D-SLR Market: Version Four
Since it had been about six months since I did the third collage, I thought to make an update. Move your cursor over the cameras to see their model name.
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My Collages:
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Just like the last collage, the figure is divided into different market segments. From the top of the figure to the first line is where I feel the entry-level part of the camera market is. From the first line to the second is where I feel the mid-range part of the camera market is. From the second line to the third line is where I feel the high-end part of the camera market is. Below the third line is the "ultra high-end" part of the camera market. Some cameras overlap because they are trying to target the market differently, for example I put the Nikon D90 inbetween entry-level and mid-range because it has some higer-end features like its pentaprism but doesn't quite make the full cut because of its feature list.
Not every camera in my figure is a D-SLR, but I included them because they are targeting buyers in the same market. These cameras are; Fujifilm Finepix X100, Leica M9, Leica X1, Olympus PEN E-PL1, Olympus PEN E-P2, Olympus PEN E-PL2, Olympus PEN E-PL1s, Samsung NX11, Samsung NX5, Samsung NX100, Sigma DP2x, Sigma DP2s, Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10, Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2, Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1, Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2, and the Ricoh GXR A12. The Leica M9 is a rangefinder, the Leica X1, Sigma DP1x, and Sigma DP2s and fixed lens cameras. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10, Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2, Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1, Olympus PEN E-P2, and the Olympus PEN E-PL1 are mirror-less, interchangable lens 4/3 sensored cameras. The Fujifilm Finepix X100, Samsung NX11, Samsung NX5, Samsung NX100, Sony NEX-3, and Sony NEX-5 are also a mirror-less cameras with interchangble lenses but they have a larger APS-C sized sensor. The Ricoh GXR A12 is a completely new breed of camera offering interchangable lens + sensor units. All of these cameras have an optional accessory shoe, RAW file format, and a sensor of atleast 2.43cm in area, therefore indicating that they are targeting a more "Professional" market.
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Main Changes Since "D-SLR Market Version Three": Since I made the last collage a few things have happened. Sony has decided to stay quiet since their massive attack on the entry-level market when I made the last collage. Instead Olympus has diversified their entry level offerings with the Olympus PEN E-PL2 and the Olympus PEN E-PL1s, they also introduced an updated flagship model. Canon did something quite interesting; they lowered the market position of one of their model lines when introducing the Canon EOS 60D which was lowered to the same playing ground as the Nikon D90, Nikon moved a model up from the D90 with the introduction of the Nikon D7000 which is a higher-end offering than the former Canon EOS 50D. Canon also updated all of their Rebel models including the Rebel XS which hadn't been updated in years. Pentax also updated their flagship APS-C model with the introduction of the Pentax K7. Sigma finally added a new model to their D-SLR lineup; the SD1 which is the first fairly "professional" model from the company with a rugged body. Overall the market position change regarding Canon and Nikon's offerings is most likely the largest change since my last update.
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Entry-Level: $500-$950 USD (Body Only)
The cameras that I classified as entry-level are available to the consumer market for "affordable" prices. These cameras usually have bodies made of strong engineering plastic and have very basic environmental sealing, with the exception of the Pentax K-x which has weather sealing as good as a mid-range camera. The lowest of the entry-level cameras usually have a few missing features which are usually considered standard across the market, this is to entice new photographers to upgrade eventually. For example, Canon does not offer spot metering in their Rebel XS (1000D) and Nikon does not offer exposure bracketing in their D3100. The more pricey cameras in this entry-level segment usually have some features of their mid-range siblings, for example, the Canon Rebel T3i has 18.0 megapixels and 14 bit files, the Nikon D90 has a pentaprism, the Pentax K-x has weather sealing, the Sony A550 has 7 frames per second continuous shooting. It is standard of the entry-level cameras to offer a shutter life of 100,000 actuations.
Mid-Range: $1,100-$2,700 USD (Body Only)
The mid-range market is characterized by better build quality and longer shutter life. These cameras are made from magnesium alloy and usually have a shutter life of 150,000 actuations (the original EOS 1D of 2001 had a shutter life of only 150,000 actuations). These cameras also have brighter viewfinder images thanks to the use of a proper pentaprism instead of a pentamirror used in the entry level models. Many of these mid-range models now offer 100% viewfinder coverage; Nikon D300s, Nikon D7000, Canon EOS 7D, Olympus E-3, Pentax K5, and the Sony Alpha D-SLR A900. Cameras at this level begin to differentiate a bit more as to what purpose they would be used for, for example, the Canon EOS 7D might be used more for sports and wildlife (8fps and crop factor) while the Canon EOS 5D Mark II might be used more for studio work, weddings, products, and landscapes (lenses give wider feild of view, larger pixels, higher resolution). Autofocus is also better with these models, because they usually have more cross type autofocus points than the entry-level cameras. These cameras also tend to have a high continuous shooting speed of 5-8 frames per second. Overall this group of cameras is best suited to enthusiasts and working professionals.
High-End: $5,000-$13,000 USD (Body Only)
These cameras have shutter lives of 300,000 actuations and have the highest degree of weather sealing available. They utilize the best autofocus systems available on the Canon and Nikon bodies. The new Canon EOS 1D Mark IV has 39 cross type autofocus sensors and a total of 45 autofocus sensors. It may seem strange at first to see that I included the Mamiya DM22 and Hasselblad 503CWD in this class, but they are at a similar price point and resolution. The Mamiya has an MSRP of $9,999 USD and the Nikon D3X has an MSRP of $7,999 USD, so they are fairly close and they might be used for similar purposes; high-end portraiture and studio work. The Hasselblad 503CWD is very interesting as it is the only "old" body I include here, it is an old "V-system" camera and uses its lenses, but Hasselblad still offers it with a 16 megapixel digital back. The Leica M9 is also listed here because of its price point of $6,999 USD which is pretty well in line with this group. The Canon EOS 5D Mark II is nudged into this section a bit because it offers nearly the same sensor as the Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III, which makes it a bargain.
"Ultra High-End:" $10,000-$42,000 USD (Body Only)
These cameras are very expensive mainly because of their digital backs which offer as much as 60.5 megapixels. None of these cameras are actually "true" medium format cameras because they don't offer a sensor size of atleast 27cm squared, which would be equivalent to 6X4.5cm film size. The largest sensor available for these bodies (as far as I know) is Phase One's P65+ digital back which has a sensor size of 21.8 cm squared. Many Mamiyas and Hasselblads have the same sensor size of 17.28cm squared which (ironaically) is exactly 2X the size of a full frame sensor of 8.64cm squared. The Leica S2 has a much smaller sensor of only 13.5cm squared. The Hasselblad H4D-40, Mamiya DM40, and Pentax 645D have a sensor of about 14.5cm squared. In reality this group of cameras is only affordable to large companies, studios, and people with extreamly deep pockets.
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The Idea for this collage was originally from Derek K. Miller
Please click here to see the image larger on a white background!
EXPLORED!