Theory of Samsung's Camera Segment

[Eijun]

I am thinking that Samsung's main idea behind their camera department is not for the consumer/prosumer market, but as a marketing to show case the technology to other camera companies to get them to use Samsung as a component supplier.

There is no way that Samsung does not know they are not marketing their cameras to the public market. Especially with NX1 where they finally beat the competition, but they kept it low key. Then you add in that Phones will slowly dip and they have to go into other segments to keep their profits up.

Which of course you need to prove that your components are better than everyone else, so you have to make a camera.

So I think the sales of their cameras is to offset the costs of their marketing to other camera companies as a component supplier.

As for why their 100% minimal no-marketing at all it is because their road map isn't related to the general public anyway which their marketing is similar to it.

But eh, this is just a theory from an accountant =P

 

[pureaxis]

Since 2010, I do not recall a single camera manufacture sourcing sensors from Samsung so if this theory is true, then this marketing tactic obviously failed. It's more likely the camera division is purely intended as a testbed for Samsung's own sensor tech, a bit of a white elephant enterprise.

 

[RonRaymond]

I am thinking that Samsung's main idea behind their camera department is not for the consumer/prosumer market, but as a marketing to show case the technology to other camera companies to get them to use Samsung as a component supplier.

There is no way that Samsung does not know they are not marketing their cameras to the public market. Especially with NX1 where they finally beat the competition, but they kept it low key. Then you add in that Phones will slowly dip and they have to go into other segments to keep their profits up.

Which of course you need to prove that your components are better than everyone else, so you have to make a camera.

So I think the sales of their cameras is to offset the costs of their marketing to other camera companies as a component supplier.

As for why their 100% minimal no-marketing at all it is because their road map isn't related to the general public anyway which their marketing is similar to it.

But eh, this is just a theory from an accountant =P

Maybe the violated 95 patents look what apple did to them

 

[tecnoworld]

unless they actually and already sold their sensor to someone that still didn't implement it on a commercialized or announced model, I'd say that in few years it will become irrelevant, since tech never stops.

I see sony already catching up with AF (A6300 seems as good as NX1 in this field) and in another year or so others will implement BSI process in APSC thus being able to raise resolution without loosing too much dr and IQ.

A camera with an overall technology on par (or even better) with NX1 will come by mid-end 2017, IMHO. Next Sony APSC is the most likely candidate for this.

This is already an achievement for NX1, being out since november 2014, but...without a NX2, samsung will loose the edge and its camera technology will simply be forgotten.

 

[cantor]

You're thinking too much. Never underestimate the power of incompetence!

 

[Jorginho]

They do not need "proof" from reviewers etc. It is a very inefficient and unsure way to achieve what you write above hence unlikely.

 

[Bubbleboy]

I was told this.. (and because I cannot confirm any of it, am burying it in an obscure thread)

The NX hiatus is purely due to corporate political infighting. The camera division will be back in 2017. The current chairman is slated retire at that time. The rise of the young upstart who was leading the processor division had to be curtailed. This is how corporate infighting works on the highest level. Delay ...rather than ending the program was a way to accomplish this goal ...while preserving global corporate assets. The camera division will be back.

 

[andre2you]

I was told this.. (and because I cannot confirm any of it, am burying it in an obscure thread)

The NX hiatus is purely due to corporate political infighting. The camera division will be back in 2017. The current chairman is slated retire at that time. The rise of the young upstart who was leading the processor division had to be curtailed. This is how corporate infighting works on the highest level. Delay ...rather than ending the program was a way to accomplish this goal ...while preserving global corporate assets. The camera division will be back.

I would love to believe this and this kinda makes sense as there has been no official communication from Samsung. Wouldn't it be nice in 2017, a new NX2, a few firmware releases, a 70-300 zoom and the release of the 300mm lens. Well back to reality, I'm loving my NX1 and will continue to use it for years even if Samsung doesn't make another camera, ever!

 

[tecnoworld]

As already said, I'm going to use NX1 for years to come, even if it's discontinued.

But I guess that, if ever samsung comes back and produces another new camera, it won't be with NX mount or it won't be APS-C or it won't be high end . I don't see a market for a new prosumer APS-C camera in 2017, not because APS-C is bad, but rather because most ppl now want FF simply because it's here.

Too bad for those who don't need anything bigger than APS-C and want a high end camera, but that's how things go.

In the medium run, I see Fuji as the only one continuing to pursue the APS-C only strategy for bodies and lenses, with high end models.

 

[Happy Daze]

They stopped because it is not profitable... PERIOD.

 

[Jude 101]

As already said, I'm going to use NX1 for years to come, even if it's discontinued.

But I guess that, if ever samsung comes back and produces another new camera, it won't be with NX mount or it won't be APS-C or it won't be high end . I don't see a market for a new prosumer APS-C camera in 2017, not because APS-C is bad, but rather because most ppl now want FF simply because it's here.

Too bad for those who don't need anything bigger than APS-C and want a high end camera, but that's how things go.

