MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

Don't you think that is a misleading distinction.... These devices have ceased being primarily phones a long time ago. There is a high quality camera in that little flat device whether we want to admit it or not...

therwol Loc: USA

Sure, for playing Donkey Kong and watching VHS tapes. Real answer, no.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

So why is Sony wasting resources making cameras?

Grimaldi

First, I'll put DSLRs and mirrorless cameras in the same category -- serious interchangeable lens cameras.
Second, smartphone cameras are putting a serious dent in the DSLR/mirrorless market.
Where do I think this will lead? The market for the DSLR/mirrorless will go to not quite zero. There will be less profit motive for the camera companies to produce new models and, maybe, some companies will get out of the business, just as HP got out of the photo printer business. There will be occasional new and improved models and they will be significantly more expensive than they are now. But there will always be a few of us hardcore photographers to prevent extinction.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

The first, I definitely agree.

The second, also by attrition....

Edia Loc: Central New Jersey

Ask Kodak how the film business is doing. The DSLR killed the film SLR business and the smart phone camera killed the point and shoot digital camera business. That is how progress works. Phone cameras are getting better each year while DSLRs and Mirrorless cameras make incremental improvements every three years, four years or more. Mathematically, it does not look good for dedicated camera manufacturers and users. Within a few years the photography hobby will be in decline while phone photography will be increasingly popular. Even professional photographers will see a loss in business due to the proliferation of smart phone cameras. As the market shrinks, profits also diminish and existing camera manufactures will cut back on R & D and even incremental improvements will lag even further. It is a slippery slope. Mathew Bradey and Ansel Adams took spectacular photos with primitive equipment. What matters most in photography is the content and the technique to capture the moment. No one cares what equipment was used to take the photo. Who cares what brand of paint brush Leonardo DaVinci used to paint the Mona Lisa.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Yup, attrition of the old photo pharts.
How many people listen to The Big Bands now...
Attrition by (via) generation(s).

Quixdraw Loc: x

Nope! They are a multifunctional device that does a variety of things pretty well. Don't have one, don't want one. I prefer purpose built specialist tools. There used to be cars that were boats and cars that were planes, they were not particularly good in either role. The worst thing is to be caught on a photo visit to a site that is infested with phoneographers.

delder Loc: Maryland

What?
Like a DSLR shaped Smartphone Case featuring a Tripod Mount in the Bottom?

Maybe a shutter release upper right corner?

Bet it would sell...

therwol Loc: USA

Music is art, some good, some bad. You can't compare art to technology. Bach, Mozart, Beethoven and many others have stood the test of time and will be listened to probably forever. The big bands played in an art form that also still has a following. I don't know how long it will last, but if Sirius XM gets rid of the 40s station, I'm getting rid of my subscription. They tried it about 10 years ago and the protests and threats of subscription cancellations made them change their minds.

Real Nikon Lover Loc: Simi Valley, CA

Everything has a value and everything has a price. It just depends on who wants it and how much bucks they have. I started out on an Atari and went to the Apple and then crossed over to Commodore 64 and finally got my first Packard Bell 8088. DOS! Those were the days.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Not the point, attrition was the point........

Imagemine Loc: St. Louis USA

Old school never gets to old 🤔🙂

John Hicks Loc: Sible Hedinham North Essex England

I think you are trying a wind up Paul people will still use DSLR cameras because that is what they prefer to use.
Others will buy mirrored cameras because they like to have the latest kit.
It is personal choice what type of camera you use.

Bbarn Loc: Ohio

Could very well come down to implementation. If ILCs continue down a path to replicating the subject as accurately as possible and smartphones embrace and automatically implement AI processing that's typically done in post with an ILC image, I can see where many could view smartphones as taking "better" pictures than ILCs.