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Canon has announced that it has again maintained the number one share of the global interchangeable-lens digital camera market, marking its 23rd consecutive year at the top.
This is not to be confused with the claim Canon made in 2024 about being the number one mirrorless camera brand in the U.S., a move that caused quite a stir in the industry. Just days later, Sony said that no, actually, it was the number one mirrorless camera brand in the U.S. It was not the first time the two brands disagreed about who was number one. Canon’s claim today is for the global interchangeable-lens digital camera market as a whole, which includes DSLRs and mirrorless cameras sold worldwide.
While DSLR cameras are not a significant part of the overall camera industry anymore, Canon still sells a lot of them and they matter quite a bit to Canon’s continued place atop the digital camera landscape. While Canon’s DSLR gravy train has slowed significantly over the years, the company still sold 790,000 DSLRs in 2024. CIPA data for 2025 shows that DSLR shipments in 2025 dropped to just under 690,000 units. If Canon maintained its year-over-year DSLR market share, its total DSLR sales would exceed 620,000 in 2025. It’s also entirely plausible Canon increased its DSLR market share last year.
Further, Canon’s core claim, that it has “maintained the No. 1 share of the global market for 23 consecutive years from 2003 through 2025,” is based on a Canon survey, with no further citation. This is the same thing Canon said last year.
“Putting together a wide‑ranging product lineup — from high‑performance flagship models that are highly trusted by professionals to entry‑level models that allow users to enjoy full‑scale shooting with easy operation, as well as a rich selection of 113 RF and EF lenses that enable a wealth of creative expression — Canon continues to support the diverse needs of customers,” Canon says.
The company continues to celebrate its rich heritage of DSLR camera innovation in the early 21st century, including landmark models such as the original EOS Digital Rebel in 2003, the EOS-1D flagship series, and the extremely influential Canon EOS 5D series. There is little doubt that Canon’s DSLR era was one of extreme success.
In 2018, Canon entered the full-frame mirrorless camera fray with its EOS R system and eponymous camera, which proved to be pretty strange. Once the company released the original EOS R5 and R6 cameras, though, everything seemed back on track, and the company has found significant success.
“Going forward, Canon will continue to refine its proprietary imaging technologies while bringing fulfillment and excitement to people’s daily lives as well as promoting the spread of photo and video culture by providing products, services, and solutions that meet its customers’ diverse needs,” Canon concluded in its new press release.
Image credits: Canon. Header photo created using an asset licensed via Depositphotos.com.
English (US) ·