The Critical Compact View | Cameras and Pictures Defined

As I proceed to decipher and analyze the 2024 12 months finish knowledge for cameras, each from firm financials in addition to different sources resembling Nikkei, one facet of the numbers that doesn’t get talked about a lot is compact cameras. 

CIPA studies that 1,880,414 compact digital camera items—cameras with built-in lens—have been shipped in 2024. Doing some calculations on all of the Nikkei, TSR, and firm numbers, I give you:

• Canon — 430,000 items
• Fujifilm — 130,000+ items, principally X100IImodels
• OMDS — 30,000 items, most likely all OM Tough TG-7 fashions
• Ricoh — 60,000 items, most likely all GR3 fashions
• Sony — 470,000 items

Note that an OM Tough TG-7 is US$550, a Ricoh GR3 is US$1130, and the Fujifilm X100VI is US$1800 (Fujifilm has already tariff adjusted their pricing, OMDS and Ricoh are about to take action). These are costs that rival lower-end (sometimes APS-C) mirrorless cameras, which appears to point to me that there’s nonetheless affordable demand for the shirt-to-jacket pocket digital camera. Canon has restored a few of their PowerShot line, although essentially the most simply obtainable one within the US is the V1 mannequin, which is extra video oriented (a brand new pocket Elph is rumored to return quickly). Nikon nonetheless appears to promote a number of P950 and P1100 superzooms. Panasonic’s ZS99 and FZ80D cameras additionally appear to be promoting. Sony’s RX line was simply given a high-end refresh within the RXRIII. 

The query I’ve is that this: are any of those choices the “right” design for a critical photographer? 

Maybe?

The simply introduced (however dearer at US$1500) Ricoh GR4 appears fairly good by way of efficiency and performance, although it nonetheless appears to be like a bit too old-school compact with it’s controls. The Fujifilm X100VI is my present selection, although it has a variety of overkill for my wants and I nearly by no means use the flamboyant optical aspect of the viewfinder. Since the US$1500-US$1800 worth appears to be the place “highly functional, strong results, but still pocketable” appears to reside now, is there a greater digital camera definition that matches the serioius consumer area? 

Probably. 

The “base” that feels proper to me is 26mp APS-C, giant articulating OLED Rear Display (brighter in daylight conditions), and 24-50mm f/2.8 zoom (a brief zoom solutions the 28/35 and lens adapter questions). We can argue about whether or not an EVF and flash is required, and what storage is used. But state-of-the-art topic detect focus and as a lot consumer management/customization as potential must be current, too. Speaking of which: buttons you could find and distinguish together with your fingertips, even with skinny gloves on are additionally required. I’m not going to do pro-level video with this product, nevertheless it ought to produce good trying 4K/30 when wanted. 

There’s clearly a 50-100k annual quantity that may be obtained by such a product within the worth vary I word. That’s a really viable product. So why haven’t Canon, Nikon, or Panasonic produced one? 

Ironically, the 2013 Nikon Coolpix A (16mp APS-C) as of late sells for US$500-600 (earlier than any tariffs if it’s coming in from abroad) in good situation, and remains to be a extremely viable compact digital camera. If Nikon merely caught their present 20mp sensor and EXPEED6 chip in and altered nothing else, a Coolpix A+ could be a finest vendor at US$1200, perhaps extra.