Flickr camera stats for 2015

[Loswr]

Flickr recently published some summaries of the EXIF data in their image database.

iPhones top the list, and the top 10 comprises 7 models of iPhones and three Canon dSLRs.


I'm ergonomically apalled that the iPad comes in at #15, at least it's the lowest-ranked of the iDevices on the list. Interesting that there are two FF Canon dSLRs in the top 10. Not much love for Nikon among Flickr users, only one old model comes in above the iPad, and no Nikon FF bodies on the list. Sony, oh Sony...where art thou (cameras that is, not sensors inside iPhones)?


Of those who use more than one camera, the pairing of Apple and Canon was most popular:


Perhaps logical in light of the fact that Apple and Canon are the two most popular brands. Interesting that 10% of those who's primary camera is a Canon have a Sony as a secondary camera.


Also, we clearly see the impressive popularity of mirrorless cameras, which are absolutely killing dSLRs as has been predicted for many years.


Or not.



TLR

 

[krisbell]

Interesting post Neuro - thanks for sharing. I am one of those that have a Canon and a Sony but I would hate to choose which camera is my primary!

 

[TeT]

Interesting post Neuro - thanks for sharing. I am one of those that have a Canon and a Sony but I would hate to choose which camera is my primary!

according to the chart 58% chance its the Sony first...

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

Aside from smart phone users being the largest posters on flickr, the fact that Canon waits so long to update their models means more images posted, while manufacturers that frequently change models don't run up the statistics. I'm surprised that point and shoot models are not near the top. This shows how complete of a market rout that smart phones have accomplished. P&S cameras have fallen off the top of the chart.

 

[Drum]

Forget the I-phone and phone camera scores this is an INDEPENDENT entity giving these statistics
Canon= 27%
Nikon = 16% :-[
mirrorless=3% :
Sony = ?????

Its a real pity about all those DR challenged Cameras isn't it?

 

[candc]

Wow, a lot of diversity in the list. The top 20 add up to 38%. There are a huge number of photos being taken with a wide range of camera types nowadays.

 

[LukasS]

Wow, a lot of diversity in the list. The top 20 add up to 38%. There are a huge number of photos being taken with a wide range of camera types nowadays.

NOT TAKEN - PUBLISHED on Flickr - there's a huge difference.

 

[candc]

Well there are more taken than published on Flickr but I would imagine the relative percentages are similar.

 

[Orangutan]

NOT TAKEN - PUBLISHED on Flickr - there's a huge difference.

This post has context, it's a call-back to last year when someone else tried to use these numbers to justify a certain perspective on the market. The published data don't give us a lot to go on, but we can make a few modest inferences:

* It does not show what fraction had no metadata to pull from
* We can guess (but can't confirm) that higher-end users are more likely to purge their metadata, especially for their carefully processed images
* Canon products are well-represented; however, we have no way to know if that's because they sell well, users find them easy to use, or because they're durable and are not replaced by another brand.
* Nikon and Sony are not taking over the world.
* Mirrorless is not taking over the world...just yet.

In short, this was not a scientifically valid sample, and very few conclusions can be drawn

 

[candc]

True, I think in general the numbers posted on Flickr would show a higher percentage taken with higher end cameras than on Facebook for instance. 31% from dslr's seems like a high percentage for "all" photos taken. I suppose 500px would show an even higher percentage.

 

[Loswr]

In short, this was not a scientifically valid sample, and very few conclusions can be drawn

About specific numbers, of course not. But the overall trends do mirror what are much closer to valid datasets, the IDC reports – Canon leading Nikon by a significant margin, all others far behind the two leaders.

 

[Orangutan]

In short, this was not a scientifically valid sample, and very few conclusions can be drawn

About specific numbers, of course not. But the overall trends do mirror what are much closer to valid datasets, the IDC reports – Canon leading Nikon by a significant margin, all others far behind the two leaders.

By happenstance this may be true this year; maybe next year it will not be so. It's the other data that support this data set; this data set does not support those others. About all we can say with some confidence is that the public are not throwing their Canon gear on the trash heap in favor of Nikon, Sony or any brand of mirrorless.

For some entertainment you might go back and look at last year's Flickr conversation.

 

[Loswr]

In short, this was not a scientifically valid sample, and very few conclusions can be drawn

About specific numbers, of course not. But the overall trends do mirror what are much closer to valid datasets, the IDC reports – Canon leading Nikon by a significant margin, all others far behind the two leaders.

By happenstance this may be true this year; maybe next year it will not be so. It's the other data that support this data set; this data set does not support those others. About all we can say with some confidence is that the public are not throwing their Canon gear on the trash heap in favor of Nikon, Sony or any brand of mirrorless.

