Digital camera market leaders

[Tom]

Canon is the best selling camera in the world. They outsell Nikon by over two to one.

I'd be interested to see those statistics and the source. It seems that accurate numbers are hard to come by, and the many reported ones aren't necessarily from reliable sources. But everything I've read suggests that Nikon has gained share of the DSLR market over the last few years at Canon's expense. The relative numbers for all cameras might be different, and the numbers by geographic region might be different. Relative numbers for a given camera might also be different (e.g. one report states that the Canon 450D outsells the nearest competitive camera by 2 to 1 in the Japanese market, although Nikon holds a larger share of the overall DSLR market there).

Here's a sample of the reported numbers I was able to find although, as one of the reports suggests, the absolute numbers need to be taken with a pinch of salt. The latest (2009) data appears to be elusive, except for some projections. One thing is for sure, Canon and Nikon together hold the lion's share of the DSLR market, and the competition between these companies has to be good for buyers of either brand.

Meanwhile, I wouldn't rule out Sony; They have the technology, manufacturing might, and marketing know-how to steal a good piece of the pie. Expect them to be a serious contender at some point, even if it's not in the high end/professional market.

http://www.dslrphoto.com/dslr/canon-lost-9-dslr-worldwide-market-share-from-year-2006-to-2008,7761.html

http://www.slashgear.com/two-big-continue-to-stomp-digital-slr-market-in-japan-3128291/

http://www.photographyblog.com/news/dslr_market_shares_gainers_losers/

http://www.photoscala.de/Artikel/DSLR-Welt-im-Wandel

http://ricehigh.blogspot.com/2009/01/2008-dslr-sales-results-in-japan.html

http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?leftnm=&autono=348795

[seilerbird]

I have read the stats many places, but I don't know where they are. As far as I am concerned the most accurate information on what the most popular cameras are come from the DPReview and Amazon web site. They are a neutral site that tests every digital camera that comes on the market. Here is a link to the page that shows the page hits for the last five days at their site:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/stats.asp

It shows that out of 1.3 milllion clicks, Canon has 500,000.

If you go to Amazon and do a search on digital cameras, then select Best Selling, currently 9 of the top 11 are Canons.

http://www.amazon.com/s/qid=1256478899/ref=sr_st?keywords=digital+camera&rs=281052&page=1&rh=n:172282,n:!493964,k:digital+camera,n:502394,n:281052&bbn=281052&sort=pmrank

And if you filter down to DSLRs then Canon has four of the top six, the top one being the XSi:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=sr_nr_n_1?rh=n:172282,n:!493964,k:digital+camera,n:502394,n:281052,n:3017941&bbn=281052&sort=pmrank&keywords=digital+camera&ie=UTF8&qid=1256478899&rnid=281052

[Tom]

As far as I am concerned the most accurate information on what the most popular cameras are come from the DPReview and Amazon web site.

Thanks for the links Tom, although they don't substantiate the 2:1 market share claim.

Neither web site hits nor a 5-day click-through snapshot (pun unintended) say anything about overall market share. On the Amazon site, if I re-run the search for DSLR sorted by best selling, Canon and Nikon each have 3 cameras in the top 6.

The links in both messages (yours and mine) just go to show one can prove anything with statistics. Having used/composed/manipulated stats for a living, and having taught some stats, I was conscious of that, and it's one reason I sprinkled some caveats in my message.

On a side note, I've visited many consumer/industrial/professional electronics companies on their home turf. I came away from Canon with the distinct impression that this was a very professional company with a rich history that they are very proud of. Sony is another that left me with the impression of a very professional company. I don't recall visiting Nikon, although my memory might be failing me.

[seilerbird]

I am not trying to prove anything. I am just parroting what I have read. I have been going to DPReviews website for years and Canon has been number one by a long shot every time I looked at the statistics. They currently have over 1/3 the clicks.

Amazon is the largest retailer in the world by a long shot. Nine of their top 11 digital cameras are Canon. That speaks volumes.

