Complacency???

[gilpen123]

What are the big guys doing? Seems like Nikon and Canon are not making any move to come out with mirrorless digicam. I think this market is slowly eating up the DSLRs on the side of amateur and hobbyists. Fuji, Sony and Olympus are well positioned now, new M43 lenses are coming out soon and hopefully Sony will come out with good native lenses for their NEX line. Leica, conservative as they are will probably join the fray, a new X2 maybe a new design. Come Photokina, I foresee more announcements but nothing expected or even well founded rumors from the two. I will not be surprised if Kobayashi-San will finally succumb to the digital calling.

I would love to see a digital FM3D (Thom Hogan has been waiting for this for a long time) maybe a Canon AE-1D. Olympus has shown the way, though an M43, I believe it will generate sales specially from the OM Zuikaholics. The Nikonians and the Canonites are waiting :bang: what's happening......

 

[jsrockit]

Nikon and Canon both have mirrorless digital cameras already... they might not be what you want, but in the mirrorless category... they have the Canon GX1 and the Nikon J1 and V1.

Honestly, I believe that Canon and Nikon don't need this category. Their budget APS-C DSLR cameras are very good and their sales haven't suffered I would think.

At this price, most companies are trying to sell to consumers. They aren't worried about the needs and wants of RFF users. Canon and Nikon will have better versions of these cameras when their typical business strategy isn't working.

 

[gilpen123]

Sorry, yes I'm referring to at least M43 sensor size at the minimum and interchangeable lenses. Just like some years ago what happened to the US automakers in the compact sedan market., now they cannot dislodged the Toyota's, Honda's and other Asian manufacturers like Hyundai from being market leaders in this category and even in total revenues. Good times may be over and it might be too late. I've seen this trend at least in my country small as it is. Many hobbyists are going toward the compacts.

 

[gilpen123]

If this is true, it may be the start of a global change

http://www.43rumors.com/impressive-...et-share-olympus-to-catch-up-with-nikoncanon/

 

[gilpen123]

And this is how it looks as of mid 2011 all over the world:

http://www.1001noisycameras.com/201...lr-vs-mirrorless-shipment-data-by-region.html

 

[paulfish4570]

very interesting. thanks for the link.

 

[jsrockit]

I'm skeptical. The DSLR is still the best cross between performance, versatility, and price. There is no doubt that m4/3 made a splash as did APS-C compacts. However, I still see way more DSLRs and P&S cameras (well, besides cell phones) than anything else in NYC (which would include tourists from all over the world).

 

[rover]

I'm skeptical. The DSLR is still the best cross between performance, versatility, and price. There is no doubt that m4/3 made a splash as did APS-C compacts. However, I still see way more DSLRs and P&S cameras (well, besides cell phones) than anything else in NYC (which would include tourists from all over the world).

I agree. I suspect that the mid range and ff DSLRs are suffering more than then the bread and butter Canon Rebel (and Nikon equivolent). Personally, when a friend asks me for a recommendation, non-photography hobbiest, to take "good" family snaps, more than the P&S they are frustrated with (you know what I mean), it hard to not start with the Rebel.

 

[Sparrow]

I agree. I suspect that the mid range and ff DSLRs are suffering more than then the bread and butter Canon Rebel (and Nikon equivolent). Personally, when a friend asks me for a recommendation, non-photography hobbiest, to take "good" family snaps, more than the P&S they are frustrated with (you know what I mean), it hard to not start with the Rebel.

I recommended a Pentax K just the other day, she's 14 and will probably never take it off auto anyway

 

[rover]

I recommended a Pentax K just the other day, she's 14 and will probably never take it off auto anyway

Same thing, Rebel, Kr, Nikon model, pick your favorite. They are less expensive, have a better, less expensive lens choices, just as good image quality and operation capabilities. And most important, oh yeah I already said it, less expensive.

 

[MCTuomey]

I'm skeptical. The DSLR is still the best cross between performance, versatility, and price.

+1 I could sell my dRF and not look back. Not so my dSLR. I'd miss perspective control lenses, macro shooting, sport shooting, and other things that can't be done well without one.

As others have said, the dRebel series is so very much camera for the money and size, to name one example.

 

[BobYIL]

Perhaps the trend will keep on with the surge on mirrorless portion until the market stabilizes. Here is the very last stand of the market of interchangeable lens cameras by CIPA, dark blue portions are non-reflex, the rest are DSLR... Once again the Japanese market seems to be the trend-setter.

 

[gilpen123]

"The writing is on the wall" compact APS-C and M43 will rule. And the development in the high ISO range is astounding. The X100 can beat the hell out of any entry level and even pro DSLR and the OMD is promising in the sparse review I've seen regarding usable ISO. There are more amateurs/hobbyists than Pro.

 

[jsrockit]

I also have the feeling that m4/3 and APS-C sensors are a stop gap solution. Bigger and better things are coming to the camera world... this is only the beginning. We are most likely still in the golden age of digital.

 

[Keith]

"The writing is on the wall" compact APS-C and M43 will rule. And the development in the high ISO range is astounding. The X100 can beat the hell out of any entry level and even pro DSLR and the OMD is promising in the sparse review I've seen regarding usable ISO. There are more amateurs/hobbyists than Pro.

Thats stretching it ... as much as I quite liked the X100 when I had it the image quality and overall performance of the camera was a fair way behind my D700 IMO!

The D700 is three years old now and the D800 will beat the pants off it from what I've read ... so where does that leave the X100?

 

[bigeye]

It's about the glass.

CEVIL is the obvious direction, but for Nikon and Canon to build pro-level cameras, they will need to figure out a strategy to replace or transition all the current lines of pro-level SLR glass. The SLR glass has compromises not required by RF and mirrorless.

We'll get better, smaller lenses. But, it's a complete break with the old to do it right.

- Charlie

 

[jsrockit]

The D700 is three years old now and the D800 will beat the pants off it from what I've read ... so where does that leave the X100?

It leaves it right where it's always been... a small, quiet, camera with a OVF that had best in class ISO at the time it was introduced.

 

[Keith]

It leaves it right where it's always been... a small, quiet, camera with a OVF that had best in class ISO at the time it was introduced.

Exactly ... I agree!

But to say the X100 can beat this or that DSLR is ridiculous because the two cameras are worlds apart in their intentions IMO and shouldn't really be compared. The X100 is a fixed lens pocketable AF camera with excellent IQ .... a DSLR is something completely different!

 

[gilpen123]

Talking only about high ISO not overall and entry level including some pro ones (not all) . D700 is way up there I'm sure been tempted many times.

 

[jsrockit]

Exactly ... I agree!

But to say the X100 can beat this or that DSLR is ridiculous because the two cameras are worlds apart in their intentions IMO and shouldn't really be compared. The X100 is a fixed lens pocketable AF camera with excellent IQ .... a DSLR is something completely different!

I agree as well. I find that people make assumptions based on specs and internet chatter more than experience most of the time. I'm not saying gilpen did this, but I see it regarding the M9 as well... how the X100 is so superior etc. I own both and use both and at high ISOs, the Fuji does better, but not in low ISO situations.