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Does Samsung's point-and-shoot departure mark an industry-wide shift to mobile?

Zach Honig
Updated ·5 min read


Samsung shuns point-and-shoot cameras, switches factory to pricier mirrorless types

Samsung Galaxy S III focuses on photography sharing features, not cutting-edge optics

Samsung considering Android-based digital camera

Samsung's CES camera lineup had a single focus across the range: wireless connectivity. The company's flagship point-and-shoot, the 14-megapixel WB150F, boasts built-in WiFi at the very top of its feature shortlist. In fact, until you make your way to the third (and only) capture-related detail (an 18x optical zoom lens), you'd be hard-pressed to distinguish the dedicated device from some of Samsung's other camera-equipped offerings. With its latest generation of "Smart Cameras," the company moved to further bridge the gap between its gamut of portable devices, by bringing key smartphone features to its digital imaging line.

As it turns out, the move was simply a crutch -- an opportunity to refresh models with technologies in which the company has already made significant investments. And it appears to have resulted in only a slight delay of the inevitable. We now know what to expect for Samsung's point-and-shoots -- pocketable models will step aside to make room for NX-series interchangeable lens cameras, and compact fans will continue to turn to Galaxy all-on-ones for their on-the-go shooting needs. Join us past the break for a closer look at how the move could impact the industry, and what the future may hold for the (formerly) beloved point-and-shoot.

It's a shift that began on the consumer front long ago -- now it's being officially recognized by manufacturers. Sure, smartphones are still cost-prohibitive for some, but save for a few bottom-shelf budget offerings, so are point-and-shoot cameras. With a similar replacement cycle (roughly every two years), the burden of upgrading continues to lessen as our mobile devices catch up on the optical quality front. With excellent still images and 1080p video becoming standard, the only clear dedicated-device advantage lies in the lens, and like a pro with a prime, casual photographers have learned to compensate for this omnipresent setback by using their legs to do the zooming -- sure, it's not an ideal solution, but it has proven to be less of a challenge than you might expect.

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For select manufacturers, the implications couldn't be more positive -- consumers are taking their business to Samsung's explosively popular cellphone line, for example, and the iPhone 4S continues to make waves for Apple. Smartphone makers are incorporating improved optics -- an f/2 autofocus lens on the HTC One X, for example, and PureView on the Nokia 808 -- there's also been a huge push for software improvements. HTC has reduced lag and introduced Instagram-like features, a streamlined UI and a nifty slow-mo video mode. Samsung, for its part, has added clever sharing features, like S Beam and Buddy Photo Share to its Galaxy S III, while including camera functionality in the Siri-like S Voice. The versatility of a mobile OS offers clear software and sharing advantages over a locked-down camera operating system, and while image quality discrepancies are still noticeable, a smartphone's camera doesn't top the list of consumers' priorities -- but that doesn't mean they won't use it.

During a visit to Samsung's Korean headquarters aimed at highlighting the company's increased commitment to the mirrorless segment, one question loomed above all others: Since Samsung's smartphones have been so successful, will we soon see resources shift away from compacts and toward improving image quality on mobile devices? In short, the response implied that Galaxy could one day be that group's focus as well, but the departure from point-and-shoots could take years, not months. Now, just weeks after that trip to Sammy HQ, it would appear that we have our answer. The imaging division is here to stay, but a shift has already begun.

There are some aspects of photography that smartphones will never touch. Sure, we've seen DSLR rigs for mobile devices like the iPad, but some creators themselves even recognize the product's impracticality. You won't see sports photographers using anything other than full-size digital SLRs -- not any time soon, at least. With a massive jump in focusing ability and vastly improved optics, we could one day see mirrorless models popping up on the sidelines (and not around the necks of friends and family members). But despite HTC and Sprint's recent marketing push with photographer Meeno Peluce, no self-respecting professional will show up on set and whip out their HTC EVO 4G LTE and expect an invitation to return for future shoots.

High-end DSLRs continue to dominate the well-established pro market, and while ILCs receive accolades as second shooters, they won't soon cannibalize the $3,000-and-up segment. This means manufacturers like Canon and Nikon will remain afloat, for now, but they've no doubt seen a decline in point-and-shoot sales that's likely to continue until that category vanishes entirely. For consumers, the shift represents a boost in convenience, publication and savings, and while many device owners are still taking a hit in the image quality department, that won't be the case for long.