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cell phones making M4/3 and DSLRs obsolete

Started Jul 15, 2018 | Discussions thread
cba_melbourne
cba_melbourne Veteran Member • Posts: 5,850
Re: cell phones making M4/3 and DSLRs obsolete

Phones have already replaced some 95% of the point and shoot camera market. Just look around you. Mind you, this is actually a good thing as more people are taking pictures than ever before.

I also believe that many potential hobby photographers will now buy better phone cameras, instead of dedicated entry level interchangeable lens cameras.

The bad thing is that this trend erodes the profitability of camera makers. With less profits they can invest less in R&D. So the gap between phones and dedicated cameras may shrink further. Prices for pro and enthusiast cameras and lenses will rise rather than fall. Olympus is probably a bit an exception, because they can benefit from their R&D in the still profitable medical and industrial imaging divisions.

But there will always (or at least for many years to come) be a demand for cameras that can take high quality pictures. By professionals, by artists, and by enthusiasts. I do not believe that dedicated cameras will suddenly disappear in the next 20 years (like typewriters did in the late 80's). Film cameras did also not disappear suddenly, it took >10 years for sensors to both improve and become affordable.

Besides, I never developed any affectionate feelings for phones. But I certainly do for my Pen-F. I can not imagine that someone would ever consider collecting old cell phones. Chris

 cba_melbourne's gear list:cba_melbourne's gear list
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 Olympus E-M5 II Olympus PEN-F Olympus E-M5 III +16 more
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