Sony is tantalizingly close to stealing Canon's top slot for mirrorless cameras in Japan, as there is now just 1% difference between the two companies in terms of market share.
The market is currently ruled by four principal players:
Canon: 31%
Sony: 30%
Olympus: 21%
Panasonic: 10%
That's according to the latest BCN Ranking report for June 2019 (via Digital Camera Info), the Japanese point of sale database that aggregates sales in the territory.
• Read more: Best mirrorless cameras
While the camera industry as a whole continues to decline, the mirrorless sector (at least in Japan) is holding firm, with overall sales at 98% year-on-year. Sony, however, actually managed double digit growth, reaching 117% compared to 2018.
The report continues to paint an intriguing picture of Japan's mirrorless market, which is starting to supersede the traditional DSLR market in terms of importance. It's also a fascinating insight as to where consumer interest truly lies.
Tellingly, not only is Nikon virtually non-existent in the rankings, but so are products like the Canon EOS R and Canon EOS RP. In fact, the only full-frame mirrorless camera in the top ten is the Sony A7 III – Sony's most junior full-frame offering.
Instead, the top ten camera sales comprise mid-range and entry level products like the Canon EOS M50, Sony A6400 and the Olympus PEN E-PL9… along with its predecessor, from 2016!
1) Canon EOS Kiss M (Canon EOS M50)
2) Sony A6400
3) Olympus PEN E-PL9
4) Canon EOS M100
5) Olympus PEN E-PL8
6) Panasonic Lumix GF9 (Panasonic Lumix GX800 / GX850)
7) Sony A7 III
8) Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III
9) Sony A6000
10) Panasonic Lumix GF10
So for all the naysayers who wonder why Canon is keeping its EOS M series alive, or those who wonder why Olympus seems so much more apt to refresh its PEN line than concentrate on new OM-D models, this is why!
Read more:
The best mirrorless camera in 2019: we pick the best compact system cameras
DSLR vs mirrorless cameras: How do they compare in 2019?
Canon EOS M50 review
