Originally posted by redimp I think the market shrinkage might have something to do with a large part of the DSLR buying world (Europe, USA, Japan etc) are still suffering the effects of various banking crises over the past ten to fifteen years (Europe and North America's being the past five years). If these parts of the world ever pull out and back into growth the market for DSLRs (a luxury product except for professionals) might well pick up. There is always going to be a market for photographs, SmartPhones may be killing the compact, but for quality images, there is no consistent replacement for DSLRs yet and until there are good live digital viewfinders, there is unlikely to be one. Therefore I for one am convinced that the downturn in the DSLRs is more economic than long term. Hopefully, Pentax will be in a good position to pick up the slack when the market improves; it is the time to do it.
Yup, that would be one piece of the equation. Partially thanks to the economy people aren't buying as much as they used to, and the market becomes flooded, and unsold stocks grow bigger. The manufacturers want us to buy both the old and the new stock, but people don't need that many cameras, nor can they afford them right now. It's not a DSLR thing alone. Looks like it's the same with DSLR's, CSC's and even compacts.
When people need, or feel like they need a new product, they will buy one, provided that they have the financial means to do so. In such a case, even the price doesn't really matter. Those who can will buy, regardless of the price, and those who cannot or dare not won't, even at discounted prices. Nowadays many people will just have to rethink whether they actually need something, or simply want something.
Because money is moving in one direction only these days, from out pockets into the banks.
Non Sequitur Comic Strip, March 28, 2013 on GoComics.com