You are correct, Nikon has been gaining market share on Canon in recent years in the DSLR market, but only because they were so far behind to begin with. Then about three years ago they came out with two cameras in markets that Canon didn't have a camera in. In the dirt cheap DSLR market they came out with the D40. Canon has since came out with the XSi and it is currently Amazon's best selling camera. They also came out with the D300 at $1700 and Canon just recently entered that market with the 7d, which has blown the D300 out of the water. 12 vs 18 megapixels, 6 vs 8 frames per second, 1 vs 2 processors, etc.

Nikon was the top film camera maker for many many years. When digital came along Nikon (and Kodak and many others) held firm in the belief that digital cameras would never amount to anything but a toy. Film would last forever. Canon jumped all over digital long before anyone else. About 5 years ago the sales of digital finally exceeded the sales of film and it has been all downhill for film ever since. That's when Nikon and all the rest woke up. Meanwhile Canon had built up such a lead that it will be hard for anyone to catch them. Next time I see actual sales figures I will post them.

[seilerbird]

Here are some figures for 2007 to substantiate my two to one claim. Nikon sold about 10 million cameras and Canon sold almost 25 million cameras:

2007

[Tom]

I am not trying to prove anything.

Apologies Tom. I consciously used a generic term "one can prove", not specifically suggesting you or I were trying to prove anything. Try re-reading my message as "statistics can be misleading", and my intent might be clearer.

In the dirt cheap DSLR market they came out with the D40. Canon has since came out with the XSi ....They also came out with the D300 at $1700 and Canon just recently entered that market with the 7d, which has blown the D300 out of the water. 12 vs 18 megapixels, 6 vs 8 frames per second, 1 vs 2 processors, etc.

Having been in the technology end of the business, I watched companies leapfrog each other for many years. With (almost) each new product comes an increase in technology and features, often accompanied by equivalent or lower prices. In some cases, companies will back-fill a hole in the lower end of their product range, because they specifically want to capture a piece of the action, because they wish to appear to have a fuller line than the competition, or to prevent a competitor from getting a foot on the ladder.

When digital came along Nikon (and Kodak and many others) held firm in the belief that digital cameras would never amount to anything but a toy. Film would last forever.

Having been a supplier to digital camera manufacturers, I understand all too well how some companies were slow to adopt the technology &/or were behind the technology curve. However, I wouldn't attempt to make any judgements on individual companies today; I'm too far out of touch.

Next time I see actual sales figures I will post them.

Please do; I'd be interested. Meanwhile, I'll get back to learning how to use my dirt cheap XSi.

[seilerbird]

I'll get back to learning how to use my dirt cheap XSi.

The reason I use the term dirt cheap is in comparison to the top of the line DSLRs:
Canon 1D Mark 3

Your camera and lens is about 1/10th the price of Canon's top of the line 1D mark 3 without a lens. When Canon announced the Rebel six years ago at under $1000 the entire industry had a collective heart attack. Everyone thought that there is no way anyone could sell a DSLR for under a grand that was any good at all. It has since then been the best selling digital camera of all times.

[Tom]

Here are some figures for 2007 to substantiate my two to one claim.

Thanks Tom. As with some of the links I provided, the data is aging. Given Nikon's "surge" I keep reading about, 2008 and partial 2009 data would be interesting.

BTW the second paragraph says:

"Canon sold 3.18 million single-lens reflex cameras in 2007 compared with Nikon's 2.98 million"

I realize now that you might be talking all cameras, not just DSLR. The last paragraph says:

"In the total camera market, Canon's 18.8 percent share of units shipped gave it the top rank. Next in line are Sony with 16 percent, Kodak with 9.6 percent, Samsung with 9 percent, Nikon with 8.4 percent, and Olympus with 8.3 percent."

That might suggest that Sony is giving Canon a run in the point-and-shoot market. That wouldn't surprise me, and is something I've observed with merging technologies over the years. Canon has a well deserved reputation in the SLR camera business, while Sony has a well deserved reputation in consumer electronics. Digital cameras, including DSLRs, are clearly a merging of technologies.

In a similar discussion held in this forum a number of years ago, someone suggested that the ultimate winner(s) will be the companies with the camera and lens experitise, rather than companies with the electronics expertise. What we're seeing in practice is that this is true for DSLRs, while a consumer electronics company such as Sony is doing well in the point-and-shoot market.

