I usually complain about Canon quite a bit in this regard, but this time, I’m going to set my sights on someone else as well. But first, we need to address Canon.
The PowerShot G7X Series
The G7X series was a beautiful compact camera and the last of its kind from Canon. Canon now has far more mirrorless and sensor expertise than it did back when the G7X Mark III was released. This camera line, along with a potential G7X Mark IV, could really help spur Canon’s lagging compact camera sales in Japan, where people are desperate for compact cameras from Canon.
As an example, in my area here in Asia, a brand new G7X Mark III sells for around $1300, and used models go for $1000 to $1160. This is for a camera that originally came out on November 19, 2019. It’s a little crazy that it sells for over 50% more than its retail price six years ago. If that’s not indicative of pent-up market demand, I’m not sure what is. This clearly shows that people want to have and still use this camera.
At least the G7X Mark III has made a comeback into production, but seriously, it’s a six-year-old camera. If it’s a photographer’s tool, we deserve an updated version. Personally, I think the G7X line was the best-looking Canon compact camera series, with a very distinct finish and design. That aesthetic appeal may play a factor in how well they are still selling on the market today.
Yes, I know Canon just released the PowerShot V1, but the V1 isn’t a small, compact camera like the G7X series. It’s a different model with a decidedly different focus. One of these can nicely fit into your pocket inconspicuously; with the other, your date might wonder just how happy you are to see them.
PowerShot Rumors
There are rumors circulating that one or two more PowerShot models are coming this year, and one of them is said to be a G-series PowerShot. I hope these rumors don’t turn into unicorns and that we actually see a new PowerShot released before the holiday season. The market is certainly ready for it.
However, those who have speculated heavily on older PowerShots might face some tough times, but that’s a story for another day. Honestly, I wouldn’t lose much sleep over them losing money.
The Series That Never Was: The Nikon DL
The Nikon DL series is one that never came to fruition. A combination of engineering problems, either with the sensors or optics, forced Nikon to shelve all three compact cameras in this line.
Inspired by the Nikon professional photographer community, the “D” in the Nikon DL series draws on Nikon’s DSLR heritage, while the “L” highlights the premium NIKKOR lens technology, which was central to the range.
The series comprised three models:
- DL18-50 f/1.8-2.8
- DL24-85 f/1.8-2.8
- DL24-500 f/2.8-5.6
Each came equipped with different NIKKOR lens groups, designed for different photography styles. The first model offered an 18-50 mm equivalent ultra-wide-angle zoom lens with the fastest and brightest maximum aperture in NIKKOR history. The second featured a fast, 24-85 mm equivalent normal zoom lens with beautiful bokeh and super macro performance, while the last boasted an ultra high-power zoom lens delivering superior resolution across a broad range of focal lengths, up to a super-telephoto 500 mm equivalent.
Nikon announced the development on February 23, 2016, and I was instantly excited. I planned to get at least one, if not two of these cameras as soon as they were released—and yes, I was ready to jump to the dark side.
The DL line promised impressive features, such as 20 fps continuous shooting and 4K30p video. At the time, Nikon’s compact cameras showed great promise with fast frame rates and ultra-fast autofocus, so the DL series seemed well within their capability.
Unfortunately, almost exactly one year later, on February 13, 2017, Nikon canceled the project citing high development costs. Their statement read:
“Since then, everyone involved has worked very hard to develop products with which our customers will be satisfied. However, it has been decided that sales of the DL series will be canceled due to concerns regarding their profitability considering the increase in development costs, and the drop in the number of expected sales due to the slow-down of the market.”
That was back in 2017. It’s not hard to imagine that these cameras would do well in today’s market, especially with advances in sensor design and optics over the past nine years. Who knows, some ultra-compact models from Nikon might help them regain momentum, particularly as they seem to be struggling in a distant third place in the camera industry.
The Rangefinders
There are two standouts in the compact camera world: Fujifilm with their X100V series and the street photography favorite, the Ricoh GR. However, both of these cameras now cost north of $1500 and feature much larger sensors. They are larger cameras, which I hesitate to call compact in the traditional sense; they’re either built-in lens cameras or rangefinder-style cameras.
Nevertheless, both Ricoh and Fujifilm have kept up development and recently released new versions of their flagship products. This market segment remains one that Canon, Nikon, and Sony have never quite explored deeply.
I think a small camera the size of an EOS-M with a similarly attached 22mm f/2.0 lens would make an interesting addition to the market—not entirely compact, but quite appealing.
If the Big Japanese Manufacturers Don’t Step Up, Someone Else Will
The problem facing the big manufacturers is their legacy research and development timelines, which make them less agile. Canon has experimented with breaking this mold through crowdfunding projects like the IVY REC, PowerShot Zoom, and PICK cameras. However, Canon seems to have since forgotten this model.
Other manufacturers have also attempted to rediscover their camera DNA. Kodak, for a period in 2024, became the top camera company in Japan based on the performance of its inexpensive compact cameras.
But most recent efforts from major players tend to rehash old formulas without bringing anything new to the market. Even Sony, whose RX100 line was once one of the most technologically advanced compact camera ranges, hasn’t released a new model since 2019.
This lack of innovation could open the market to more disruptive companies, such as Chinese manufacturers, who are already experimenting with the fusion between smartphones and compact or interchangeable-lens cameras (ILCs).
While often mentioned, it really seems that the larger Japanese camera companies are hesitant to cannibalize their higher-end ILC systems by providing compact, high-image-quality cameras anymore.
As the late Steve Jobs famously said: “If you don’t cannibalize yourself, someone else will.”
https://www.canonrumors.com/compact-camera-revival-where-is-it/