Kodak is now the primary digital digicam model in Japan. Sure, forward of Canon, Sony and Nikon. 

The long-lasting model now holds a monster 22.5% market share of the digital digicam market. Not simply area of interest subcategories like compact cameras or waterproof cameras, however mirrorless cameras and DSLRs as nicely. 

Canon is available in second, with 20.2% of the market, adopted by Sony at 16.5%, with Fujifilm coming in fourth with 10.6% and… Kenko Tokina at 6.9%.   

It is a really outstanding feat. Certainly, only one digicam – the Kodak Pixpro FZ55 – holds an 11% share of the market, its closest competitor being the Sony ZV-E10 with 8.2%. 

So what the heck is occurring right here? 

Let’s take a better have a look at this information – which comes courtesy of BCN Retail in Japan (which aggregates point-of-sale info from main retailers throughout the nation).  The story, briefly, is that the best-selling cameras are entry-level, budget-friendly and small.

As such, the highest ten cameras offered in April are dominated by compacts. Kodak has three (the FZ55, FZ45 and the waterproof Kodak Pixpro WPZ2), Canon has one (the IXY 650) and Kenko has one (the KC-03TY).

The remainder of them aren’t compact digicam however they’re compact cameras. The Sony ZV-E10, the Canon EOS R50 and EOS R10, the Nikon Z30 and the Instax Mini Evo. 

I believe it is harmful to write down this growth off as “it is solely in Japan”, or by saying “low cost compact cameras are a Gen Z fad”, or every other type of dismissal that assumes that is merely an anomoly. 

Not too long ago, Sigma’s CEO spoke to DPReview and about his market considerations – which basically clarify the scenario.  

“One cause for my concern is the rising common worth of cameras and lenses,” mentioned Kazuto Yamaki. “I am afraid that not so many shoppers can afford such high-priced cameras and lenses, so we’re nonetheless making an attempt exhausting to maintain the retail worth cheap.”

“Particularly nowadays, the youthful era takes big quantities of images with smartphones. Whereas we will count on a few of them to change from a smartphone to a digicam, many could discover the value hole too extensive, and difficult to make the change.

“Transferring ahead, I speculate that extra user-friendly specs would possibly imply extra to prospects. Simpler to make use of interfaces, a compact and light-weight physique for enhanced portability, or another specs is likely to be extra essential.”

Regardless of the cause, regardless of the sample does or doesn’t suggest, Kodak is the primary digicam model in Japan for the primary time in a long time. To me personally, it is a fuzzy and wonderful factor to see. To the business at giant, it is a large pink flag that instances are altering. 

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