burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Serious photographers will never use film. Only glass plates.

Serious photographers will never use 4x5. Only 8x10.

Serious photographers will never use medium format gear. Only 4x5 or larger.

Serious photographers will never use 35mm. Only medium format or larger.

Serious photographers will never use digital cameras. Only film.

Serious photographers will never use small sensors. Only full frame will do.

Serious photographers will never use smartphones. Only interchangeable lens cameras will do.

Sound familiar? NEVER say never, because someone will prove you wrong.

Anyone remember former Microsoft CEO Steve Balmer's initial reaction to the iPhone?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eywi0h_Y5_U

(Where the heck is he now?)

Pro1

It doesn't matter! What matters is the "output" not the "Input (i.e. specs of the camera). And we have cameras now that perform better than film and with camera more capabilities (e.g. various film simulations, in camera settings, auto functions). MP's is just a sales gimmick to sell more cameras, and nothing more!!

Paul Buckhiester Loc: Columbus, GA USA

Possibly a medium format?

Bill_de Loc: US

Never say Never



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gwilliams6

Sony wont let up and will keep further ahead of Nikon and Canon with their upcoming releases. Remember in the new mirrorless world, the company with the best tech and best image sensors will lead. Sony already makes the most and best image sensors in the world for themselves as well as competitors' cameras. Look at what Canon just said. They are looking to do more in the corporate and medical products where they make more profit, and less in consumer cameras. What that guy told you is not what Canon Execs. are saying just this week.

Canon sees a grim future for the camera business: the digital camera market is likely to shrink by half in the next two years

Read more: https://photorumors.com/2019/01/27/canon-sees-a-grim-future-for-the-camera-business-the-digital-camera-market-is-likely-to-shrink-by-half-in-the-next-two-years/#ixzz5e7k7I1q7

Sony A9 firmware updates, Nikon's updates, Panasonic's new stunning S1 and SR1 FF releases and even some of the new tech features of the new Olympus OMD E-M1 X have really put the pressure on Canon to up their game way beyond the shortcomings of the current EOS R camera release. Maybe they will do better with their next EOS R version, but no one else is standing still or stepping aside for Canon anymore. I think Canon is losing the will to spend the development millions of dollars to truly be able to compete with tougher and tougher competition at the top of the market, where all the best tech is now.

Canon may be looking for an "out", rather than try to catch that ever-moving target of Sony which is posed to retain their leadership position and shake up the markets again with their upcoming A7000 and A7SIII.

It is hard for Canon and Nikon stalwarts to believe they won't dominate again like they used to in technology . But the game has changed forever, and the rapid introduction of better and better cameras means Canon's tried and true corporate philosophy of drip, drip updates and improvements just won't cut it anymore in a shrinking worldwide camera marketplace . Cheers

Ednsb Loc: Santa Barbara

Exactly my concern as well. For a publicly traded company’s CEO to make a statement like this says they are going to change their sales model to survive. Markets change, phone cameras have killed the point and shoot cameras. With a rapidly shrinking market they will have to change to survive. I hope it is just a reduction to fewer but better cameras and lenses rather than leaving totally.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

Steve Ballmer, who bought the Los Angeles Clippers for 2.2 Billion Dollars, will not allow his basketball team players to use Apple Products.

Photocraig

Sky,
My first reaction was that was a silly sarcastic statement. On second thought, Apple is hitting strong resistance to a $1K phone (and Sony with a similar superzoom price point) and Apple fears of missing their revenue numbers. Also there is the Chinese Technology "appropriation(s)" and overall trade issues.

Perhaps a pocket/phone/camera partnership with a strong phone player with "Photo and Video Powered by Canon" might be a legitimate entry level strategy as DSLRs are becoming less popular with beginning and early intermediate photographers. Of course, Panasonic is a natural to do it by itself. But Canon is such a strong brand that there could be an appeal with an appropriate partner. Microsoft? Siemens?

I know as a lifelong photographer, I wish my phone camera, good as it is, acted more like a camera. And I know my granddaughter is glad it doesn't. In reality, is if it is to take the place of the Bridge camera in the single pocket device department, and be comparable in IQ, it will take more than an APP.

No question in my mind that mirrors have a very short future at the Big "C."

Craig

RichardSM Loc: Back in Texas

Canon is and has been one of the most innovative companies in the world, no need for doubt great things are coming.

I’ve been a customer for fifty years, I’m invested with CANON camera’s and lenses and there are many more people just on this site too, and many more in this world! Canon is here too stay don’t let some folk tell otherwise.

gwilliams6

Canon themselves are making these statements and predictions, read it. No one else is putting words in their mouths here, open your eyes. FYI I was a longtime Pro Canon and Nikon gear user (40years) but I moved on to mirrorless for many reasons, but mainly better tech and features. . Canon's tech leadership in the past, is just that, in the past.

Canon's most recent releases are seriously lacking and buyers won't wait for them to find their "mojo" again, if they can. You can hold on to your belief that Canon will rule again in innovation, but the reality is that they haven't lead in tech for some years now and their most recent releases didn't raise their game very much. No one else is standing still to let them catch up. Canon is making corporate-wide decisions now and they see greater profits in corporate and medical fields, NOT in consumer cameras in a shrinking market. It doesn't mean they will abandon cameras, but it could very well mean they are shifting their emphasis and focus away from the ALL-IN effort and spending of money it will take to stay near the top against the toughest competitors they have ever faced. And these new toughest competitors are releasing new and better tech at a rapid-fire pace, something Canon has never done before. It is NOT your Father's camera world anymore. Wake up and see the new reality clearly. There are some great new players who won't take a backseat to Canon, ever.

SkyKing Loc: Thompson Ridge, NY

Craig...in 2016 Hasselblad teamed with Motorola to produce the true zoom camera...for 200 dollars it attached to your phone and had a 10x zoom...jpg & raw...image stabilization...auto iso (100-3200)...12mp...but it is only able to pair with moto z phones...

Haydon

 

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

They're like a live frog, slowly warming in a pot of water on the stove. At some point, they realize they're being cooked, but it may be too late to hop out!

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

One important characteristic of today's generations is that they are fickle. They are also very inconsistent between what they say is important and what the important things are that they actually do. So life may be very interesting for companies who are working to sell to that market. And there is a really good chance that whatever they decide will be the wrong choice.

My suggestion is that the rest of us may just need to chill out a bit, make sure we have the equipment to do the things we like to do, and not stress beyond that. Oh...and make sure that we are OK and maybe a little ahead on consumables, like batteries.

rwoodvira

I just feel Canon is somewhat resting on its laurels - I've shot Canon for years. They are late getting into the game for 5 axis stabilization and mirrorless. Not all of us need these technologies but they are both huge steps forward. The Sony lenses that have come out have generally been top notch. I wish they were cheaper, but I don't need that many. I'm still keeping my Canons, although I'll probably get rid of some. I didn't make this part-change easily, I've talked to Canon reps in stores and at events, but often the reps were not well educated about the product, while at every event Sony put its best people forward. I went to an introduction to Sony cameras that was packed and over half of the people were photographers switching from Canon and Nikon. An interesting topic before and after the seminar was the discussion about the rise of Sigma, who is really putting out some great glass. I remember when if you said you were buying Sigma or Tamron glass, you were looked at by serious photographers as having two heads. Perhaps Canon and Nikon will get their acts together; but the good news is that our interest, photography, will get technically better and better. Unfortunately, technology only helps a bit in keeping people from taking really crappy photos.