Canon Sells More DSLRs Than Anyone Else in 2012

[scarbo]

Someone on dpreview posted the figures for 2011 if anyone wants to compare.

The final numbers for 2011 camera market shares in Japan have just been released today:
http://bcnranking.jp/award/sokuhou/index.html

Compact camera:
Canon = 16.9%
Sony = 15.1%
Casio = 13.9%

DSLR (NOT including mirrorless cameras):
Canon = 46.3%
Nikon = 39.2%
Pentax = 7.5%

The Sony Axx models are included in this category; see link further down where only mirrorless cameras according to BCNRanking are indicated in bold.

Mirrorless:
Olympus = 36.6%
Panasonic = 29.3%
Sony = 27.3%

If we examine the top 20 selling interchangeable lens cameras from Jan to Nov 2011 here:
http://bcnranking.jp/news/1201/120113_21806.html

Canon cameras = 27%
Nikon cameras = 22.5%
Sony cameras = 11.9%
Olympus cameras = 10.9%
Panasonic cameras = 8%
Pentax cameras = 3%
~ 16.7% of camera models are not accounted in the above top-20 model table

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/post/40337633

[Woody]

Let's not get too excited about all the numbers. It's only for the Japanese market. We'll have to wait a while for the world wide market shares to come in.

Anyway, here are further details about the Japanese market shares.

MILC:
#1 Olympus: 29.8% (36.6% in 2011)
#2 Panasonic 23.6% (29.3% in 2011)
#3 Sony 20.0% (27.3% in 2011)
#4 Nikon 14.3%
#5 Pentax 9.4%
#6 Canon 2.1%

Looks like the top 3 in 2011 ceded market shares to Nikon and Pentax in 2012. Nikon J1 was wildy successful in the first half of 2012 due to heavy discounting. If Canon had decent AF performance, more lens choices and more camera choices with their MILC offerings, they would have done better.

DSLR:
#1 Canon 52.9% (46.3% in 2011)
#2 Nikon 34.8% (39.2% in 2011)
#3 Sony ?
#4 Pentax ? (7.5% in 2011)

Looks like Nikon's hard promotion and heavy discounting efforts for their DSLRs did not gain them very much in 2012 within Japan. As a matter of fact, they lost even more DSLR market shares to Canon in 2012 than 2011. Canon's 5D2 and 5D3 accounted for 3.9% market shares while Nikon's D800 and D600 merely earned 2.3%.

[dilbert]

But.....but.....Nikon is "better," isn't it?  DxOMark says so, it must be true.  What am I missing?!?  Oh, wait, I know....REALITY.

So?

Sales numbers are not and never have been an indication of quality.

[Don Haines]

We can be as snobby and elitist as we want.... but don't forget it is the masses buying point/shoots and rebels that are the bulk on canon's sales, and that is what keeps Canon in business.

Most cameras are bought at the Best Buys and Walmarts of the world....The fact that they don't carry high end bodies and lenses should tell you where the money is.... the same money that pays for the R/D on high end bodies that eventually trickes it way down. I say thank you to all those Rebel buyers!

[Don Haines]

Also, this is not a choice of right and wrong.... it is a question of differing needs. Look at the big chunk taken by Olympus and Panasonic with micro four thirds cameras.... this is a market segment that Canon and Nikon have almost been shut out of.... is panasonic "slightly ahead of it's time"??

[neuroanatomist]

But.....but.....Nikon is "better," isn't it?  DxOMark says so, it must be true.  What am I missing?!?  Oh, wait, I know....REALITY.

So?

Sales numbers are not and never have been an indication of quality.

True.  Betamax delivered better quality as a video recording medium.  Didn't help Sony much in the end, though, did it?   

[CDM]

Wow, CR really disappoints with this post. For one thing, the data are from sales in Japan only. But the real story here is the mirrorless category, which is taking almost HALF of all interchangeable lens sales according to the report.

