As I continue to decipher and analyze the 2024 year end data for cameras, both from company financials as well as other sources such as Nikkei, one aspect of the numbers that doesn’t get talked about much is compact cameras.
CIPA reports that 1,880,414 compact camera units—cameras with integrated lens—were shipped in 2024. Doing some calculations on all the Nikkei, TSR, and company numbers, I come up with:
- Canon — 430,000 units
- Fujifilm — 130,000+ units, mostly X100IImodels
- OMDS — 30,000 units, probably all OM Tough TG-7 models
- Ricoh — 60,000 units, probably all GR3 models
- Sony — 470,000 units
Note that an OM Tough TG-7 is US$550, a Ricoh GR3 is US$1130, and the Fujifilm X100VI is US$1800 (Fujifilm has already tariff adjusted their pricing, OMDS and Ricoh are about to do so). These are prices that rival lower-end (typically APS-C) mirrorless cameras, which seems to indicate to me that there’s still reasonable demand for the shirt-to-jacket pocket camera. Canon has restored some of their PowerShot line, though the most easily available one in the US is the V1 model, which is more video oriented (a new pocket Elph is rumored to come soon). Nikon still seems to sell a few P950 and P1100 superzooms. Panasonic’s ZS99 and FZ80D cameras also seem to be selling. Sony’s RX line was just given a high-end refresh in the RXRIII.
The question I have is this: are any of these options the “right” design for a serious photographer?
Maybe?
The just announced (but more expensive at US$1500) Ricoh GR4 seems pretty good in terms of performance and function, though it still looks a little too old-school compact with it’s controls. The Fujifilm X100VI is my current choice, though it has a lot of overkill for my needs and I almost never use the fancy optical side of the viewfinder. Since the US$1500-US$1800 price seems to be where “highly functional, strong results, but still pocketable” seems to live now, is there a better camera definition that fits the serioius user space?
Probably.
The “base” that feels right to me is 26mp APS-C, large articulating OLED Rear Display (brighter in daylight situations), and 24-50mm (equivalent) f/2.8 zoom (a short zoom answers the 28/35 and lens adapter questions). We can argue about whether an EVF and flash is required, and what storage is used. But state-of-the-art subject detect focus and as much user control/customization as possible need to be present, too. Speaking of which: buttons you can find and distinguish with your fingertips, even with thin gloves on are also required. I’m not going to do pro-level video with this product, but it should produce good looking 4K/30 when needed.
There’s clearly a 50-100k annual volume that would be obtained by such a product in the price range I note. That’s a very viable product. So why haven’t Canon, Nikon, or Panasonic produced one?
Ironically, the 2013 Nikon Coolpix A (16mp APS-C) these days sells for US$500-600 (before any tariffs if it’s coming in from overseas) in good condition, and is still a highly viable compact camera. If Nikon simply stuck their current 20mp sensor and EXPEED6 chip in and changed nothing else, a Coolpix A+ would be a best seller at US$1200, maybe more.
