ggab Loc: ?

Extending from my opening post, I consider DSLR and Interchangeable Lens Mirrorless to be the same.
While the internals are different, the fact that they use interchangeable lenses put them in the same classification at least for this discussion.

I do not think the Major Camera MFG's will allow cell phones to take over their core.

Canon fell into a lull with their color production printers some time back. They lost a bunch of market share to their competition. They then introduced a new line of printers with advanced capabilities at a competitive price point. Market share recovered.
I believe the same thing has happened to the interchangeable lens camera market.

I agree that the point and shoot market is doomed to extinction.

Again, my $0.02 worth.

Joe Blow

Phone cameras continue to improve though. I am often amazed at how good they are. Plus, they can do video in a pinch at a very respectable quality. And, 95% of people are quite happy with the quality and can even play it back on their phones.

I should point out that I use my phone camera much differently from my Canon.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

Depends which year you are talking about. Over a span of 9 years, much happens in the world of technology.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

To whom are you addressing your comment? I know it's not me because I don't have an ignore list. If you use the "Quote Reply" button, as I just did, then the person to whom you direct a comment will know it.

LarryFB Loc: Depends where our RV is parked

Well said, I agree!

ggab Loc: ?

Further in my OP, I included a link that shed some light on the subject.

https://lensvid.com/gear/technology/what-happened-to-the-photography-industry-in-2018/

Based on the chart, the segment hit the hardest in the past 9 years is defined as "non interchangeable lens camera" segment. I, essentially answered my own question. I was just too lazy to update my entry.
This makes sense. It is the segment that would logically be replaced by cell phones.

graybeard

You are correct. It was not addressed to you. Since you knew that from the start, why did you bother to reply ??

Dossile

As time has moved on, each generation is more and more visual. iPhone and IPad have decent cameras and they get used. Awhile back I was doing humanitarian work in Tanzania and simply could not carry much camera gear. Not wanting to change lenses on the dusty roads, I used my iPad as my landscape camera and my DSLR for the animals. I got nice shots on my iPad. This is of ‘the crater’ with no PP.

I struggle to see a big difference in quality between an inexpensive point and shoot camera and the newer cameras on phones. Point and shoots were the most common entry level cameras. The universal accessibility of phone cameras will introduce far more people to the enjoyment of photography. With so many taking phone pictures, maybe this will lead additional people towards interchangeable lenses and a more sophisticated expression of the artistry of photography. Talking with my college aged kids, the smaller, easier to carry mirrorless formats have the greatest chance of attracting them. Video is far more important to the younger generation as well, fitting nicely with the mirrorless formats. The major camera companies will not roll over, which will lead to innovations that attract YouTube and blog contributors and will deliver increased clarity for higher and higher definition formats. The desire for a viral post will be a major driver of the upcoming generations. Technology that surpasses what can be delivered by a phone will be attractive.

graybeard

Interesting POV.

paulrph1 Loc: Washington, Utah

[quote=ggab]I just finished reading an article in "Digital Camera World".
I think most people are not interested in quality but are interested in ease and no complications. It takes some figuring out of a Digital Camera and the cellphones have replaced the point and shoot cameras. But for the person that quality is their main concern there is not comparison. I see people all the time whip out their cell phones because they are handy. A digital camera is seldom handy but is available only when you want to work for them. That makes all the difference.
Being a quality person takes a special kind of person. One who is willing to sacrifice. But the efforts are worth it to some but to others it really does not matter. After all they are not interested in hanging their print on the wall. It is like the person that hears a concert pianist and says I wish I could play like that but then they do not want to take time to learn. And if they did take the time would they eventually be able to learn to do it. My answer is no.
Another question is, is there a difference between snap shots and photography. To many they are the same but to the well seasoned photography there is a vast difference.

The ideas of automobiles have changed of the past few years now also. We recently purchased a new car and is so doing found out that many manufacturers are closing out the sedans. While I prefer a sedan the new trend is to get a crossover. I personally hate crossovers. I do not like the looks of them. And the performances is not there as compared to a sports car. The reason they are taking over the market is because they are easy to get in and out of. We also looked at a Mercedes and the salesman said that any car will get you from point A to point B but you will want to get there is style. Well I was not about to spend $60,000 for style. So I bought a Honda Accord Sports. It gives me the best of all worlds.

