Is "Mirrorless" the future?

[BobYIL]

According to the outlook for 2012 issued by CIPA (Camera & Imaging Products Association in Japan) the total sales of Interchangeable Lens Digital Cameras is expected to reach 18.3 million units this year.

CIPA did not release any forecast on the sales of the "mirrorless" cameras in this 18.3 million however the following chart by DPReview indicates the general trend in several markets in the period between October 2011 to December 2011. One can easily note how the sales of "non-reflex" interchangeable-lens cameras are eating into the share of total sales of SLRs in all markets.

The most remarkable side of this report: Japan; where in the last three months the mirrorless sold as much as the SLRs!..

Was this something you expected?

 

[btgc]

If people get from mirrorless pictures and ease of use they expect then who cares for DSLRs. Biggest part of people plainly do not care if there's viewfinder as long as there's LCD and rest who care have to buy more expensive DSLRs to get camera with large, clear finder, yet change screen to get better aids for manual focusing. Now focus peaking on ML changes all that route. Yet MK cameras are smaller than typical DSLR and people like that. So no wonder people change their habits and choices.

 

[splitimageview]

Yes, this isn't a surprise...

 

[Sureño]

it will be, only if the industry wants it.

 

[kbg32]

Mirrorless is the future. In 7-10 years, all dSLRs will be EVF. I'm sure each manufacturer will still offer at least 1 optical view dSLR model for a time.

 

[rbelyell]

yes, because in almost all such technological endeavors, consumers crave smaller more covenient carry gear. couple that with public hostility to being photographed, and its no wonder photographers turn more and more to most unobtrusive solution. add upon that the ability to mount almost any lens ever made, and now youve caught the interest of collectors, enthusiasts etc. the final piece was twofold, IQ equal to the prior generations best slr's and increasing availability of either internal or external vf's (which is of utmost importance), and then youve got the attention of advanced amatuer and pro,s as well. it is inevitable. i hope canon and nikon continue to ignore this trend! ):

 

[yefeihe]

Back to the old days, back to the old days. It was like this up until the '60s (more non-SLRs than SLRs sold). So, mirrorless was the past, too.