Are smartphones better than cameras? Smartphones may be convenient and photographically more capable than ever. But to what extent will we end up moving away from dedicated cameras in the long term?
The compact camera market may still be alive, but it’s in a significantly different shape from how it once was.
Even as recently as ten years ago, it was rich with options from various manufacturers whose roots could be traced back to many different places. These ranged from traditional photographic companies and general electronics ones though to new players keen on disrupting the market with a more leftfield offering.
While a number of those companies still have a hand in the market, their focus has narrowed to just a few niche sub-sectors. 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.
Many of these are still distinct enough from smartphones to warrant their existence. But outside of these, and cameras designed specifically for children, little else remains.
Camera 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. 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.