Latest figures of year-on-year sales released by Japanese website BCN show that for the first time, Sony is the market share leader in Japan when it comes to full-frame cameras, knocking Canon from the top spot.
As reported by Canon Watch, the figures show that based on sales between November 2018 and October 2019, Sony has improved its share of the market from 31.6% to 38%. This pushes Canon into second place, down to 36% from 37.8% the previous year.
While this is certainly a significant development and keeps Sony on track for its goal of dominating the camera industry by 2021, it’s worth noting that full-frame unit sales are only a small percentage when looking at all full-frame and APS-C DSLR and mirrorless camera sales — just over 10%.
These figures come at a time when Canon and Nikon’s first forays into mirrorless cameras are barely a year old, and truly flagship models are yet to appear. One might expect these figures to change considerably in a year’s time when more firmware updates have been delivered, making Canon and Nikon more appealing, and new models have been brought to market.
Many photographers moved from Canon to Sony because of the potential to adapt lenses, but while this was to Sony’s advantage, it might also mean that customers can switch back just as readily.
What are your thoughts? Will Sony's position continue to expand or will Canon and Nikon stage a comeback over the next 12 months? Leave a comment below.
Nikon just made far too many mistakes in the past. They are pretty much done I think. Arrogance in incompetence did them in:
- failed Nikon 1 line ("don't cannibalize DSLR sales" lol)
- failed in compact market (DL line)
- ridiculous effort in action camera market that failed
- only one card slot in Z6/7. Pissed of professionals and amateurs alike (who had to buy new expensive cards)
- not sharing lens protocol
- disrespect and neglect of APS-C (in 18 years only 4 DX primes, two of them macro and one fisheye). Just pathetic.
- good ol' regular crippling of cameras (one example: d3300 -> d3400 -> d3500, also d7500 etc.)
They deserve what's coming to them.
I feel you 100%.
When I hold D300 or even D5200, it pains me to see how far Nikon has fallen.
The D850 was & is still the best all around *DSLR*, bar none; however Nikon shoulda/coulda prepared a equivalent mirrorless body at the same time.
When I saw the half baked Z7 with 1 card slot, the haphazard AF, I was dismayed. Come on, Nikon, you expect the Pros to pick up that camera for the livelihood ? Geez...
The new 800 lb gorilla in sales ..... only if they can get the service/repair part right, they will be unbeatable .....
reason for me to stick with Nikon over here. they have a great service department. as i understand Sony doesnt have a Pro service like canon or Nikon. and sony doesnt feel like it could survive a drop or sneezing on the camera. nikon can, yeah i dropped my D850 more than once.
Hopefully this fierce competition reduces the stupid “filler camera” offering by Canon and Nikon— last-gen cameras with a new feature or two and rebranded as a new model. And Epstein didn’t commit suicide.
Great lens. Overall the bodies give great choice but wish Canon wouldnt keep blackmailing customers i to mirrorless and look to crazy pricing of aging models like the 5D mk4.... and near 3k gbp when importers sell for 1.6 !!!!!