I wouldn't say it's 'by happenstance' – it's logical cause and effect. Canon has sold more dSLRs than anyone else for over a decade. More cameras of a particular brand in users' hands means more pictures taken with that brand. Looking at numbers from a large image database, we see greater representation of that better-selling brand in 2013-2015.

I'm sure some would cry correlation doesn't equal causation, but in this case those same people would likely need a piano dropped on them from above to suspect a causal role for gravity in their injury.

 

[Orangutan]

In short, this was not a scientifically valid sample, and very few conclusions can be drawn

About specific numbers, of course not. But the overall trends do mirror what are much closer to valid datasets, the IDC reports – Canon leading Nikon by a significant margin, all others far behind the two leaders.

By happenstance this may be true this year; maybe next year it will not be so. It's the other data that support this data set; this data set does not support those others. About all we can say with some confidence is that the public are not throwing their Canon gear on the trash heap in favor of Nikon, Sony or any brand of mirrorless.

I wouldn't say it's 'by happenstance' – it's logical cause and effect. Canon has sold more dSLRs than anyone else for over a decade. More cameras of a particular brand in users' hands means more pictures taken with that brand. Looking at numbers from a large image database, we see greater representation of that better-selling brand in 2013-2015.

I'm sure some would cry correlation doesn't equal causation, but in this case those same people would likely need a piano dropped on them from above to suspect a causal role for gravity in their injury.

Er...sorta. Based on sales data these numbers are not surprising, though I'm not sure you could reliably infer sales data the other direction, except possibly smartphones.

I'm not sure it's wroth rehashing, though.

Cheers.

 

[9VIII]

I think the most telling thing is that the 5D3 is so well represented.

Though, technically the D800 was split across three SKU's over its lifetime, that would be very bad for statistics.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

In short, this was not a scientifically valid sample, and very few conclusions can be drawn

About specific numbers, of course not. But the overall trends do mirror what are much closer to valid datasets, the IDC reports – Canon leading Nikon by a significant margin, all others far behind the two leaders.

I have to agree. If we were to be able to see numbers from a more professional photo site like Smug Mug, then high end cameras would likely hold the lead. Step up to photoshelter and the pricy camera equipment would take a overwhelming lead.

However, Flickr statistics are probably closest to the majority of people taking photos. I don't have a flickr account any longer, but a huge number of people do.

 

[Hillsilly]

Flickr have got their stats wrong.

Like most of you, I upload my photos to social media directly via the big red "share" button on the back of my camera. But this utilises my phone's internet connection. And when flickr get's the image, they think it came from a phone. And as Neuro pointed out, most of us use an iPhone. Flickr incorrectly flags these images as coming from an iPhone.

And whatever you do, don't adust the red button settings to automatically upload every shot to Flickr. You know what I mean - where a 50kb to 100kb jpeg is uploaded every time you press the shutter button. This seriously skews the numbers in favour of phones.

If you want Canon to appear higher up on the stats, stop pressing the red button! Instead, take you memory card out of your camera, find a computer and then import the photos into the computer. From there, navigate to the Flickr site and manually upload the photos. Alternatively, you could import the photos into a program like LightRoom and upload the photos from within there. This way, they'll still be recorded as Canon images.

 

[zim]

Don't people with Samsung's take photos or use flickr? My understanding is its the number one seller world wide

The only conclusion I'd take away from this is that taking pictures is alive and well and that's great!

 

[Drum]

The Samsung was there S4 and S5 (next to the 7D). The only thing really that this proves is that its a lot easier to upload photos to these sites by phone. What this does indicate is the likely balance of cameras being used by a large cross section of people, and only by looking at that over a number of years could you see changes to camera users habits. This "snapshot" shows a healthy canon usage compared to Nikon or Sony. Flikr would be one of the best known photo sharing sites, but I wouldn't know the number of users compared to other sites that would be similar.

 

[LDS]

And when flickr get's the image, they think it came from a phone.

Uhm, no, it should not, if they read the EXIF metadata correctly and nothing changes them from the camera to the site. Hope iOS is not designed to alter EXIF data in transit, to boost those stats, LOL!

Alternatively, you could import the photos into a program like LightRoom and upload the photos from within there.

My preset for LR export for publishing is to strip EXIF metadata but copyright and a few other data. No need to brag about my gear, and I prefer not to leave too many information about what I own in public places.

And as Neuro pointed out, most of us use an iPhone.

I'm too a bit surprised how many iPhones are there - it is true Android is much more fragmented and models are changed more quickly, but I'd have expected more. But it could reflect the US market to be more pro-Apple than some European and Asian ones - which may use other sites also.