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How Samsung is reinventing the camera market with its new camera product category



During CES 2016, many noticed that Samsung digital cameras were notably absent. That absence itself followed a revelation that Samsung had pulled from the UK and Germany-based camera markets, with at least one spokesperson having said at the time that the company was shifting its business in the photography market due to a decrease in demand.




Samsung drops digital cameras in favor of ‘new camera product category’




It's not hard to see why consumers are buying fewer dedicated digital cameras than ever. Even the cheapest smartphone has a built-in camera, and phones offer features that most cameras can't rival: fairly sophisticated editing, direct uploads and social media sharing, and more. For the average consumer, a digital camera seems rather pointless.


According to Korean publication The Investor, a Samsung official who wished to remain anonymous has revealed that Samsung has stopped sales and production of digital cameras entirely. This source stated:


A source went on to say that Samsung stopped being competitive in the entry-level digital camera market, and that it further suffered from the rise of smartphone cameras. This new alleged camera category may contain more products like the Gear 360 camera, and it could also include cameras made specifically smartphones.


The S22 and S22+ have the same rear camera setup, including an ultra-wide 0.6x lens for broad views, a standard 1x lens with a bright aperture for low-light shots, and a 3x telephoto for portraits. The S22 Ultra adds a 10x optical lens to the mix, making it a bit more versatile for trips to the zoo, or in my case, to a local trail with birds, squirrels, and other suburban wildlife. It also offers 100x digital zoom, but image quality drops off quickly beyond the 10x optical setting.


Shopping for a digital camera? We're here to help. Our reviews cover everything from pocket-friendly cameras to high-end gear for pro photographers. It's a diverse space that can be difficult to navigate if you don't spend all of your free time reading photo blogs and talking about your favorite new lens on an enthusiast forum.


A rugged, waterproof camera is a good option if you're an outdoor adventurer, snorkeler, beachgoer, or just a bit of a klutz. For around $450, the Olympus Tough TG-6 is our favorite; it's easily the best rugged compact available today. If you don't want to spend that much, you can get a Ricoh WG-70 for under $300, or the slim Panasonic Lumix TS30 for less than $200. We broke down our favorite waterproof cameras in a separate story.


And we can't forget to mention the Leica Q2 Monochrom, one of the few digitals out there with a sensor solely for black-and-white imaging. These aren't big tent cameras, but it can be rewarding to stray from the beaten path.


Bridge models may look like interchangeable lens cameras, but typically don't do well in dim light. Our favorite consumer model, the 65x zoom power Canon PowerShot SX70 HS, gets tight views for backyard birding and trips to the zoo, but its lens works best outdoors in sunlight.


Medium format digital cameras used to be the tools reserved for the most successful (or well-funded) photographers. You can still drop $50,000 on a Phase One IQ4 150MP if you want to, but, for most of us, the prospect is rather silly. Medium format doesn't have to cost that much.


You don't have to go digital. Film is still an option and instant cameras are extremely popular. Instant formats take away the hassle of getting film developed, and make it easy to share physical images with friends and family immediately. You can get an entry-level model for around $65 and film packs generally cost around $7.50. The Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 is our favorite basic model and the SQ1 is there if you prefer square prints.


A report on the South Korean business website The Investor quotes an anonymous Samsung official as saying "we no longer produce and sell digital cameras, but we will create a new camera product category to continue the business".


By contrast, smartphone image quality increased by over 4EV. So increased sensor resolution and sensitivity was only part of what helped smartphones overtake compact cameras in image quality. An even larger factor was the increased computing power of mobile devices, and the ensuing improvements in image processing. Over the same time that sensors improved by about 1.3EV, digital processing of images produced results that had improved by around 3EV, thanks to an increase of about 100x in processing power and new algorithms.


For Guichard, the secret to the longevity of digital cameras is trust. In the hands of someone who knows how to use it, a DSLR can be relied on to render a scene in the way the photographer envisions. An experienced photographer can also learn the limits of their DSLR and know that if they stay within those limits they can achieve repeatable, quality results. Smartphone algorithms, no matter how clever, are still susceptible to making mistakes, or of simply misunderstanding the intention of the photographer.


