The Death of the Professional Camera as been exaggerated at best.

72% of consumers seeking to purchase a digital interchangeable lens camera in the next year don't own one. They are upgrading from smartphones.

DP Review - Published Oct 7, 2018 | Bryan Gaz

KeyPoint Intelligence — InfoTrends has released its 2018 US Digital Interchangeable Lens Camera (DILC) Market Study.

The study, which "started as a digital single lens reflex camera (DSLR) market has now evolved into two segments: DSLR cameras and mirrorless cameras (MILCs)," says KeyPoint Intelligence — InfoTrends in its synopsis. Some of the data presented in the study seems obvious, while other tidbits stand out.

Starting off, the study revealed 72 percent of consumers looking to purchase a DILC in the next year currently don't own one. The study says most of those potential first-time buyers are making the jump from smartphones and point-and-shoot cameras, with 33 percent of smartphone users and 42 percent of point-and-shoot users saying they're considering a mirrorless camera.

The study also discovered that 30 percent of all camera and/or smartphone owners planned on taking photography more seriously in the next five years. Of the 30 percent, 80 percent plan on labelling themselves as a hobbyist photographer or higher.

KeyPoint Intelligence — InfoTrends says the "study is designed to equip companies that are interested in the DILC market with critical business planning information." As such, the entire study is available for purchase, but it won't come cheap. The study costs $20,000 and includes a 158 slide PDF presentation, demographic and digital camera banners and tabulations, and Excel pivot tables.