Digital SLRs and the High-end Camera Market . The camera business is booming. The high end in particular is growing rapidly, as digital SLRs have come down from thousands to hundreds of dollars, and nearly doubled in unit sales.But as image capture comes to camera-phones other devices - what will remain the defining characteristics of a standalone camera? If a phone captures adequate pictures - when would anyone carry around a larger single-function camera? What would motivate a consumer to buy one? The standalone camera must evolve if it is to survive as a product category. A camera that one purchases will have to offer better image quality than a camera-phone can provide - and more than just higher resolution and a longer telephoto. The capabilities that today drive consumers to purchase higher-priced cameras will, in the near future, be the features that all standard standalone cameras must provide in order to have an appeal that is distinct from camera-phones. To determine just what these desire capabilities are, Future Image examined the digital SLR and the higher-end enthusiast camera market.

The capabilities that today drive consumers to purchase higher-priced cameras will, in the near future, be the features that all standard standalone cameras must provide in order to have an appeal that is distinct from camera-phones. To determine just what these desire capabilities are, Future Image examined the digital SLR and the higher-end enthusiast camera market. We surveyed users to see what technologies, usages, and preferences will shape the mass market cameras to come - to predict what features now on the high end will come down to the mainstream. We discuss in detail every aspect of the SLR and enthusiast camera business with executives at the top digital camera companies. We present their views in our "roundtable" format to compare and contrast their answers.

Digitial SLRs Come to the Consumer Market Looking to the high end of the field to see what functions
standalone cmaeras will need in the future when faced with camera-phones
By the Numbers [unit sales increases]
Future Photography key feature fights
Sensor size, resolution, and light sensitivity
Optics, Interchangeable vs. built-in
SLR vs. long-zoom
Enthusiast Cameras and Digital SLRs: an Active Time
[The latest product announcements]
Table: today’s most interesting high-end cameras
Chronolgy of high-end cameras 2000– 2004
Executive Roundtable Discussion.
Participants: Canon, Fujifilm, HP, Kodak, Konica Minolta,Nikon,
Olympus, Sony.
Examining the Market Segments
Professional Needs and Differentation
Markets and Product Line Ups
Built-in optics vs. Interchangeable
Prime vs. zoom lenses

Optical compatibility

Optical profitability
Sensors and Resolution
Limiting Factors
Viefinders: Electronic vs. Optical
The Single Lens Reflex
User Survey
Full list of questions and charts
Ownership and Buying Preferences
Pricing ..
Enthusiast Cameras
Buying Factors
Optics
Electronic vs Optical viewfinders
Brand and Vendor Preferences
Durability
Battery Life
Image quality and camera size
Camera-Phones
Camera configuration preferences

Camera Company News and Reviews
Canon

Fujifilm

HP

Kodak

Konica Minolta

Nikon

Olympus

Sony