed. They probably would not purchase a DSLR to begin with.
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