Sprinkle my observations/comments with a liberal helping of salt.

[seilerbird]

Yes, I am talking all cameras, not just DSLRs. I want nothing more than to have Nikon pass Canon by. That would only make Canon work harder and give us more features for less money. NIkon's pressure is why the 7d is so cheap and so full of features. By the way, technically Nokia makes more cameras than anyone else in the world. They make phones that are built into cameras, so technically they are number one. But no matter who makes the most cameras, it is the lenses that are far more important and that is really why Canon is currently number one.

Yes, Sony is definitely making a run for it in the point and shoot market. Their electronics has been awesome for as long as I can remember.

[Tom]

Figured I'd better split and rename this topic since it diverged so far from the original question in the other topic about Canon's warranty and after-warranty service.

[geodrake]

I shoot with Nikon DSLRs and have buds that shoot Canon.  They both make fine equipment, and there are others out there too.  The differences are minimal and it really comes down to personal choice.  Both companies are caught up in marketing hype bringing out new models each year trying to get us to junk one or two year old $2K (+) cameras for the latest & greatest ..........................

I am no longer going to play that game.   

[Tom]

Thanks George, that sums it up pretty well. I was on the same bandwagon with PCs and other electronics gizmos some years ago, and eventually stepped off. It's amazing to see what happened to technology, features and price when one returns from a hiatus.

[seilerbird]

I am no longer going to play that game.   

I love playing that game. I bought my first digital camera in 1997 (Kodak DC-20, 1/3 megapixel) and have bought a new one almost every year since. Each new camera is much better than the one I sold. My 50d is currently up for sale (IM me if you are interested) so I can get the 7d. The 7d has HD movie capabilities that my 50d lacks and I am excited about taking movies of the Condors in flight next summer (yes, they really do exist, Wendy). Going from 6.5 frames per second to 8 will be a huge improvement for birds in flight as well as going from 15 to 18 megapixels.

[Tom]

You guys are way out of my league. I had to use a big chunk of my first SS check to pay for my dirt cheap Canon XSi 

[carson]

Tom, have you thought about selling your big boat, so that you can outdo the other guys?   

carson

[seilerbird]

You guys are way out of my league. I had to use a big chunk of my first SS check to pay for my dirt cheap Canon XSi 

Oh, sounds like I offended you. I am sorry Tom. I consider my 50d dirt cheap also.

[Tom]

Oh, sounds like I offended you. I am sorry Tom.

Not at all Tom, and no apology needed. It's taken me several years to dig in my pocket to buy the XSi, and I can't imagine me paying $thousands for a camera 7/or lenses. OTOH for the kind of photography that you and others here do, it makes a lot of sense. I'm just not in that league and, in fact, may yet return the XSi for a full refund and rejoin the ranks of point-and-shoot picture takers.

[Tom]

Carson,

There's more chance of the Captain selling me than selling the boat 

[JerArdra]

Tom,

Take a look at the NEW Panasonic fz35.  It's a $400 "almost" DSLR but with a fixed lens 28 to about 620mm tele lens.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0907/09072704panafz38.asp

JerryF

[Tom]

Thanks Jerry. I mentioned the FZ35 in several recent messages. It does look like a nice camera, although some folks were complaining of noise issues with it at medium-high ISO.

[seilerbird]

Tom,

Take a look at the NEW Panasonic fz35.  It's a $400 "almost" DSLR but with a fixed lens 28 to about 620mm tele lens.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0907/09072704panafz38.asp

JerryF

I don't agree, I don't think it is almost a DSLR. It may have the same body style but that is where the similarity ends. It is a wolf in sheeps clothing.

[Ned]

The Panasonic FZ series is for those that don't want to spend a fortune on lenses yet want to take good pictures.  They are an excellent choice for the majority of people.

[seilerbird]

Yes, they are an excellent camera. I have owned both an FZ30 and an FZ50. But they are most definitely not a DSLR, not even close.

[Tom]

I already have an FZ series camera 

[Ned]

I already have an FZ series camera 

I know, and we have 2.