The Camera Market Is Shifting

A new report from BCN+R in Japan shows compact camera sales are climbing, while demand for interchangeable lens cameras (ILCs) is slowing down. ILC sales have been dropping since last summer, and inflation plus new tariffs aren’t helping. Meanwhile, compact cameras have been selling like crazy, with double-digit growth since November. As of February, they made up 71% of total camera sales—people still want small, high-quality cameras that are fun and easy to use.

Camera brands are now racing to catch up. Canon, Panasonic, and others are bringing compacts back, but ramping up production takes time. By the time more models hit shelves, will demand still be there?

Companies aren’t just reviving old compacts—they’re making new ones built for vloggers and hybrid shooters. Sony’s ZV-1 II and Canon’s PowerShot V1 are designed for content creators, while Nikon’s Coolpix P1100 packs a 24-3000mm zoom—something no phone can match.