The first model of Apple’s iPhone was launched in June 2007. Since then, many different smartphones have been introduced. The devices now influence our daily lives in many ways. One thing that has changed is that many people now use their phones to easily take pictures without the need for a camera. Not surprisingly, this change has caused major business problems for camera manufacturers.
Of course, the camera built into the first iPhone 15 years ago did not include a high-quality camera able to compete with separate camera models. But over the years, smartphone makers have invested heavily in research and development to change that. Today, many smartphones have high-quality cameras designed to produce better pictures. And most phone devices also offer powerful tools to improve the quality of the pictures we take.
Japan’s Camera &Tmaging Products Association (CIPA) said the digital camera market continually expanded starting in 1999. It experienced its first decrease in 2009 — and continued to fall thereafter. The biggest change appeared from 2010 to 2020, when worldwide camera shipments fell about 93 percent, CIPA reported. The decreases were mainly caused by drops in shipments of digital cameras that have built-in lenses.
However, camera makers have had more success selling digital cameras with interchangeable lenses. This is because these cameras are generally targeted at professional photographers who demand higher quality. Such cameras can produce “high image quality that distinguishes them from smartphones,” CIPA said.
But this does not mean that professional photographers never use smartphones to capture pictures. Brynn Anderson is based with the AP in Atlanta, Georgia. She said: “Sometimes being a photographer with a larger camera can be intimidating to the person being photographed. Using a phone makes it easier for me to get comfortable moments that might not happen otherwise.” Rodrigo Abd, an AP photographer in Buenos Aires, Argentina says using the iPhone makes it easier for him “to always be attentive” to everyday events when not covering a news story. Oded Balilty is based in Tel Aviv, Israel. “It is definitely an alternative tool,” he said of the iPhone. But he added: “It’s the photographer not the device, that determines the quality of a photo.”
【小题1】What is the potential cause of the first decrease of digital cameras in 2009?| A．Less money was invested to improve digital cameras. |
| B．Cameras had been built into smartphones and improved. |
| C．Fewer digital cameras with built-in lenses were produced |
| D．The digital camera market stopped promoting new products. |
| A．They are more affordable. | B．They have superb shooting quality. |
| C．They offer the power to beautify photos. | D．They are specially designed for professionals. |
| A．Amusing. | B．Demanding. | C．Rewarding. | D．Scaring. |
| A．The level of the photographer depends on the iPhone. |
| B．The iPhone completely replaces his professional tool. |
| C．The professional skills of the photographer is crucial. |
| D．The iPhone enables him to work at any time and place. |
