iPhone SE cameras cost Apple $13 in total

rawr · 04-18-2016, 02:28 AM

The heart of the problem currently confronting mirrorless and DSLR camera makers. Hard to make a DSLR for less than $13.

From Image Sensors World recently:

Quote:

IHS: iPhone SE Cameras Cost $13.30
BusinessWire: IHS iPhone SE teardown report estimates both front and rear camera module cost $13.30, out of $156.20 total BOM, or about 8.5% - about the same proportion as iPhone 4s cameras:

Apapukas · 04-18-2016, 03:10 AM

Aren't DSLR's and phones totally different markets?

I agree that phone cameras are getting better and better and are making compacts obsolete.

But DSLR? I can't imagine person that is interested in photography and is choosing between for example K-50 and IphoneSE.

Giklab · 04-18-2016, 03:47 AM

Well, even the most expensive phones only cost ~100-200$ to make, so this doesn't surprise me at all. I highly doubt a DSLR costs that much more (I can imagine about 200-300 for something like a K-S2).

**MJSfoto1956** · 04-18-2016, 05:24 AM

Through my employer I am able to pick up an iPhone SE for $0 (with 2 year plan).
That is the reality for camera manufacturers.

Michael

noelpolar · 04-18-2016, 05:52 AM - **1 Like**

Talking to peope is way overrated....

normhead · 04-18-2016, 05:54 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by noelpolar

Talking to peope is way overrated....

Text messaging will ruin your life.

bobmaxja · 04-18-2016, 05:57 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by MJSfoto1956

Through my employer I am able to pick up an iPhone SE for $0 (with 2 year plan).
That is the reality for camera manufacturers.

Michael

Sorry but the phone is not free. somebody pay the phone in their monthly payment

**MJSfoto1956** · 04-18-2016, 06:01 AM

Originally posted by bobmaxja

Sorry but the phone is not free. somebody pay the phone in their monthly payment

Nobody said it was free.
The required "2 year" commitment is well understood.
But it is a fact that one can get a brand new device for nothing up front.

Michael

Wheatfield · 04-18-2016, 06:13 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by rawr

The heart of the problem currently confronting mirrorless and DSLR camera makers. Hard to make a DSLR for less than $13.

From Image Sensors World recently:

Harder still to make a smartphone that will take as good a picture as a DSLR over the full range of photography that we expect cameras to service.

noelpolar · 04-18-2016, 06:37 AM

I'm expecting the K-1 to reduce my need for communication to others to almost nil for many months.

rawr · 04-18-2016, 06:50 AM

Originally posted by Apapukas

I can't imagine person that is interested in photography and is choosing between for example K-50 and IphoneSE.

Smartphones either take camera-interested people out of the market for a K-50, or perhaps motivate them to move up to one (which is I think what some camera makers hope). But billions of photo/video interested people who happily and profitably use FB or Instagram or Vine etc etc may never see any value in making the upgrade. I know many people like that.

Originally posted by Wheatfield

Harder still to make a smartphone that will take as good a picture as a DSLR over the full range of photography that we expect cameras to service.

That argument probably applies in reverse too - it's hard to make a DSLR that will be as good at doing what smartphones do.

Samsung tried, and gave up ...

But yeah, I can't see the likes of birders, sports shooters, or fashion/wedding pros switching to smart-phones anytime soon. Our DSLR's are safe - for a few more years.

slip · 04-18-2016, 08:51 AM

Most people are quite satisfied with the photos that come out of phones. Can't beat the convenience of having a pocket sized camera. They usually don't care about background blur or even if they are tack sharp. They just want a recording of the memory. Once a DLSR can be the size of an Iphone, look out!

Randy

**monochrome** · 04-18-2016, 10:17 AM

From the early 60's until the early 2000's most camera owners had a fixed lens rangefinder camera. SLR ILC's were really enthusiast tools and wealthy adult toys outside professional use. It's just the decade of the digital revolution that saw a dSLR enter the average home. Remember the iPhone started in June of 2007, and the camera wasn't really important until social media took off.

iPhone camera is today's Instamatic. dSLR sales might well decline to a reasonable level for enthusiasts and rich people but they won't disappear. MILC's are more likely to suffer the passing fad effect when some new cool thing comes up.

Nicolas06 · 05-15-2016, 02:20 PM

Originally posted by rawr

The heart of the problem currently confronting mirrorless and DSLR camera makers. Hard to make a DSLR for less than $13.

From Image Sensors World recently:

I don't think a K50 cost more than an iphone to make. I would say less. After all there all the R&D to recoup and they are selling far less unit. And the camera unit of the iphone can't really work without the rest of the phone like the main processor to actually operate and without the touch screen to actually allow the user to take a photo.

