Introduction

This blog is a user's perspective on the Micro Four Thirds camera system. Read more ...

Lens Buyer's Guide. Panasonic GH4 review.

My lens reviews: Olympus 9mm f/8 fisheye, Lumix G 12-32mm f/3.5-5.6, Leica 25mm f/1.4, Lumix X 12-35mm f/2.8, Lumix X 35-100mm f/2.8, Sigma 30mm f/2.8, Sigma 19mm f/2.8, Lumix X PZ 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6, Lumix X PZ 45-175mm f/4-5.6, Olympus M.Zuiko 45mm f/1.8, Panasonic Lumix G 100-300mm f/4-5.6, Panasonic Leica Lumix DG Macro-Elmarit 45mm f/2.8 1:1 Macro, Panasonic Lumix G 45-200mm f/4-5.6, Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f/1.7 pancake, Panasonic Lumix G 14mm f/2.5 pancake, Panasonic Lumix G HD 14-140mm f/4-5.8, Panasonic Lumix G HD 14-140mm f/3.5-5.6, Panasonic Lumix G 8mm f/3.5 fisheye, Lumix G 7-14mm f/4, Samyang 7.5mm f/3.5 fisheye, Tokina 300mm f/6.3 mirror reflex tele, Lensbaby 5.8mm f/3.5 circular fisheye lens
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Monday 2 February 2015

Mirrorless camera statistics from Japan

BCN ranking is a source for Japanese camera sales statistics. Looking at historic statistics from BCN, I have compiled this chart of the market shares of mirrorless cameras.

For the years 2009-2011, it is based on the 20 most selling camera models in Japan, including DSLR cameras. For 2012-2013, it is based on the 20 most selling mirrorless cameras. For 2014, it is, apparently, based on all mirrorless camera models. I skipped 2008, since it only contains one single mirrorless camera, the Lumix G1, giving a 100% Panasonic market share.


Panasonic got a head start. After all, they were the very first movers in this market, with the G1. They were quickly overtaken by their partners in Micro Four Thirds, though, Olympus. Olympus had a big hit with their retro styled cameras, especially their OM-D camera models with built in EVF.

Olympus is seeing some changes to their market, though. The E-Pn line of "PEN" models used to be popular, but is seeing less sales. The most recent PEN E-P5 is probably the last of the series, as the PEN Lites take over, with a similar feature set and a lower price.

Sony launched an impressive number of different NEX models, frequently updating their feel and functions. While their first cameras did look rather strange, their more recent models appear more like "normal" cameras. Their premium APS-C camera uses PDAF technology to achieve very quick and precise autofocus, also for moving subjects. The pancake kit lens is not very good, though, see my test here.

Recently, Sony has ventured also into the fullframe market, with their A7 models, which are compact and priced fairly modest. However, the fullframe lenses are still quite large and expensive.

With a very expensive marketing budget, Nikon got a good start with their "1" mirrorless format. However, it is difficult to sell fairly large, expensive cameras with poor ergonomics and a small sensor.

As it turns out, the Nikon 1 system has three strengths, in my opinion:

  1. Very good implementation of PDAF from the start. When I tested the first generation entry model Nikon 1 J1, I found that it had vastly better autofocus performance than the later and premium priced Lumix GM1.

    The PDAF technology implemented means that you get very good autofocus performance during video recording, and, probably more essentially, for moving subjects in AF-C mode. The Nikon 1 cameras can rival high end DSLRs in this area. This autofocus performance is the most important when using long lenses.

  2. Very fast framerates. The Nikon 1 cameras can take 60 frames per second in full resolution mode, and while saving the full RAW image. Of course, this only works in electronic shutter mode, but unlike the Panasonic Micro Four Thirds cameras, the E-shutter has a fast enough readout to avoid the rolling shutter issues.

    This makes the Nikon 1 cameras well suited for sports, for example, where you may want to take a 20 frame burst during a crucial moment, and then later pick the one you want to publish.

  3. The Nikkor CX 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 (my review) long tele zoom lens. With an impressive 810mm equivalent focal length, this is the smallest birder-friendly lens available currently.

    Combined with the very good PDAF AF-C performance, and the high frame rates possible, this lens makes the Nikon 1 system to a dream come true for anyone interested in photographing birds and wildlife, while wanting to keep the bulk of their gear down. The lens is also useful for spectator sports.

Fujifilm have invested a lot in their mirrorless camera lineup, and they appear to be committed for the long run. They have a very clear niche: Enthusiasts who like the classic lineup of lenses, and retro styled cameras. The cameras and lenses are of a high quality. And even if they look old fashioned, they do employ recent innovations. The Fujifilm system is for traditionalists who are not heavily into video.

Canon also have their mirrorless system. But so far, they only have a small handful of lenses available, and one first generation camera. The camera has very poor autofocus performance, and the ergonomy is sub optimal.

Finally, the rather odd Pentax Q cameras use the tiny 1/1.7'' sensor size, but the first generation used the even smaller 1/2.3'' sensor.

6 comments:

  1. Canon sold as many of it's miserable EOS-Ms as Panasonic of all it's models? And twice as many as Fuji? That just doesn't seem possible (do they even make any lenses for this system?). Are you sure the data you're using are trustworthy?

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    1. Canon has a good brand name, and the cameras were probably heavily discounted.

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    2. The numbers are credible. I just had a look at the sales rankings and at the number of reviews at Amazon (US, UK and Ger.): the Canon M is shockingly popular, the brand name is pulling hard. This leaves me half baffled and half disgusted, especially when I look at the efforts and the line-up offered by Panasonic and Fuji.

      Wake

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    3. The Canon EOS M is a joke of the camera. How it can sell today is beyond me, except if it is offered at a very deep discount.

      It is true that the brand name is very valueable. Also, some fans probably plan to use their existing EF lenses with the adapter.

      Delete
  2. There have been a plethora of discussions, why the commercial success is not always depend on the technical performance of the product, or even number of shipped products (the statistics that the BCN tracks). Besides, the BCN doesn't track the non-Japanese camera makers, such as Samsung.
    IMHO, the future of the mirrorless cameras would depend not just from their imaging capabilities, but from their overall usability and their position between the mobile/compact cameras and/or the DSLRs. The photo-/video-industry is evolving very fast, being at the current moment on a verge of big changes. What will be the change, nobody would tell at the moment.

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    Replies
    1. Yes, I guess Samsung is not a very popular brand in Japan, due to nationalism. But I'm sure some copies are sold. Samsung products still seems a bit immature, but they are cerainly moving on up fast. The NX1 appears very solid.

      Camera makers have tried to make their cameras more connected, and it does make them more usable, but they still have a long way to go.

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