What happened in 2019 – the year in cameras

What happened in 2019 – the year in cameras
(Image credit: Digital Camera World)

For all the exciting new kit and technological innovations it ushered in, it’s difficult to look at 2019 without feeling a bit of a pit in the stomach. The year started off with the starkest of prognostications, as Canon CEO Fujio Mitarai warned in January that the camera market would continue to contract for two years – and would ultimately shrink by as much as 50%, primarily due to the erosion caused by smartphone use.

Things only appeared bleaker in February, with the annual report by LensVid noting that the market has collapsed a staggering 84% since 2010. The lifeline identified by most manufacturers was to pare down production of lower end products (ie those most likely be made redundant by camera phones) and focus on higher-spec bodies – namely the kit favored by professionals and business users. 

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James Artaius
Editor

The editor of Digital Camera World, James has 21 years experience as a journalist and started working in the photographic industry in 2014 (as an assistant to Damian McGillicuddy, who succeeded David Bailey as Principal Photographer for Olympus). In this time he shot for clients like Aston Martin Racing, Elinchrom and L'Oréal, in addition to shooting campaigns and product testing for Olympus, and providing training for professionals. This has led him to being a go-to expert for camera and lens reviews, photo and lighting tutorials, as well as industry news, rumors and analysis for publications like Digital Camera MagazinePhotoPlus: The Canon MagazineN-Photo: The Nikon MagazineDigital Photographer and Professional Imagemaker, as well as hosting workshops and talks at The Photography Show. He also serves as a judge for the Red Bull Illume Photo Contest. An Olympus and Canon shooter, he has a wealth of knowledge on cameras of all makes – and a fondness for vintage lenses and instant cameras.