Death of the DSLR?

Camera stores have higher mark ups on dSLRs and more importantly the lenses to bring the customers back, so they'd rather have dSLRs selling. The internet and honest reviews and enthusiastic users are what's going to push people over to the mirrorless format quicker.

Most of the points made in favour of the dSLR are mute points. Larger sensor? Have they not seen what Sony, Canon and Fuji are offering? People researching these cameras then realise that smaller sensor cameras like the latest m4/3 offerings are just as good too, sensor size is not so important in the year 2012 and beyond.

It's a good point about the electronic companies doing the hard work though. Sony has tried very hard to take it to Canikon in the SLR market, and got to third place, but realise they have a much greater chance of market domination (every companies goal ultimately) with the NEX and a new user base more open to change (and a growing userbase).

About the only argument dSLR owners have left is optical viewfinders, but they aren't going to improve, EVFs will, and soon the benefits will outweigh the so called cons.

Indeed the amateurs follow the pro's. The pro's however have thousands invested in lenses so are going to be slow to move, amateurs don't and quite often just want the same gear pro's use because they think equipment is what gets the shot. I used to work in a camera shop and had so many people come in saying they want a dSLR, when asked why, because they want to take better photos. Of course I can't say go take a photography course then, as I'd lose my job, but I certainly helped raise awareness of mirrorless (something my older colleagues didn't want as we didn't stock many lenses for them to get further sales later).

dSLRs are going to reduce significantly over the next 10 years, especially when pro's turn up to shoot weddings with things like E-M5's and GH3's. It's inevitable, and history like it often does is repeating itself.

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