So 50 years ago, I went to this worlds fair and heard about all these predictions of what the future would look like. And while some predictions came true, many have still not happened 50 years later
Seattle World's Fair - World of Tomorrow
A few things that came true:
1. Fax machines with inventions going back to the 1800's finally came into common usage in 1980's
2. Electronic library display was centered around a univac main computer and the information it could store. But still we have huge paper book libraries.
3. Wall sized TV screens. Today's large LCD screens probably qualify
Things that didn't come true
1. Rounded cubes for homes. Most house i see are still built from sticks. More condos/apts than ever, but relatively same.
2. Ford's predicted 6 wheel car with 4 tires up front for 4 wheel drive steering. (The smart car, the Elio and electric cars were not predicted but will probably revolutionize the market)
3. Disposable dishes - nope
4. Automatic windows - nope
The point being that future predictions are often in error. If future predictions were so good, why did Canon, Nikon and Pentax all miss the boat on their first mirrorless efforts (except for the damn Q - thing will probably outlive me
)
I think OVF will soon be replaced by EVF for 98% of consumer cameras within 3 years. The photographic community will be as vibrant in the future as it is today. There will be as many photo professionals in the future as there are today. (I do volunteer work for a local live theater. After 4 years, I'm a bit worn out and have been encouraging them to take their own pictures with their iphones, PS, whatever, but they still prefer to call me or other enthusiasts)
I'm confident there will be plenty of dedicated cameras around in the next 15 years for pros and enthusiasts to be happy with. But they will mostly be using the same electronic and other hardware as other camera manufacturers. That is a key to cutting costs and how laptops are made today - one repair shop told me that all laptops have components from a very few wholesalers. We already see Sony, Toshiba, etc. make sensors to sell to anyone that wants them.
Specialized lenses will still be available. or will they? Will ILC cameras survive?
When folks tell me that the everything will be completely different in the future, i laugh and remember the 1962 worlds fair. yeah, right.