As the sensor itself, maybe it cost 30$ to Pentax? That not that much more expensive, counting the difference in quality. Likely Pentax could put a 3G/4G chip in their camera for $10-20 and get an Android based OS so they could do all the thing an iphone can do... too

04-18-2016, 02:28 AM	#1
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	iPhone SE cameras cost Apple $13 in total The heart of the problem currently confronting mirrorless and DSLR camera makers. Hard to make a DSLR for less than $13. From Image Sensors World recently: Quote: IHS: iPhone SE Cameras Cost $13.30 BusinessWire: IHS iPhone SE teardown report estimates both front and rear camera module cost $13.30, out of $156.20 total BOM, or about 8.5% - about the same proportion as iPhone 4s cameras:

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04-18-2016, 03:10 AM	#2
Apapukas Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Lietuva, Vilnius Posts: 627	Aren't DSLR's and phones totally different markets? I agree that phone cameras are getting better and better and are making compacts obsolete. But DSLR? I can't imagine person that is interested in photography and is choosing between for example K-50 and IphoneSE.

04-18-2016, 03:47 AM	#3
Giklab Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Slovenia Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,182	Well, even the most expensive phones only cost ~100-200$ to make, so this doesn't surprise me at all. I highly doubt a DSLR costs that much more (I can imagine about 200-300 for something like a K-S2).

04-18-2016, 05:24 AM	#4
MJSfoto1956 Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Boston Posts: 1,305	Through my employer I am able to pick up an iPhone SE for $0 (with 2 year plan). That is the reality for camera manufacturers. Michael

04-18-2016, 05:52 AM - 1 Like	#5
noelpolar Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Goolwa, SA Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,310	Talking to peope is way overrated....

04-18-2016, 05:54 AM - 1 Like	#6
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Originally posted by noelpolar Talking to peope is way overrated.... Text messaging will ruin your life.

04-18-2016, 05:57 AM - 1 Like	#7
bobmaxja Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Laval, Quebec Canada Posts: 2,171	Originally posted by MJSfoto1956 Through my employer I am able to pick up an iPhone SE for $0 (with 2 year plan). That is the reality for camera manufacturers. Michael Sorry but the phone is not free. somebody pay the phone in their monthly payment

04-18-2016, 06:01 AM	#8
MJSfoto1956 Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Boston Posts: 1,305	Originally posted by bobmaxja Sorry but the phone is not free. somebody pay the phone in their monthly payment Nobody said it was free. The required "2 year" commitment is well understood. But it is a fact that one can get a brand new device for nothing up front. Michael

04-18-2016, 06:13 AM - 1 Like	#9
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,981	Originally posted by rawr The heart of the problem currently confronting mirrorless and DSLR camera makers. Hard to make a DSLR for less than $13. From Image Sensors World recently: Harder still to make a smartphone that will take as good a picture as a DSLR over the full range of photography that we expect cameras to service.

04-18-2016, 06:37 AM	#10
noelpolar Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Goolwa, SA Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,310	I'm expecting the K-1 to reduce my need for communication to others to almost nil for many months.

04-18-2016, 06:50 AM	#11
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913 Original Poster	Originally posted by Apapukas I can't imagine person that is interested in photography and is choosing between for example K-50 and IphoneSE. Smartphones either take camera-interested people out of the market for a K-50, or perhaps motivate them to move up to one (which is I think what some camera makers hope). But billions of photo/video interested people who happily and profitably use FB or Instagram or Vine etc etc may never see any value in making the upgrade. I know many people like that. Originally posted by Wheatfield Harder still to make a smartphone that will take as good a picture as a DSLR over the full range of photography that we expect cameras to service. That argument probably applies in reverse too - it's hard to make a DSLR that will be as good at doing what smartphones do. Samsung tried, and gave up ... But yeah, I can't see the likes of birders, sports shooters, or fashion/wedding pros switching to smart-phones anytime soon. Our DSLR's are safe - for a few more years.

04-18-2016, 08:51 AM	#12
slip Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 2 hours north of toronto ontario canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,535	Most people are quite satisfied with the photos that come out of phones. Can't beat the convenience of having a pocket sized camera. They usually don't care about background blur or even if they are tack sharp. They just want a recording of the memory. Once a DLSR can be the size of an Iphone, look out! Randy

04-18-2016, 10:17 AM	#13
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	From the early 60's until the early 2000's most camera owners had a fixed lens rangefinder camera. SLR ILC's were really enthusiast tools and wealthy adult toys outside professional use. It's just the decade of the digital revolution that saw a dSLR enter the average home. Remember the iPhone started in June of 2007, and the camera wasn't really important until social media took off. iPhone camera is today's Instamatic. dSLR sales might well decline to a reasonable level for enthusiasts and rich people but they won't disappear. MILC's are more likely to suffer the passing fad effect when some new cool thing comes up.

05-15-2016, 02:20 PM	#14
Nicolas06 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 4,854	Originally posted by rawr The heart of the problem currently confronting mirrorless and DSLR camera makers. Hard to make a DSLR for less than $13. From Image Sensors World recently: I don't think a K50 cost more than an iphone to make. I would say less. After all there all the R&D to recoup and they are selling far less unit. And the camera unit of the iphone can't really work without the rest of the phone like the main processor to actually operate and without the touch screen to actually allow the user to take a photo. As the sensor itself, maybe it cost 30$ to Pentax? That not that much more expensive, counting the difference in quality. Likely Pentax could put a 3G/4G chip in their camera for $10-20 and get an Android based OS so they could do all the thing an iphone can do... too