Tomfl101 Loc: Mount Airy, MD

The desired market for selling cameras has never been the advanced armature or pro market. This is why Eastman Kodak never seriously built SLRS. They made billions selling Brownies and Instamatics. Japanese and German camera manufacturers are no different. Their flagship advanced cameras have never returned huge profits. With the consumer camera market virtually gone, the only companies that survive will be those with a diversified product line other than cameras. The reality is cell phones take excellent pictures that surpass the quality of all the consumer cameras from the past. Look for more innovations in software and phone hardware to make it even less likely companies like Nikon can hang without raising prices to Lieca levels. When that happens, pick up that cell phone and out-create the mass of people that still take crappy photographs wit a technological marvel in their hands. The art will live on!

traderjohn Loc: New York City

The "need or desire" has changed. The younger consumer is not going to schlep around or spend the money on a product they have zero interest in. The cell phone is their choice of weapon. They can communicate and take pictures. Their interest is what it takes to take a picture is of no concern to them. It's about instant gratification. They are out and about they see something they like, take the picture and it is an instant share. Over and done with. There are no laborious discussions about ISO, shutter speed the golden light. They have already moved on to something else. Last year my youngest daughter was married. There were 150 people at the reception. The only DSLR's being used were the photographer and her two assistants. Everyone else was using their cell phones. The times they are a changing.

chrisg-optical Loc: New York, NY

In the Graduate sequel one word is uttered to Ben Braddock: "Smartphone"

Then Mrs Robinson says to Ben, "Be a good dear and take some sexy shots of me with my new Elph on the Davenport..."

Sharp witted Ben reaches into his pocket, taps, taps, clicks, clicks, and says, "No worries Mrs Robinson, I got you covered with my newer Galaxy S9....look here it's got a filter to make you look 10 years younger."

And so, the decline of the camera sales started in 1967.

pecohen Loc: Central Maine

As the increasingly ubiquitous cell-phone improves in its role as a point-and-shoot camera, it seems natural that the market for simple point-and-shoot cameras that cannot do anything but take pictures would decline. Why carry around such a camera when you are already carrying around a telephone the doubles as a perfectly adequate substitute for the camera that also works as a compass, a GPS, a memo pad, a newspaper etc. etc.?

It would seem that the only remaining role for a dedicated camera is now at the high end where a cell phone cannot yet be a viable competitor.

JDG3

Here are some things I have noticed in regard to DSLRs (including mirrorless). I am an avid photographer and travel a fair amount. One thing I have noticed over the last 10-15 years is the huge decrease in the number of people carrying DSLRs, point & shoot cameras and bridge cameras. These days the largest majority of people carry ONLY their phones. I carried my Nikon DSLR on many trips and then later a Sony mirrorless which was lighter. My wife, who is not a photographer carried only her iphone. She and the iphone have taken some great shots, many better than what I did. The software in the iphones is amazing. The latest iphone even has software to create blur in the background to create those out of focus background shots. Serious photographers will always want to do more and have the need for equipment, but the causal photographer is very happy carrying only their phone which is capable of some great photography. They are not going to carry an additional camera bag, extra lens etc. They are ALWAYS going to carry a phone. This is especially true of the younger travelers, I almost NEVER see anyone under the age of 30 carrying a DSLR or point & shoot camera.

Another advantage of the phone cameras is the instant backup of the photos. My wife's iphone keeps a copy of the photo or video she just made and at the same time backs it up on the icloud and other designated Apple devices. The photos are available on all her Apple devices at the same time. Family back home can view the photos within seconds of her taking them. She can also post these photos to social media as desired. Android can also do this. Are there any DSLRs that can do this as efficiently and effortlessly? Maybe but probably only through a wifi connection that may or may not work all the time wherever you are.

I think there will always be need for better cameras for the serious photographer and a market for these products but I think the market will continue to fall in demand for these products. Again pros and avid hobby photographers will pay whatever they need to pursue their craft or hobby. But much of the income for camera makers in the past has been the huge consumer market, it drove the development and investments in technology. If Nikon, Canon and others do not recognize this and find different revenue streams to replace the lost consumer market, camera gear could get very expensive. Another issue that is becoming more important to consumers today is video. Again here the younger crowd is more interested in video than stills and again the phone makers are all over this. Most DSLRs now will take video but it is an add-on work around at best.

The future is always different than predictions so who knows what is going to happen but I think it is safe to say that the majority of the consumers are interested in a one device do all solution that gives them acceptable results and the phones of today seem to be filling those needs.