In the medium run, I see Fuji as the only one continuing to pursue the APS-C only strategy for bodies and lenses, with high end models.

One could argue that APS-C from the being was in a difficult position.

Does anyone have any market share numbers for FF, APS-C and MFT?

 

[Jude 101]

They stopped because it is not profitable... PERIOD.

I agree and don't guy into corporate intrigue theories.

The new dual-pixel sensor Samsung S7 is a hint where Samsung is going. Samsung is smart enough to realize that the traditional camera market is an end-of-life technology, at least for most.

In three years, perhaps less, Samsung will be selling a product that combines the photographic technology of the Light camera with smartphone features...

 

[teddoman]

They stopped because it is not profitable... PERIOD.

I suspect there is very little actual innovation in sensor development going on these days. Is there anything in a sensor design that haven't already been done in higher end industrial designs? More likely, the tech we are seeing in cameras is just making its way down the food chain from $40K and $400K products. There are probably really specialized optics and sensors used in industry where all of the real design innovation takes place.

Rather, my guess is it is simply a matter of matching the product design to the market willing to purchase that design. Samsung went with a more expensive design but flopped on the sales side, so it has put NX mount on hold. Sony seems to be pairing reasonably high end design specs with very competitive pricing, but unlike some of the smaller players like Samsung, Sony has managed to hit the right balance enough times to achieve some economies of scale and have some wind at their back.

 

[tecnoworld]

Could be, but all the mirrorless player started with APSC or smaller sensor.

What I can't understand is why m4/3 is beloved and considered "more than enough" by many, when APSC is considered too small by...many others

 

[Notomb]

Photo Camera is dead, next years only for work and same nostalgic user. Samsung understand this and change target. Other can't change because their story is in reflex camera Samsung no.

Where you live? You see people make photo with camera or smartphone?? ZEISS start product bottom of the bottle for smartphone, you belive this same year ago?

Look the two graphic in this site

Loading…

www.macitynet.it

 

[Jude 101]

They stopped because it is not profitable... PERIOD.

I suspect there is very little actual innovation in sensor development going on these days. Is there anything in a sensor design that haven't already been done in higher end industrial designs? More likely, the tech we are seeing in cameras is just making its way down the food chain from $40K and $400K products. There are probably really specialized optics and sensors used in industry where all of the real design innovation takes place.

Rather, my guess is it is simply a matter of matching the product design to the market willing to purchase that design. Samsung went with a more expensive design but flopped on the sales side, so it has put NX mount on hold. Sony seems to be pairing reasonably high end design specs with very competitive pricing, but unlike some of the smaller players like Samsung, Sony has managed to hit the right balance enough times to achieve some economies of scale and have some wind at their back.

--
Ted
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tedchang/
C&C is encouraged, I'm always learning

I think you may have that backwards -- technology advances start in the mass-produced market and then make their way into more specialized products. Back side illumination is the first example that comes to mind.

 

[Jude 101]

Photo Camera is dead, next years only for work and same nostalgic user. Samsung understand this and change target. Other can't change because their story is in reflex camera Samsung no.

Where you live? You see people make photo with camera or smartphone?? ZEISS start product bottom of the bottle for smartphone, you belive this same year ago?

Look the two graphic in this site

http://www.macitynet.it/immagini-scattate-fotocamere-digitali/

Thank you, that is the data I was looking for to prove my point. And the market will only get worse for conventional cameras as technology advances.

 

[Kisaha]

Photo Camera is dead, next years only for work and same nostalgic user. Samsung understand this and change target. Other can't change because their story is in reflex camera Samsung no.

Where you live? You see people make photo with camera or smartphone?? ZEISS start product bottom of the bottle for smartphone, you belive this same year ago?

Look the two graphic in this site

http://www.macitynet.it/immagini-scattate-fotocamere-digitali/

Thank you, that is the data I was looking for to prove my point. And the market will only get worse for conventional cameras as technology advances.

The last decade cameras were just another gadget that people were buying. At some point it was completely ridiculous to see people everywhere with dSLRs, kit lens on, and auto only. The market is just fine now, and actually more cameras are in hands of people now, and pictures taken, there is a possibility some of them to want to upgrade and/or explore photography further. We just do not need crappy cheap compact cameras anymore.

 

[Gesture]

That is the good thing. I see more people taking photos, videos, sharing them than in many years. No more putting out the slide projector or photo album, just hand over the smartphone.

It's hard to say what Samsung intended. There seemed to be a notion of leading the move to connected cameras and then the NX1 was obviously a technological tour de force. The leaders change goals, etc. Bottom line; Samsung has nothing to be ashamed of. However, how the NX cameras hold up for years we don't know yet. And, for me, that still drives Nikon and Canon. Whether true or not, I expect them to stand behind a camera better than Sony or Fuji. I can't afford a $1K disposable.

 

[wpstl]

There's no need to theorize. It's really very simple: Samsung made great cameras, but they didn't sell well enough to make it financially prudent to invest further so they stopped. That's it. It happens all the time. Done