Japanese Camera Makers Ramp Up Mirrorless Lineups as Demand Rises

Major Japanese camera manufacturers are expanding their mirrorless offerings to meet growing demand for advanced features such as AI-assisted shooting, Kyodo News reported.

 Mirrorless cameras use electronic viewfinders and are typically smaller and lighter than DSLRs.

While global shipments of digital cameras have fallen sharply with the rise of smartphones, companies see new opportunities amid booming high-quality content creation fueled by social media.

According to the Camera & Imaging Products Association, global shipments of digital cameras by major Japanese makers totaled 8.49 million units in 2024 — less than 10% of the 2010 peak of 121.46 million.

Mirrorless models are driving a rebound, with global shipments rising 22.5% in the first half of 2025 from a year earlier, while single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras dropped 21.5%.

Unlike SLRs, which rely on a mirror and prism system, mirrorless cameras use electronic viewfinders and are typically smaller and lighter. The push for higher functionality, however, has driven up average prices sixfold in 12 years — from ¥15,000 ($102) in 2012 to ¥97,100 in 2024, Mainichi Japan also reported.