Originally posted by Rondec Falconeye predicted on this Forum five or six years ago that smaller sensors were going to get squeezed as larger sensors got cheaper. It isn't that crop sensors will go away -- they won't -- but that it is going to be harder to sell those cameras for higher prices.
Our eminent physicist (eminent to me at least) predicted the right result in general terms, so it probably doesn't matter if the basis of his prediction is incorrect. From 2013 to 2018, average value of ILCs shipped increased from 40,000 Yen to 53,000 Yen. Fixed lens cameras do not come with FF sensors, so as sales of that class of cameras fell by more than 80% in units, smaller sensors became less important. The average value of fixed lens cameras actually grew from 10,700 Yen in 2013 to 18,400 Yen in 2018.
Cost of production, market pricing and changing technology have had nothing to do with what has happened to the standalone camera market since the peaks of 2011-2013.The people who bought digital cameras during that peak because new technology became affordable, have stopped buying standalone digital cameras. The remaining market consists of diehards who enjoying buying new gear.
---------- Post added 05-16-19 at 11:07 AM ----------
Originally posted by Rondec I can't imagine that there is a lot between the newest generation colonoscope and an EM1x (at least I hope there isn't).
The latest improvements in sensors, image processing and optics will appear first in photographic equipment, then those improvements end up in medical and industrial equipment (assuming that there are any benefits to be derived in the other applications). I agree, it is pretty hard to see a lot of value from having an internal camera division, when most of the useful technology transfer should be available from outside vendors.