New statistics from the BCN Award 2025 show a distinct picture of the camera industry’s future. The award was given to companies after calculating the sales figures from all the major photographic equipment retailers in Japan. While the report may not showcase global trends, it is certainly an indicator of what is shaping up the industry. Without further ado, here’s a look at the figures.
The figures before the bracket are from this year, while those in the bracket are from last year’s market shares.
Digital Camera with Built-in Lens Category
- Canon: 23.4% (22.6%)
- Kodak: 21.2% (20.7%)
- Fujifilm: 15.8% (18.1%)
Digital Camera SLR Category
- Canon: 69.4% share (77.1%)
- Nikon: 20.9% share (17.1%)
- Ricoh Imaging: 9.7% share (5.8%)
Digital Camera Mirrorless Interchangeable-lens Camera Category
- Sony: 35.8% share (34%)
- Canon: 26% share (28.3%)
- Nikon: 14.5% share (-)
Digital Video Camera Category
- DJI: 48.1% share (19.6%)
- Panasonic: 23.8% share (36.4%)
- Sony: 23.4% share (38.7%)
Camera Accessories Category
Interchangeable Lens Category
- Tamron: 17.5% (15.4%)
- Sigma: 16.8% (17%)
- Sony: 15% (15.2%)
Tripods and Monopods Category
- Hakuba Photo Industry: 28.8% (29.6%)
- Slik: 14.8% (14.2%)
- Videndum Media Solutions: 14.4% (14.2%)
Camera Cases and Bags Category
- Hakuba Photo Industry: 50.9% (45.8%)
- ELECOM: 10.6% (16.5%)
- Etsumi: 7.2% (7%)
The integrated lens camera segment hasn’t changed since the past year, and this stability can mean that companies will not have massive changes any time soon. Why? Because that may require more financial and operational support from the company. There has also been a gradual decline in DSLRs and a prominent rise in mirrorless and video-centric cameras – with only a bit of a shift in the trend. Furthermore, Canon is still not a preferred mirrorless brand and may need a better strategy in the future. There is also DJI’s presence, which easily surpasses Sony’s mirrorless, which only proves that action cameras may be the future. They are small, effective, and offer a fresh perspective due to the drone’s involvement. With this, one can easily understand that the market trends are more and more catering to video needs, and photography may be a niche genre for some professionals.
It is (not) surprising to see Tamron taking the lead in the interchangeable lens category. There may not be a massive difference between the sales of Tamron and Sigma, but the former’s growth reflects a broader trend of demand for high-quality lenses at competitive prices. The increased competition in the lens market will likely drive innovation and affordability for consumers.
The dominance of the companies in the accessory department may depend on the region. However, it is clear that the demand for specialized accessories will continue to grow as photography evolves.
With the boom of AI and the democratization of photography, photographers are more focused on creating unique narratives, which can help them establish their legacy. Serious photography will continue to rely on mirrorless, but amateurs may prefer to stick to smaller devices that give unique presets, which can make their photographs distinct.
Overall, despite the saturation of visual stories, some people are still undeterred by social media’s impact. When digital cameras became prominent, it didn’t stop analog photographers to pursue their purist approach. Similarly, content creators taking over some aspects of the medium does not mean that serious photography will stop. Sure, it may be more limited as brands would want to tap into photographers who have a better social media following. But hey, it’s not the creators who win awards; it’s people who take images that touch your soul. We will be in good hands as long as camera manufacturers remember this.