While smartphones are increasingly good at painlessly capturing memories, and even turning them into shared experiences, some photographers will always want to tell their own stories and keep creative control of their images. Standalone digital cameras such as DSLRs, mirrorless, and of course larger formats allow them to do that. So, at least for the indefinite future, they have a place in the hearts and minds of many.


Samsung has introduced several models of digital cameras and camcorders including the WB550 camera, the ST550 dual-LCD-mounted camera, and the HMX-H106 (64GB SSD-mounted full HD camcorder). In 2014, the company took the second place in the mirrorless camera segment.[197] Since then, the company has focused more on higher-priced items. In 2010, the company launched the NX10, the next-generation interchangeable lens camera.


The first Samsung Experience Shops began appearing across Best Buy locations in the United States in May 2013. In May 2014, Best Buy announced its plans to add 500 new Samsung Entertainment Experience Shops. While the previous Samsung Experience locations focused primarily on showcasing and providing support for Samsung's Galaxy smartphones, cameras, and tablets, these new locations will showcase and support the company's home theater products.


In the 2010 iF Material Awards, the company won the Gold Award for five of its products including the external hard disk drive. The iF Material Awards are given by the International Forum Design GmbH of Hannover, a design award for design materials and process technologies. In 2010, the German company selected a total of 42 products in the areas of home appliance, furniture, and industrial design. Samsung won the awards in five categories including external hard disk, full-touch screen phone, "side-by-side" refrigerator, compact digital camera, and laser printer toner.[235]


12 years later, the situation of the camera industry looks very different. Not only do most people always have their smartphone with them, but the lenses and sensors built into mobile phones are getting better and better. Having raced to ever-higher megapixel counts in the early years of the smartphone boom, recent developments have focused on improving image depth and performance in low-light conditions, both areas in which the difference between smartphones and dedicated cameras used to be most obvious. As our chart illustrates, global camera shipments by CITA members dropped by more than 80 percent since peaking in 2010. Last year, the world's largest camera makers shipped 15.2 million units, the lowest number of digital cameras since 2001 and the lowest number of cameras per se since the early 1980s.


Ninja V+ offers the power and flexibility that means it can be paired with an unprecedented range of cameras on any type or size of production. The professional caliber monitoring tools make framing, exposure, and focusing a breeze. With Ninja V+ you can work confidently to perfect every shot.


Ninja V+ has been designed so that it can be paired equally well with smaller cameras as part of a minimal setup and with full-size camera rigs on large-scale cinema productions. The aluminum chassis and polycarbonate backplate have been crafted for maximum durability. The device weighs just 360g (0.79lbs), which means it can be used comfortably with a handheld camera. The device includes anti-rotational 3/8-16 mount points on the top and bottom. It ships with a 1/4-20 adapter, so that Ninja V+ can easily be adapted and mounted on industry-standard equipment from a wide range of manufacturers.


Adobe C2C is being used by production teams every day to share footage from the shoot with remote team members. C2C is the fastest, easiest, and most secure method to share media and collaborate in real-time. It creates a direct path from production to the post-production teams, allowing media to be transferred from C2C certified devices, wherever you are, over standard network connections to the cloud, for viewing, approval, and editing. Clips can be reviewed on any device and editors can start cutting high-quality proxy files (with matching timecode and file names) before anyone calls it a wrap. The ATOMOS CONNECT accessory for Ninja V+ opens the C2C workflow to a significantly wider range of digital cinema, mirrorless, and DSLR cameras, allowing more filmmakers than ever before engage in cloud-based workflows and experience the future of production.* ATOMOS CONNECT required.


We've bought and tested over 75 cameras in our lab, and below you'll find our recommendations for the best mirrorless cameras to buy. Most of these picks are crop-sensor models that are better suited for a wider range of budgets, but if you're specifically looking for a full-frame model, check out our best full-frame mirrorless cameras article instead. If you're buying your first camera, you might also prefer to check out our picks for the top mirrorless cameras for beginners. If you're more interested in video, you can take a look at our favorite cameras for filmmaking or vlogging. 2ff7e9595c


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