Sony is now the leading full-frame camera brand in the United States, deposing Canon

How, oh the mighty have fallen.

Canon is no longer the biggest name in full-frame cameras. Sony announced today that they have overtaken Canon as the leading manufacturer of full-frame interchangeable lens cameras in the US.

Sony attributed this success to the wildly popular α7 III and α7R III full-frame mirrorless cameras, both of which have been selling like hotcakes. (For those not familiar with the term, a “full-frame” camera has a sensor the same size as a single frame of traditional film, 36 mm x 24 mm. Full-frame sensors are typically reserved for higher-tier and professional-grade cameras. The more common APS-C sized sensors, seen in beginner and mid-level cameras, are about 2.5 times smaller than full-frame, measuring 22 mm x 15 mm.)

Sony also announced they have been the leader in mirrorless cameras for the past six years. Mirrorless cameras lack the reflexive lens used in traditional SLR and DSLR cameras and can thus be smaller and quieter than their non-mirrorless counterparts. Sony’s cameras have exploded in popularity over the past few years, and the company has invested heavily in mirrorless technology. Conversely, Canon and Nikon (the two juggernauts of the DSLR world) have treated their mirrorless camera lines as afterthoughts, instead choosing to focus on the traditional DSLR.

To celebrate the milestone, Sony is launching a new “Be Alpha” campaign. The campaign, named after their “Alpha” mirrorless camera brand, aims to connect creatives across the world with community events scheduled around the United States over the next year. The movement will focus heavily on social media influence and spotlighting specific creatives, particularly women. More information on the campaign can be found at https://alphauniverse.com/BeAlpha/.

It’ll be interesting to see how Canon and Nikon react to Sony’s triumph in the near future. Nikon has teased higher-grade mirrorless cameras recently, and it looks like the company will renew its focus on the technology. Canon, on the other hand, seems content with its market strategy at the present. Hopefully, it’s not too late for the once-king of cameras to react and reclaim its throne.

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