Why do you not see more m4/3?

CharlesB58 wrote:

Klarno wrote:

It's because of how people research products:

They don't.

There's pretty much no marketing for MFT products in the English-speaking world. What little advertisement I've seen for micro four thirds cameras has been targeted toward photography enthusiasts. It's in photography-oriented publications--elsewhere the presence is almost nil (except for occasional reviews from PC Mag and Wired, which target technology enthusiasts in general). Several years ago there were some cable TV spots for Olympus MFT...but only a tiny fraction of what Canon and Nikon advertise every year.

The only people buying MFT are people who have such a vested interest in photography that they're willing to do extensive research online (this kind of user is also buying every other make of camera too). But the thing is, most consumers don't do research, and most people toting DSLRs at Disneyworld or at national parks aren't photography enthusiasts. They're camera users, insofar as anyone with the Instgram app is a camera user, and they're just looking for a solution that gets them more usable photos in a broader range of conditions...better low light than a cell phone, a real zoom lens, the perceived better quality of a big camera. Basically just the talking points that a retail clerk at Walmart or Target or Best Buy is prepared for, or the extent of the product blurbs on Amazon. That's it.

Every electronics retailer carries some Canon and Nikon DSLRs. Best Buy has a consistent presence for Sony E-mount as well. But everything else is pretty much invisible to the typical consumer. I'm not really surprised that MFT, and mirrorless in general, is uncommon around the necks of the average tourist.

Yes. Having worked in a retail camera store years ago, I can attest to the fact that most people walk into a store already wanting to buy a specific brand or two because of ads or some "expert" friend recommended it. With the scarcity of brick and mortar camera stores, most people walk into a Best Buy, or even a Wal-Mart looking for a camera. Once there, they will be confronted not only with a limited display of cameras (predominately Canon and Nikon), but with a sales person who will usually reinforce the idea that the customer should stick with Canon or Nikon "Because that's what the pros use".

This is because the cameras that are put on display reflect those brands which give the best incentives together with having the quickest, most reliable sell-through. A place like Best Buy does not want to have a camera sitting in stock for more than 60 days, maybe 90 tops. That's wasted money for a big box retailer. Since Canon and Nikon dslrs outsell all but Sony about 10 to 1, the limited space provided is going to go to those cameras which will sell the fastest.

When most buyers go into a store, all they really want is the salesperson to reinforce the decision they are 90% sure of already. That decision is often reached with little or no technical knowledge of photography and equipment. It's a matter that the buyer wants to "take good/better photos" and will probably never buy additional lenses beyond the kit, and only use the camera for special occasions or on vacation. Sure, many people think they will be using that nice, sophisticated dslr or bridge camera more often than they do, but after the glamour wears off, they realize the size, weight and complexity of DSLRs make their smartphones preferable for all around picture taking.

I agree.  I think if Olympus and others were on display with Canon and Nikon then it may help their sales.  Then again I think they often have incentive to push other lines so that may not be the case.  For example Cardinal Camera here in Charlotte is always pushing Sony and are not very objective if you ask for advice.