So, what else is new?

Digital Camera Sales Drop. Smartphones to Blame? Perhaps

According to Reuters, as reported in  the New York Times, compact digital camera sales are down by an incredible 40 percent. Some of better known brands such as Panasonic, Olympus and Fujiflim -- are actually losing money on their camera divisions. And the bad news continues. Sales for mirrorless cameras, which are mid-tier cameras halfway between compact point-and-shoots and mirrored DSLRS, are also so,so, making up only 10.5 percent of interchangeable lens camera sales in the US (and 11.2 percent in Europe): this despite doing quite well in Japan, where they make up 36 percent of ILC sales. We have bee saying that the end of the traditional camera is near but we are always surprised at the rate of change. As we have said many times prior to this announcement, the big cameras are really only to show off. We still believe that the "serious photographer, so to speak will ultimately embrace the mirrorless micro four thirds system as the new high end.  Technology  marches on and there's nothing anyone can do about it. We believe that "real photography" is actually dead and buried. It's just too easy to take a mediocre photo these days and as for the great ones they are so rare that we always wonder why anyone would bother making "photographs" at all. Why photograph, what does it all mean?
Perhaps taking up real good cooking is much better at least you can eat the results of your creativity.