Apple is world’s most popular ‘camera’ brand, says Flickr study

And the prize for the world’s favourite camera brand goes to….Apple! You thought it was going to be Canon or Sony, right? Well, according to a recent survey on Flickr, the majority of photos analysed were taken on iPhones, and more specifically, the iPhone 11. Not that surprising, given that 92% of all photographs taken these days are shot on phones rather than cameras.

While Instagram may have taken the limelight in recent years, a dedicated community of photographers who frequent Flickr remains. Analyzing over 470 million images, the study conducted by Simple Ghar aimed to identify the most popular camera used by photographers. The results are interesting and challenge conventional expectations.

Contrary to assumptions, the top spot, boasting over 13 million tags on Flickr, is not occupied by a traditional camera but rather a camera phone. Even more astonishing, the reigning champion is none other than the iPhone 11, a model that is now four years old.

As a brand, Apple dominates the charts, underscoring the evolving photography preferences of individuals. In the United States, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is the most popular camera, further cementing the decline in traditional camera sales.

Which is the world’s favourite ‘real’ camera?

While renowned camera manufacturers like Sony, Nikon, and Canon have recently introduced remarkable models such as the Sony A7 IV, the Nikon Z9, and the Canon EOS R5, their high price points have made them inaccessible to many photography enthusiasts.

According to Simple Ghar, the survey’s lead researcher, the Canon 5D Mark IV, released in 2016, retains its title as the world’s most popular camera, with over 11.7 million tags.

Disappointingly for Nikon, its flagship Z9 failed to claim the top spot in any country. Nevertheless, Nikon retains a loyal fan base, with cameras over a decade old still finding favour among photographers.

Surprisingly, despite its long-standing presence in the mirrorless market, Sony struggles to secure the top position in most countries. However, being a significant market, the United States favours the Sony A9 Mark II, indicating a substantial user base.

Curiously, no correlation exists between geographic location, economic factors, and camera costs. One might expect that the world’s largest economies, such as the United States, China, and Japan, would gravitate towards the latest and most expensive cameras.

However, this is not the case. In the United Kingdom, for instance, the Canon EOS 5D III, which is over a decade old and available secondhand for less than $500, reigns as the most popular camera. Of course, the relatively high cost of living versus disposable income in the UK could account for that.

Limitations of the study

It is important to note that this survey does not definitively determine the overall popularity of cameras. Many photographers employ different systems and may not post their work on Flickr. I, for example, do not post any images to Flickr.

It also doesn’t necessarily tell us what sort of photographs are being taken on which system. Most of us have our phones in our pockets, and so by default, are probably used most often. However, for anything important or where I care about image quality, I will bring my Canon EOS R and use that to take photos.

This is a fun study and shows just how pervasive the iPhone has become. And indeed, you really can take some extraordinary images with just an iPhone. But do take this with a healthy pinch of salt.

You can see the info-graphics and read the full study here.

[Via Yahoo]