Mirrorless cameras outsell DSLRs for the first time

(Image credit: Future)

If you still prefer DSLRs to mirrorless cameras, then you're now officially in the minority. A new CIPA (Camera and Imaging Products Association) report has officially confirmed that mirrorless cameras now hold a larger portion of the camera market than DSLRs for the first time ever.

CIPA is an association of members that operate in the imaging industry, providing insights into how the industry is performing. CIPA has recently released its figures for 2020, including the number of units shipped and the number of units being produced.

• Read more: Best mirrorless camera

The latest figures show that the industry at large has shrunk quite considerably. Both DSLR and mirrorless cameras have seen a quite a radical reduction in units being produced in 2020. DSLR cameras saw production rates drop to 2.4M units, down from 4.4M. Mirrorless cameras have also seen a reduction in production, although not quite as severe as DSLRs, dropping from 3.9M units to 2.9M units.

However, one of the most interesting market trends revolves around how many camera units are being shipped. Mirrorless cameras now make up 33% of the market, whereas DSLR cameras now sit at 27%. This change in the number of units being shipped could be attributed to Canon and Nikon's newest mirrorless releases.

Cameras such as the Canon EOS R5 and the EOS R6 have performed extremely well for the company with better than expected results. Meanwhile, the Nikon Z6 II and the Nikon Z7 II have also been very well received. These new cameras could have been the magic touch that helped to push mirrorless cameras ahead of DSLRs.

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