Although this is not a debate, at least not for our readers, it constitutes a pretty intriguing discussion. A fairly educating visualization was crafted by using multiple recourses (Idc, CIPA Japan, Gartner, and Canalys) by YT user James Eagle, which shows the taking over of smartphones, by negatively impacting camera sales.
Yes, we know, it’s less relevant to filmmaking and cinematography, however, it’s very (VERY) fascinating to explore. As more and more manufacturers are ditching point-and-shoot camera development, modern smartphones bit them in almost every aspect. Even Panasonic and Nikon have quit developing low-end compact digital cameras since those can’t compete with the superior tech specs of the cameras implemented in contemporary smartphones.
Source: Visualization: Cameras vs. Smartphones (1951-2021) – YMCinema – News & Insights on Digital Cinema