Nothing lasts forever. This is a saying as old as the time itself. Eternity is not for everyone. Maybe the Egyptian Pyramids have managed to hold their fort for centuries, but modern technology can’t really compare. Each day the devices we use evolve more and more. What this means is that some of the technology that was ahead of its time back in the day is becoming obsolete. As you can tell from our title, our subject for today is going to be cameras. Photography was a state-of-the-art novelty some decades ago.
Right now we are speaking about its demise. When it comes to devices with the sole purpose of taking photos they are getting overrun by smartphones. These days every new Samsung or iPhone has a brilliant camera. Of course, in some aspects, they can never compare to professional cameras. But, are DSLR cameras being phased out? This is a question that often gets asked. Many people assume that their time is limited or that the sand in their watch has already run out. The truth is somewhere in between as usual, and we’re going to try and provide a fact-based article for you to read on this subject.
Where do DSLR Cameras Stand Right Now?
Their time is not over yet. Even as we write this article some models such as Pentax K-3 Mark III still hit the market. That’s right, many manufacturers still upgrade their models and they’re available for purchase. But, something seems off. The leading companies in this department such as Canon and Nikon still release their models. They’ve been doing this regularly just as we’re used to. But, the pace is off. They’ve been slowing down in this department. This has many people worrying as many photographers rely on their older cameras but buy new DSLR lenses. The feeling is that these cameras are going to disappear from the market any time now. It certainly feels like that as there are only three manufacturers that still release them on the camera market. Yes, they are the leaders in the segment, but how long will Canon, Nikon, and Pentax continue this uphill battle?
If you follow what they’re doing closely you can see that their interest is slowly veining. First of all, their focus is off. DSLR is not the centerpiece it once was. Today we have most companies switch to mirrorless. Despite the change of direction it is hard to imagine that DSLR cameras and lenses will just be gone from the market in an instant. No, this is not a likely scenario at all. You’ll still be able to buy your desired one at places such as GeorgesCameras, and other locations that deal primarily in video equipment.
For all of you fans out there, there’s no reason to panic at this moment. At the moment, new models are still hitting the shelves. Also, DSLR lenses are still predominant among many photographers. These companies can’t leave their loyal customers out on the dry. For the foreseeable future, they’ll still be working on them. But, we can’t ignore the fact that many people are switching to mirrorless. When the majority of people head down that street, there could be a change of scenery. When this happens, the focus of all the major players is going to change. This is how the business work, and there isn’t much the users can do.
Source: digital-photography-school.com
DSLR Development
When it comes to technology these days the only way to remain relevant is to constantly develop your product. When it comes to DSLRs this is not happening. Al major brands, minus the few we already mentioned have stopped doing any serious work in this department. Those who have left loyal to DSLRs have one thing in common – they’re not pursuing the mirrorless tech. for most companies, the market dictates the direction they’re taking. This is the primary reason why they’re moving away from it. In the statements released on this subject, they stated that the only way they’ll turn the page back is if the tides of the market change. If everything remains the way it is now they’re continuing with what’s ahead with no turning back.
When you look at the big picture, DSLR could easily be out the door in no time. It’s not happening soon, that’s true, but the stakes are against it. For one, there’s new tech in town in the form of mirrorless. Furthermore, as we already stated, smartphones are evolving each day, and soon even professional cameras won’t be able to stand toe to toe with some of the latest Samsung or Apple models. Another factor worth mentioning is of course the global health situation. COVID-19 did no favors to many companies, and the photography sector was also shaken. So, while the smartphone segment remains strong, the camera one took some massive hits. First of all, the primary users weren’t e able to go out and take advantage of their gear. Because of this, the demand was lowered, and in the mid-time, it seemed like the DSLR lost a step. When the market regains its footing, things might take an u-turn, but for now, that doesn’t seem likely.
Source: medium.com
Bottom Line – DSLR Hit The Wall
As we pointed out a few times in this article the technology is getting better each day. We can develop any product to fulfill its potential in a really short period. This is what happened to DSLRs only a few years back. Right now, its development still can be described as progress, but it’s slowing down. For many people close to the field it is as it has reached its full potential. Yes, there’s still space to make some things even better, but with the focus slowly being on other things it appears to be futile to push assets in this direction. As of now, many companies see investing in DSLRs as unnecessary as they are in a good place, with little chance of a massive upgrade. From our perspective, things aren’t changing anytime soon. The place where DSLR is now is good, and it’s set in stone for all of us.
