Outlook is gloomy for digital camera sales
Gee does, however, offer a note of optimism for manufacturers. He believes they have the expertise to survive and thrive as long as they continue to innovate. “If they invest in making decent software for their hardware they could be in prime position, but if they keep pedalling the same technology again and again, just with slight improved iterations, then they will probably go under as well,” he says.
IN THE FRAME: SNAPSHOT OF DIGITAL CAMERAS
Three different types of digital camera at different price points
Samsung ST200F, €210
As the number-one smartphone manufacturer, Samsung knows better than most that it has to offer real value if it wants people to buy its standalone compacts.
The pocket-sized ST200F crams the features in, from a 10x zoom to built-in wifi. Boasting 16 megapixels and an ISO sensitivity that copes well with low light, it’s impressive at the price and the overall picture quality is sharp and vivid.
Panasonic Lumix DMC- G5, €849 (with 14-42mm lens)
The new flagship CSC from Panasonic is pitched as a DSLR alternative, a proposition bolstered by a dazzling range of creative controls packed into a neat chassis that takes a growing number of interchangeable lenses.
The company claims its Light Speed autofocus system, which you can activate from the touchscreen vari-angle LCD, is the fastest on the market. Other features include a 16-megapixel sensor, full HD video, six frame-per-second rapid-burst shooting and 12,800 ISO for taking pictures in extreme low light.
Canon EOS 60D, €1,150 (with 18-55mm lens)
As well as interchangeable lenses, an 18-megapixel CMOS sensor and strong, low-light performance, the Canon 60D offers the complete control over aperture and shutter speeds that creative enthusiasts crave.
It also offers a comprehensive range of preset shooting modes and a good deal of automation – including a nine-point autofocus system. The vari-angle three-inch LCD makes easy work of taking pictures in the most awkward situations.
The 60D is also the most affordable in a line of Canon cameras that shoot full HD 1080p video, giving it a whole other life as the camera of choice for low-budget film-makers.
