Sony will soon rule the digital image world. It won’t be because of full frame mirrorless cameras or 8K cinema cameras. While those are major components of its imaging portfolio and brand awareness, the camera market for us enthusiasts and pros is becoming increasingly niche.
Sony is scaling its CMOS sensor production at crazy levels with no end in sight. Demand continues to increase for image sensors in virtually every consumer product out there. From smartphones to automobiles (the US will require every car built after 2018 to feature a backup camera), everything is requiring more and more cameras.
Cameras are the future of our technology – even if it isn’t the cameras you and I are accustomed to using. Sony’s recent acquisition of Toshiba’s CMOS sensor production is additional evidence that Sony will be one of the few companies that can outsource camera production at scale for virtually every new device that other manufacturers want to build.
Sony is a stakeholder in Olympus. Nikon, Pentax, Phase One and Canon (e.g., G7 X), among other industry players, use Sony sensors in their cameras. Sony, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Sony Semiconductor Corporation, has positioned itself as a manufacturer to win as other camera manufacturers win. On a much larger scale though, Sony’s digital image business is positioned to explode.
As the image sensor business explodes, Sony’s R&D will only continue to outpace other companies who have their hand in the niche camera markets. In the end, this will only lead to better camera manufacturing from Sony and eventually put it in first place in the digital camera market.
In a few days, Sony will hold a press conference at CES 2016. There will be shiny new TVs, phones and cameras for consumers and enthusiasts. Pay attention to the boring business talk though as Sony tosses around numbers about its CMOS sensor production and what kinds of devices they are being used in. That is where the money is at and how Sony will rule the digital imaging world.
Are you saying SONY is going to be bigger than Nikon and Canon?!! I re-read your article and still can’t believe it? Am I right and please explain this to me again. Thank you
Are you saying SONY is going to be bigger than Nikon and Canon?!! I re-read your article and still can’t believe it? Am I right and please explain this to me again. Thank you
I might be wrong but i think most of Nikon’s cameras use Sony sensors anyway!
But what i believe Eric is trying to say is that the world of SLRs and Canon vs Nikon vs Sony vs others is just a tiny fraction of 1% of the money in the photographic world and Sony totally dominate this new world and are only getting stronger!
Thanks Oberoth I appreciate your time. I guess I’m having trouble with another manufacturer being better than Canon.
I think Sony will eventually make it there – even in our niche view of the digital imaging world. Sony is already off to a banging start with its camera tech. As it pushes R&D across market segments, our enthusiast and pro niche will be even stronger for Sony.
So yes, in the end, I think Sony is the camera king.
And that’s coming from a self-proclaimed Canon fanboy. But I’m not so blinded by my love for Canon’s cameras and lenses to recognize Sony’s disruption at a much larger scale across several industries.
I think Canon and Nikon remain very relevant as niche products but Sony has the mass production chops to bully its way to the top.
And Sony has done a solid job of putting leaders in our niche that listen to its customers. As much as Sony has flopped around with various products (mini disc, memory stick, the new walkman, etc.), Sony is firing on all cylinders in the consumer and enthusiast camera market. I think they are just a step of away from dropping a killer pro camera too (not that the A7R II isn’t great).
That said, Sony needs to be careful with introducing friction in the consumer experience (e.g., the Playmemories app crap I wrote about recently). That is not in the spirit of Sony’s recent bold moves and is a point of frustration for consumers.
Eric thanks for your in depth reply I completely understand what the article was saying now.
Thanks LJ
What are your thoughts on Samsung’s future in the SLR style market? I really loved the NX1, they just needed a few more lenses. It would be a real shame if they did close the doors on high end cameras after barely giving it a proper go.
I don’t think Samsung is worrying anyone right now, however, if they continue on their path they just be a contender.
Lori
It would be a big loss to lose Samsung, even if just from the competition stand point to keep the other boys on their toes in terms of features and price.
Obviously too early to really say but I honestly expected the Samsung NX2 to be my next camera, that’s coming from a Canon 7D which I’ve had since more or less release day.
Agreed Oberoth. I hope Samsung sticks around but they aren’t really inspiring confidence right now. Hopefully, that will change for the better soon.