Welcome to another LensVid Talk podcast (episode 47). This week, we dive into the shifting landscape of the camera industry as we close out a pivotal year, alongside a massive roundup of new lighting, grip, and cinema gear that was recently announced.
We start with a look at the latest industry data and our most recent hands-on reviews before jumping into a flurry of news from Ricoh, Canon, Godox, and more. It’s a packed one, so let’s get started!
The Camera Industry in 2025
As we do every year, we take a look at the CIPA industry data from 2007 through 2025. The graphs show the continued evolution of the market as it stabilizes following years of contraction, highlighting which sectors are growing and how manufacturers are shifting focus toward high-end enthusiast and professional gear.
Let’s start with the total number of cameras sold, and as you can see, we have a nice increase in 2025 (even bigger compared to 2024) to 9.1 million units, compared to 8.3 million. This is still a far cry from what we have seen prior to COVID (almost 15 million in 2019), but at least the trend is an increase.
Now lets look at what happened to the lens market in 2025. Here, again, we see an increase (although somewhat smaller) to around 10 million units compared to 9.6 million in 2024. In our video we discussed the change that the market overwent since the early 2010s, when we saw about 0.3 lenses sold per camera, compared to 2025 where more lenses were sold than cameras (much of this is of course, due to the huge change in the market – far fewer compact cameras with fixed lenses, and possibly far less kit lenses sold).
Moving over to non-interchangeable cameras (i.e. compact cameras) we see a small but nice increase in 2025 to 2.3 million units (compared to 1.8 million in 2024). This might be due to the Fujifilm X series or even Sony’s new Sony RX1R III. If Sony (or Canon/Nikon) comes up with a quality APS-C compact camera, we might see an even more substantial increase in 2026,
Next, we look at the total number of interchangeable cameras (this includes both DSLR and mirrorless cameras). As you would expect, we see an increase in 2025, but the full picture will only be shown in the next graph.
On the next graph, we see the division between DSLR and mirrorless cameras, and unsurprisingly, we can see that DSLRs are almost extinct at this point, going down to a little over half a million units compared to 1 million in 2024. Mirrorless, on the other hand, has gone up from 5.5 to 6.1 million units (so basically almost the same amount of cameras changed from DSLRs to mirrorless between these two years).
Finally, we look at camera sales in different areas around the world (this division is done by CIPA based on guidelines set by the Japanese government).
What is clear from this table is that China is a true rising power in the camera world, with 2.2 million cameras in 2025 compared to 1.9 million in 2024. This is only slightly behind the Americas (North and South America) and higher than Europe. We expect China to be the largest market in 2026. Japan continues to be a huge market for cameras, with around 1 million cameras, as it has always been, especially considering its relatively small (and shrinking) population.
As always, you can check out our coverage of the camera industry in previous years:
- What Happened to the Photography Industry in 2013?
- What Happened to the Photography Industry in 2014?
- What Happened to the Photography Industry in 2015?
- What Happened to the Photography Industry in 2016?
- What Happened to the Photography Industry in 2017?
- What Happened to the Photography Industry in 2018?
- What Happened to the Photo Industry: 2010-2020 – The Big Fall
- What Happened to the Photo Industry: 2020-2021
- What Happened to the Camera Industry in 2022?
- What Happened to the Camera Industry in 2023?
- What Happened to the Camera Industry in 2024?
Viltrox K90 and P12 Tube Lights Review
We recently published our exclusive review of the new Viltrox K90 and P12 tube lights. These units offer great color accuracy and build quality for the price, serving as versatile options for both studio work and on-location accents. You can check out the full review and our testing results on the LensVid website.
The K90 dual light kit sells for $230 (and comes with a case). A single P12 sells for $86 (no case included) and $150 for a dual kit.
Ricoh GR IV Monochrome
Ricoh continues its popular compact line with the announcement of the GR IV Monochrome. Designed specifically for black-and-white photography, the sensor provides better fine detail and higher light sensitivity compared to color versions. It features an electronic shutter capable of 1/16,000s, though it notably lacks a built-in ND filter. When used with a red filter, it excels at darkening skies and increasing global contrast for that classic high-contrast look. Price: $2,200.
RICOH GR IV Monochrome video
Instax Mini Evo Cinema
Fujifilm’s latest entry is the Instax Mini Evo Cinema, a unique hybrid that combines the world of instant stills with video capabilities. The camera is covered in dials and buttons, offering a tactile experience that includes a “decades” mode for video, allowing users to shoot 15-second clips with vintage aesthetics. Price: Approximately $400.
Fujifilm instax mini Evo Cinema
Canon 20-Stop SPAD Sensor Demo
At CES, Canon showcased a prototype of its Single Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD) sensor. While currently a demo with a 3.2MP resolution, the technology is groundbreaking, boasting an incredible 20 stops of dynamic range. This sensor architecture allows for significantly better low-light performance and near-instant readout speeds compared to traditional CMOS designs.
Canon SPAD sensor technology video (from 2024)
DJI RS 5
The DJI RS 5 has been officially announced. This new gimbal features an enhanced tracking module and stronger motors capable of handling payloads up to 3kg. Improvements to the user experience include a Z-axis indicator, an easier vertical shooting transition, a new control handle, and fine-tune knobs on all three axes for precise balancing. Price: Starts at $570.
DJI RS 5 video
MagMod MagStand
Currently a Kickstarter project, the MagStand is a fast-deploying travel light stand designed for speed. It features a “push-in” mechanism to lift and a unique latching system that allows multiple stands to clip onto each other for easy transport. It includes a removable boom and comes in two height options: 2.74m and 3.3m. Price: Starts at $145.
MagMod MagStand video
Godox Litemons LP800Bi
Godox expanded its Litemons line with the LP800Bi, a bi-color LED soft panel. It offers a color temperature range of 2800-6500K and an 85W output. One of its standout design features is the ability to rotate the panel 180 degrees up or down within its yoke for flexible positioning. Price: $120.
Godox Litemons LP800Bi
Godox AD800 Pro
The new AD800 Pro is a powerful addition to the Godox portable flash ecosystem. It features a new color screen for easier menu navigation and provides a significant boost in power for photographers working on location who need to overpower the sun. Price: $1,000.
Godox AD800 Pro video
Corsair GALLEON 100 SD
In a collaboration between Corsair and Elgato, the GALLEON 100 SD is a keyboard that integrates a full Stream Deck directly into the chassis. It features 12 customizable buttons and 4 small screens, streamlining the workflow for creators who need quick access to macros and shortcuts while editing or streaming. Price: $350.
Corsair galleon 100 sd video
Nanlite FC-720B and 720C
Nanlite has released the FC-720B (bi-color) and FC-720C (full color) COB lights. These are 750W fixtures that offer immense power for their price point, making high-output lighting more accessible for mid-range productions. Price: $650 (720B) and $750 (720C).
Nanlite FC-720B & FC-720C video
Apple Creator Studio
Apple has introduced “Creator Studio,” a subscription-based bundle that includes Final Cut Pro, Pixelmator Pro, Logic Pro, and more. While it appears to be a repackaging of existing software with some new AI-driven features, it offers a more affordable entry point for those already in the Apple ecosystem. Price: $12.99/month or $129/year.
Introducing Apple Creator Studio
You can check out more LensVid exclusive articles and reviews on the following link.
Iddo Genuth 
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