Story: Samsung betting on mirrorless cameras

[bmattock]

Found this interesting news piece in the Korea Herald. Click on link to read the entire story.

http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2010/01/20/201001200015.asp

Samsung Electronics said yesterday it aims to capture 50 percent of the global market for mirrorless digital cameras with interchangeable lenses this year. Its rivals in the market include Olympus and Panasonic. The Korean company said it will launch interchangeable lens NX 10 cameras in Korea this month and in North America and Western Europe in early March, betting on the growth of the nascent market segment.

But it remains to be seen whether runner-ups will be able to jumpstart the market, which is neglected by top-tier firms such as Canon and Nikon, market watchers said.

...

Samsung was optimistic about the growth of the nascent market segment, projecting that the market would expand to 9 million units in 2015 -- equivalent to that of DSLR cameras.

The mirrorless camera market is expected to grow from 1 million units in 2010 to 5 million units in 2012, Samsung said.

"We plan to concentrate our resources on mirrorless DSLR cameras for the time being," an Samsung executive said at a news conference.

He also downplayed speculation that the company may give up its DSLR business and sever ties with Pentax, which Samsung heavily relies on for its DSLR cameras.

"We have maintained close ties with Pentax, our strategic partner," the executive said.