Mirrorless vs dSLR

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The latest CIPA reports are online. You can download all the statistics at the CIPA site here, or go directly to the excellent summary and graphs made by Dicahub.

The reports confirm (once more) that shipments for all types of cameras are decreasing.

So let’s focus on the little good news for mirrorless shooters: Non-Reflex (*) is increasing when compared to the same month of previous year, while dSLRs decreased. Mirrorless is now at about 25% (until mid 2013 it was mostly under 20%) – see DicaHub graph above.

That’s a positive trend for mirrorless, but still not as positive as some companies expected. In fact, DicaHub reminds us how Panasonic forecasted mirrorless would reach 28% in 2014. Also Samsung’s prediction that mirrorless will sell better than dSLR in 3 years is a bold claim.

(*) Non-Reflex” includes cameras such as so-called mirrorless cameras, compact system cameras, rangefinder cameras with interchangeable lens and interchangeable unit system cameras, and similer cameras.

Mirrorless vs dSLR vs compact camera

Lensvid Video Summary

So what do you want first, the bad news or the good news? Let’s start with the bad news.

But before we start, just a quick note about the graph. For the first time, BCNRanking decided to base their statistics not only on the Top 20 Products, but they consider the “Brand Shares”. Therefore, in the graph above made by DicaHub, you can see it divided in two parts, the Top 20 Products (until 2013) and the Brand Shares (in 2014)

The Bad

According to the latest BCNRanking, the Fujifilm mirrorless market share is of just 5% (in Japan). Ricoh, Nikon, Canon, Sony, Panasonic and Olympus sell more mirrorless cameras than Fujfilm.

The Good

But let’s put the figures into the proper context. While it’s true that Fujifilm is still the smallest (but coolest ;) ) CSC system in this ranking, there are signs of hope in 2014. Let’s take a look at the 2 different rankings…  and keep always in mind that these numbers are for the Japanese CSC camera market only (which is the biggest mirrorless market, though)!

Also, keep in mind that more market shares doesn’t necessary mean more profits.

THE 2010 to 2014 YEAR RANKING
(see graph above)

Fujifilm didn’t appear at all in the BCNRanking until 2013 included. But now, in 2014, the X-series gained 5% market share. Looking at the evolution starting from 2010, we can see how only Sony, Canon and Fuji are increasing, while Olympus, Panasonic and Nikon are decreasing.

THE 2014 MONTHLY RANKING
(see graph at the bottom)

If we take a closer look month to month ranking in 2014, we will see different results. In this ranking Olympus, Panasonic, Canon and Fujifilm are increasing, while Sony and Nikon decreasing.

Interesting also to note that Canon said that their goal is to get the biggest mirrorless shares until 2017… so they will soon attack aggressively the CSC market. A Full Frame CSC-Canon is rumored to come… and more. Just check out the CanonWatch rumor section to read more about it.

So these are the statistics… now it’s up to you to make your considerations in the comments.

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the 2014 Month to Month ranking

There is probably no Fujifilm X gear that started shipping faster than the Fujinon XF 16-55mmF2.8 WR!

In fact, Dutch store fotohanskeuzekamp has already received the first bunch of lenses and is now fulfilling pre-orders (just 24 days after its announcement)!

In USA, AmazonUS expects to have it in stock on the 12th of February, Adorama on the 25th of February and BHphoto simply says “Coming Soon”.

PRE-ORDER XF 16-55mmF2.8 WR
USA: BHphoto / AmazonUS / Adorama / EUROPE: wexUK / PCHstore /

A Strong Seller: The Fujifilm instax mini HELLO KITTY edition

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According to the latest Earning Report, Fujifilm’s Imaging Solutions segment went down 0.5% from the previous fiscal year, but it is still profitable “reflecting strong sales in the instant photo systems and drastic profit improvement in digital cameras, though overall revenue decreased due to the decrease in sales of digital cameras and others.”

A special mention in the report goes to the instax mini HELLO KITTY edition (launched in November 2014) and to the instax SHARE Smartphone Printer SP-1. But also the Fujifilm X100T and XF 50-140 sales were strong. Here an excerpt or the latest Fujifilm earnings report:

“In the photo imaging business, sales of instant photo system increased around the world, because the pleasure of printing photos on the spot was re-realized, Sales of instax mini HELLO KITTY, which was launched in November 2014, and sales of , with which the pictures in smartphones can be printed on instant films easily, increased as well as those of other various designs of instax films increased.

[…]

Sales in the optical device and electronic imaging business decreased due to reduction of compact digital camera’s lineup, while the sales of premium digital cameras X Series were strong. In the electronic imaging field, sales of premium compact digital camera, FUJIFILM X100T, and sales of large-diameter telephoto zoom lenses, including the FUJINON XF50-140mm F2.8 R LM OIS WR, both of which were launched in November 2014, and others were strong. Looking ahead, Fujifilm is expanding the product lineup.”

So, it’s the high-end X-series that saves the digital camera business… now I wonder if the Selfie-Fujifilm X-A2 will be able to make also the entry-level segment profitable or not… i doubt, but the next reports will tell us if was well invested R&D or just another entry-level flop.

Check out the latest Fujfilm reports here.

And c’mon Fuji… give us that X-T1 Hello Kitty edition ;-)

Fujfilm report