![]() ![]() They’ve also taken advantage of computational photography to circumvent the challenges of using relatively small sensors, and by combining multiple lenses and periscope lens designs, they’ve been able to offer optical zoom functionality without the usual bulky profile.įurthermore, by augmenting their native camera apps with photographic features that were once only available through third-party apps – raw shooting, manual exposure, white balance adjustment and so on – the argument for having a standalone camera has diminished even further. Sensors and lenses have improved with successive smartphone models, the former growing in size and pixel count over time and the latter widening in aperture and offering new focal lengths – and smartphone manufacturers have made plenty of noise about this in the marketing for the models. In the end, what’s triumphed hasn’t been a dual-device setup, or the incorporation of smartphone functionality into camera bodies, but smartphones absorbing an increasing amount of traditional camera technology. Models introduced more recently prove that such experiments aren’t over yet, but the likelihood is that such hybrids would only ever become successful within their own niche category, rather than attract enough attention to lead to a more significant shift in product development across the market. Sony, meanwhile, even introduced a QX system that allowed lenses for its Alpha system of mirrorless cameras to be used in conjunction with a separate sensor unit and a smartphone.Ī more recent stab at fusing the benefits of both smartphones and traditional cameras came in the shape of the DxO One, which combined a 1-inch sensor and lens, and plugged into a smartphone’s charging port, making use of the smartphone’s large display for image composition and display.īut perhaps the most prominent arrivals to this experimental camp were Samsung’s Galaxy Camera and Galaxy Camera 2 models, which integrated an Android OS with 3G capabilities and a 21x optical zoom (and even had Dropbox pre-installed for immediate cloud storage). Panasonic’s Lumix CM1, which arrived two years later, blended a traditional smartphone with a 1-inch sensor – considerably larger than those inside smartphones even today. Nikon’s Coolpix S800c, which was announced back in 2012, combined an Android OS with a long zoom lens and a largely touchscreen-based interface. None of these, however, were successful enough in their own right to carve out any kind of pathway for future models. Over the past decade or so, many attempts were made to converge smartphone technology with photographic hardware. So how did it get to this point? And how much more erosion of the traditional photography market can we expect? How we got here The fact that cameras on smartphones are so capable these days is no coincidence it’s hard to deny that this is now the main photographic tool for most people. But outside of these, and cameras designed specifically for children, little else remains.Ĭamera sales across the world have been sliding for some time now, and many manufacturers have publicly stated changes in direction to help them weather this decline. Many of these are still distinct enough from smartphones to warrant their existence. The main three are DSLR-like cameras with expansive zoom lenses built into them enthusiast compact cameras with large sensors and cameras that will happily travel underwater. While a number of those companies still have a hand in the market, their focus has narrowed to just a few niche sub-sectors. ![]() These ranged from traditional photographic companies and general electronics ones though to new players keen on disrupting the market with a more leftfield offering. The compact camera market may still be alive, but it’s in a significantly different shape from how it once was.Įven as recently as ten years ago, it was rich with options from various manufacturers whose roots could be traced back to many different places. But to what extent will we end up moving away from dedicated cameras in the long term? Are smartphones better than cameras? Smartphones may be convenient and photographically more capable than ever. ![]()
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