Camera Sales went down again in 2015

Wilt wrote in post #17945961
I see someone finally caught on to the joke I was making here!

You are right, though, something laid an egg which developed somewhat accidentally into the primitive chicken, and it survived and did well enough to continue the Darwin saga.
And somehow it found another evolved thing that it could mate with, to create others.

it does cause me to wonder, if via the miracles of the medical means of increasing survivability even of 'defective' organisms, that we humans are not causing a DECLINE in the quality of our own gene pool...even the less than fit survive!

"Survival of the fittest" doesn't mean what it used to.

Left Handed Brisket wrote in post #17915399
It's time momtographers stop trying to charge for non professional results using a window, a lamp, and a wide open EFS 5.6 kit lens.

Had to google 'momtographer', I understand now, lots of anti male reactions calling the term derogatory which is fair enough, but I get the gist of the term. More of an issue in the UK is the younger retired people made redundant in the financial crisis doing the job for pin money to top up the pension, so not just 'moms'. Out of interest I came across a site where a woman was boasting about she she went from a 'momtographer to a pretty darn good income photographer', illustrated by a very out of focus picture on her home page...............

Nathan wrote in post #17946003
I'm a little confused by Hilbig's explanation about the Fun Factor. I haven't watched that part of the presentation, though. However, what's the difference between saying a smartphone's "fun factor" is the cause behind declining camera sales versus a smartphone being the cause? Again, I may be missing the point because I'm guessing at what his reasoning is. I have to watch the rest of the video..

IIRC, the 'fun factor' is related inversely to the difficulty of use of the camera and its controls and menu system, according to Hilbig. The 'fun factor' is not present for the dSLR, so its adoption by casual users (snapshooters) is not motivated...possible new users are inclined NOT to purchase because it is 'too hard to use' Admittedly, unlike the SLRs of the past, dSLRs have these non-intuitive, layered menu options in which it is hard to find how to turn on some feature you know is there, but cannot find. And each camera is different, so moving from one to another is challenging.

(hmmm...starting to sound like modern cars with these damn menu and controller options!)...you USED TO be able to jump in a rental and find the headlight switch in the dark on the first day you have the car, or to adjust the dash illumination, but that is very hard to do with menus in a strange car! I wonder when we will see a decline in car sales, like the dSLR decline?! )

I didn't get to see the rest of the presentation last night. However, I got notification that there was a response to my comment on Youtube (I'm raggedsweater) and it looks like it might have come from Hilbig directly.

I believe cellphones are the key factor in current photography trends. The newer iPhones (and Android devices) take really good photos and allow for a wide range of creative features that are not only helpful, but fun as well. I spend more time playing on my iPhone now than on the computer processing photos from my 6D.

I'll never give up on bigger sensors, however, and am glad I know how to use them. When I want a good photo I'll use a full-featured camera.

The iPhone has definitely put an end to my days of point and shoot. Back when Motorola and Nokia dominated the market I was a three-device guy: phone for calls and texts, P&S for convenience, and DSLR for photography. Now it's just phone and DSLR (which is still with me 90% of the time).

Product maturity is also a factor, like others mentioned. There haven't been major breakthroughs that affect what I shoot (portraits, landscapes, macro, architecture). My 6D is as relevant as anything new for my needs. So my purchasing frequency is much lower than it used to be.

smythie wrote in post #17915373
I wonder if longer product cycles could also be a contributing factor to the decline in camera sales

Sure it is part of it. It's much like computers/tablets(and smartphones). The level of upgrade of each release has become what could be described as nothing of excitement. It used to be 12-18 months and major strides were made. Yes strides are made but for someone doing portraits/model work is going from a 5D MK3 to the new MK4 going to be huge? In a studio with proper lighting and good lenses. Doubtful.

The list goes into other markets.

Past that, yes smartphones are TAKING OVER. Fast! Just in my world people are pushing PR and other posts on social media with smartphone photography. For stills the quality is 'good enough' and costs nothing extra. And it fulfills the instant gratification most want.

dinanm3atl wrote in post #18100495
Past that, yes smartphones are TAKING OVER. Fast! Just in my world people are pushing PR and other posts on social media with smartphone photography. For stills the quality is 'good enough' and costs nothing extra. And it fulfills the instant gratification most want.

The marketing analyses discussed at photographic tradeshows have shown little correlation between smartphones rising and dSLR decline. If anything one might say there is a good correlation with rise of smartphones and decline of P&S. Our own oldest daughter quit carrying a quality P&S we had given her for Xmas a few years ago, and uses her smartphone camera exclusively. But there is a lot of active debate about the real effect of smartphones, vs. other factors such as consumer uncertainty about world economics, and the fact that living costs are outpacing salaries so the consumer simply feels poorer.

It certainly does not help that newspapers have difficulty keeping photographers on staff as their readership shrinks, and more and more smartphone shots are submitted by the general public, eroding the need for a staff of photographers and the gear provided to them by the newspapers.