[Woody]

Wow, CR really disappoints with this post. For one thing, the data are from sales in Japan only. But the real story here is the mirrorless category, which is taking almost HALF of all interchangeable lens sales according to the report.

Yes, this is what I wanted to point out indirectly above.

In the worldwide market, I suspect Nikon managed to grab some market shares from Canon in 2012. How much? We'll have to wait for the details.

[dilbert]

But.....but.....Nikon is "better," isn't it?  DxOMark says so, it must be true.  What am I missing?!?  Oh, wait, I know....REALITY.

So?

Sales numbers are not and never have been an indication of quality.

True.  Betamax delivered better quality as a video recording medium.  Didn't help Sony much in the end, though, did it?   

Actually, it taught Sony some valuable lessons and thus BluRay beat HD-DVD.

[dilbert]

Looks like Nikon's hard promotion and heavy discounting efforts for their DSLRs did not gain them very much in 2012 within Japan. As a matter of fact, they lost even more DSLR market shares to Canon in 2012 than 2011. Canon's 5D2 and 5D3 accounted for 3.9% market shares while Nikon's D800 and D600 merely earned 2.3%.

I would love to see a further breakdown on that, including a graph of 5D2/5D3 sales over the course of CY2012.

[neuroanatomist]

But.....but.....Nikon is "better," isn't it?  DxOMark says so, it must be true.  What am I missing?!?  Oh, wait, I know....REALITY.

So?

Sales numbers are not and never have been an indication of quality.

True.  Betamax delivered better quality as a video recording medium.  Didn't help Sony much in the end, though, did it?   

Actually, it taught Sony some valuable lessons and thus BluRay beat HD-DVD.

Fair enough. Betamax 'died' in 1998, and HD-DVD 'died' in 2008.  Maybe 10 years from now, Nikon's sales will too Canon?  Who knows.....

[that1guyy]

I kind of hoped Canon would lose market share. That might actually motivate them to make something decent for a change.

[EchoLocation]

So, what objective measure would you propose to determine 'better' - bearing in mind that's a rather subjective term. Which is the 'better' candidate in an election?   Heck, even the Green Party Pentax supporters get their own way. 

Please don't drag this in to a political argument(although that was my first thought,) It's way too easy to get people riled up already.

Honestly, I think both Canon and Nikon make excellent products. Some companies make features that appeal to some buyers, some others. I honestly don't think anyone can objectively choose which one is "better." Canon certainly has a better selection of lenses, however at launch their prices have been much higher than those of Nikon the last couple of years.

What I want to know is, what was the market share of 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, etc. On it's own, the market share of 2012 means a little, but if we compare it to the past few years, we may be able to spot some trends which will give us greater insight in to which manufacturer is gaining ground, or losing ground.

[Hobby Shooter]

I kind of hoped Canon would lose market share. That might actually motivate them to make something decent for a change.

What would that be then to make you happy? You mean that the 650D, 5D3, 1Dx and the 6D are not up to standard products? Seriously?

[jondave]

But.....but.....Nikon is "better," isn't it?  DxOMark says so, it must be true.  What am I missing?!?  Oh, wait, I know....REALITY.

So?

Sales numbers are not and never have been an indication of quality.

Quality? You talk as if Nikon has quality and Canon is crap. Both have quality mind you. And contrary to what you think, sales figures ARE an indication of quality. Rarely would people buy crap products, especially when you can easily walk back into the store and get a refund.

Well, all this just as I predicted. Defeated nikonistas will never accept Canon being better regardless of the statistics. Yet if these same statistics showed Nikon sold more, they would use the same arguments us Canonistas are using.

So what are you Nikonistas banking on now? Segment the sales numbers until you find a category Nikon leads Canon? Make an argument that Nikon gained market share vs Canon? Plot a historical trend to show Nikon's yearly sales are increasing? Make a list of all the awards received by pro photogs shooting Nikon?