Camera marketplace talk for a long while has been concerned with how sales of fixed lens compact cameras have risen 30% year on year, while mirrorless sales – particularly those of high-end full frame mirrorless – are expected to dip this year. At least according to Japan-based industry data analyst CIPA.
Now news reaches AP which further underlines the fact that compact camera sales are booming, while interchangeable lens models are slipping down the rankings. Quite literally, as it turns out.
Minna Camera, a Japanese peer-to-peer marketplace app, reveals that for the past seven months of transactions, covering the period November 6th 2025 to June 13th 2026, nine out of 10 sales of as-new condition cameras are for compact cameras. And, in fact, the only mirrorless camera to make the top ten is placed at a modest number nine: the Sony A7 V. DSLRs are nowhere to be seen, not even getting a mention.
The app further notes that the Sony A7 V has the highest transaction price in the top ten at ¥323,098 (around $2003/£1530), while the premium compacts that outrank it are priced at around ¥200,000 (circa $1250 / £950).
The price is right
According to the Minna Camera app, the cameras that comprise the top ten bestsellers in Japan cost between ¥13,000 (just over £60 /$80) and ¥323,000 (around £1500 /$2001). This price range includes as-new condition, compact cameras such as the Ricoh GR IV and Fujifilm X100VI, despite these cameras being hard to find, with demand often outstripping supply. Nevertheless, the app suggests such models are still being actively traded.
Ricoh’s GR series certainly seems to be a favourite with discerning photographers in Japan. Its GR IV model comes in at Number One in the Minna Camera app’s rankings, with the GR IIIx placed at Number Two, and even the niche GR IV Monochrome being placed highly at Number Five.
The data certainly does seem to suggest that the compact camera revival is in full swing, which makes the reluctance of various (other) major camera manufacturers to play ball and revive old compact camera ranges they’ve long mothballed, or introduce wholly new ones, somewhat mystifying. But money talks, and if the numbers don’t lie, how long will their current position of compact camera abstinence hold?
The Top Ten New Condition Camera Sales, according to Minna Camera are as follows (prices shown are the average transaction prices in Japan for each camera):
- Ricoh GR IV ((¥216,229)
- Ricoh GR IIIx ((¥175,120)
- Fujifilm X100VI ((¥272,211)
- Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III (¥167,488)
- Ricoh GR IV Monochrome (¥254,020)
- Kodak Pixpro FZ55 (¥18,480)
- Panasonic Lumix TZ99 / ZS99 (¥59,279)
- Kodak Pixpro C1 (¥13,430)
- Sony A7 V (¥323,098)
- Canon IXY 650 in silver, aka Canon IXUS 285 HS / PowerShot ELPH 360 HS (¥41,883)
More can be found at https://www.minnacamera.com/
What do AP readers think? Has the mirrorless category had its day? Has the technology peaked, or is the popularity of compact cameras a mere passing trend, as the biggest names in the business – Canon, Nikon et al – keep insisting?
Related reading:
- Sales of full-frame mirrorless cameras are flatlining, while compact camera sales continue to grow
- The rise and fall and rise (again) of compact cameras: what gives?
- I think we should go back to compact cameras for this one key reason
Follow AP on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Irys.
