No More New Cameras?

[Mike Farley]

What if the current decline in camera sales becomes so severe that it becomes no longer economically viable to manufacture them?

https://theonlinephotographer.typepad.c ... drome.html

[Mike Farley]

The article to which I linked in the previous post is, of course, pure whimsy. So long as there are sufficient people in the world interested in the pursuit of photography, there will be manufacturers ready to meet the demand. Indeed, the author acknowledges as much in the next article he wrote, link below.

https://theonlinephotographer.typepad.c ... right.html

During the early part of this century, with the introduction of digital, manufacturers experienced a surge of demand. Everyone wanted the new technology and new models offered substantive improvements over those they replaced. That came to a peak a few years ago and most cameras produced in the last decade or so are generally "good enough". It is no coincidence that sales have declined year on year since 2012. In fact, it looks as though they are returning to pre-digital levels when people typically used the same camera for several years. Admittedly the transition to mirrorless might generate a few sales, but nothing on the scale seen with the introduction of digital.

There have been some adjustments during the period. Minolta and Konica first merged and then exited the market altogether to be replaced by Sony. Olympus re-emerged from the doldrums after never really getting to grips with autofocus in the days of film. After a few indifferent attempts to be, ahem, different, Fuji finally succeeded with its X-Trans sensor. In the process, it reduced its reliance on the manufacture of film and associated products. Unlike Kodak. Panasonic made an entrance and has survived, bolstered by the video side of its business. Samsung tried and left; ironically soon after the launch of the NX1 the specs of which exceeded anything else available at the time. In other words, business as usual. Historic brands such as Topcon, Miranda and Contax have been and gone, unmissed by most.

Keep shooting and enjoy.