2026 has been the weirdest year ever for camera releases. Here are the winners and losers so far…
Camera announcements this year – when they have come – have been all over the place, with seemingly little cohesion. Official sales data also continues to surprise. I try to make it make sense The post 2026 has been the weirdest year ever for camera releases. Here are the winners and losers so far… appeared first on Amateur Photographer .
Three months into 2026, it became evident that this year was unlike any other for camera releases. Traditionally, the first quarter of the year sees a surge in new camera announcements, but this year, there were none. As the situation persisted, a mixed bag of releases followed, prompting a review of the year's winners and losers by brand and camera type.
Canon emerged as the clear winner in 2026, despite a memory crisis that may force price hikes. Industry data confirms Canon maintained its number one market position with a million unit year-on-year shipment increase. The success is attributed to new releases such as the EOS R8 II, a Special Edition PowerShot G7 X Mark III, and the continued success of the R6 Mark III and the 'video first' R6 V. Canon also announced plans to ramp up compact camera production, with an aim to achieve a 50% category growth.
Fujifilm, on the other hand, managed to push Nikon out of the top three Japanese camera manufacturers for the first time since 2019. This success is primarily due to their instant print camera range, which includes five new Instax cameras released this year and two standalone Instax printers. By shifting their focus from traditional enthusiasts to a younger user base, Fujifilm's performance in 2026 is another clear win.
Sony also made its presence felt in 2026, maintaining its second-place market position. Even though its overall share dipped by 3.9%, almost equal to Canon's growth, Sony released the flagship A7R VI and RX10 V, plus video-centric FX5 cameras. While Sony may not have set the photography world ablaze this year like in previous ones, maintaining the status quo feels like a win in 2026.
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