The first half of 2019 has brought some stark data about the trend of camera sales worldwide. The overall rate of stand-alone camera sales has been plummeting for several years, driven primarily by the ever-growing use of smartphones. Most of decline has been in the area of fixed-lens cameras (for example, pocket cameras like the Canon Elph and Nikon Coolpix lines), but interchangeable lens cameras are being affected as well. In the graph below, notice the early 2019 data (in orange) compared to 2017 and 2018.

A more long-term breakout of fixed lens vs. interchangeable lens camera sales reveals some interesting historical data. In the graph below, you can see how slow DSLRs were to initially catch on, due primarily to the extraordinarily high cost of the early models, coupled with low pixel counts that couldn’t come close to rivaling the quality of film. It wasn’t until around 2007-2008 that DSLRs with 10MP-12MP sensors, with decent low light performance and faster autofocus, were available at mass market prices  ($500-$800 bundled with 1 or 2 lenses). 2012 represented the peak in interchangeable lens camera sales. It’s also noteworthy that with the introduction of the first iPhone in late 2007, and Android phones starting to hit the market in force around 2009-2010, the overall drop in camera sales quickly followed.

As a partaker in the hobby of photography, the overall decrease in camera sales does make me sad. If there’s any bright side to the data, it’s that interchangeable lens camera sales are still hanging in there somewhat. The graphic below teases out a bit more detail. Of particular interest is that within the category of interchangeable lens cameras, mirrorless cameras are eating away at DSLRs in terms of sales.

It’s my hope that, as time goes on, the ubiquity of smartphone cameras doesn’t dull peoples’ interest in the hobby of creative photography, and the use of dedicated photographic tools. An extended reduction in demand will inevitably lead to fewer development dollars, a reduction in newer models, and possibly the abandonment of the market by some manufacturers. And that would hurt the creative arts in general.