Compact cameras boom as APS-C mirrorless slips and full-frame leads the charge

The compact camera comeback continues to gather momentum, but new industry figures suggest photographers are also increasingly stepping up to full-frame mirrorless cameras rather than settling for entry-level interchangeable-lens models.

Fresh shipment data from the Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA) shows that by-and-large the camera market remains in good health, with compact cameras in particular continuing their golden run - enjoying 30% year-on-year growth in recent reporting windows thanks to demand from travellers, content creators and photographers looking for something more engaging than a smartphone.

At the same time, mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras also continue to grow overall, with shipments up in double digits compared with the previous year.

 

However, the gains are not evenly spread across the segment.

 

Shipments of smaller-sensor interchangeable-lens cameras — particularly entry-level APS-C models — have softened relative to larger-sensor cameras, despite the broader mirrorless market remaining healthy.

 

This shift aligns with CIPA's earlier 2026 forecast, which predicted a modest 2.6% decline in overall mirrorless camera shipments for the year, even as fixed-lens cameras were expected to grow by 13.6%.

 

It seems that rather than flocking to smaller APS-C cameras, more buyers are willing to stretch their budgets for full-frame models, attracted by their superior image quality, low-light performance and increasingly compact designs.

It's a trend that likely reflects the changing nature of the camera market. Many casual users are happy with the cameras in their phones, meaning dedicated cameras increasingly need to offer something genuinely different.

 

Premium compact cameras deliver this with a mix of portability and a unique shooting experience, while full-frame mirrorless bodies promise the best image quality available outside of medium format systems and provide a more fitting jump than an APS-C model.

For manufacturers, the two segments are proving to be a winning combination. Compact cameras continue to punch above their weight, while full-frame models remain desirable.

The result is a market that looks very different from a decade ago, where the market for entry-level cameras dominated sales.