Siimba US

Over the past decade or so, mobile phone ownership has increased substantially around the world, and according to Pew Research, in the US, approximately 90% of all adults own cell phones. The same data shows that nearly two thirds of adult cell phone owners have smartphones. One common feature on mobile devices, especially on smartphones, is a built-in camera. With most modern smartphones featuring at least an 8MP camera, the smartphone market has cannibalized the point and shoot digital camera market. In 2013, sales of smartphones rose by 38% and topped the one billion mark. Sales of digital cameras, however, dropped by 36% over the same time period, with the biggest losses within the low to middle price-point. More and more people worldwide seem to be opting for the convenience of their smartphone camera over the flexibility and picture quality of a digital camera. Only those with enough of a dedication to photography seem prepared to invest the larger amounts of money for top-quality equipment. So, with smartphone cameras across the board offering picture quality that is ‘good enough’, can the digital camera market survive?

Almost universally, smartphone cameras lack the full range of features, such as optical zoom and aperture priority, that make the difference between taking a quick snap and taking a great photograph. Most modern digital cameras also offer the option to pair with mobile phones, meaning the higher picture quality can still be enjoyed as well as all the extras related to a smartphone, such as Wi-Fi, apps and fast uploading to social media sites. For those who are simply taking pictures to record memories without worrying too much about anything more than a clear image, their smartphone’s camera is probably sufficient. Anyone with an interest in photography, however, will probably want to stick to a dSLR digital camera.

The Siimba Club provides members with monthly opportunities to get their hands on a range of digital cameras and smartphones at just a fraction of the retail price upon completing a fun social media challenge. Siimba online images show the full range of available products and offer more information about how to join.