Canon say they have maintained a number 1 position in the interchangaeble lens camera market – with both DSLRs and Mirrorless cameras – since 2003 – a whopping 23 years of being market leaders – to 2025, according to a Canon survey. Either way this is good for the consumer, with the Canon EOS Digital Rebel / 300D introduced in 2003, and subsequentr updates almost every year since, second-hand and used models are available for extremely low prices compared to the original RRPs.
In fact you can pick up a used Digital Rebel / 300D for just $33 / £28 from MPB.com – a huge drop from the original $999 / £999 RRP. Full-frame DSLRs have also dropped massively, with the Canon EOS 5D – Canon’s first affordable full-frame DSLR introduced in 2005 – now available for $209 / £139 (in good condition, again from MPB) – down from the original $3299 body only price.
The business principle of supply and demand is good news for consumers – particularly when it comes to Canon cameras – they make a huge number of them, in the millions, and that means there’s lots available, making them cheaper when they end up on the second-hand market. It’s also why you don’t find my cheap Leica cameras available. You can read the full press-release below:
From Canon: London, UK, 24 February 2026 –Canon Inc. announced today that the company’s interchangeable-lens digital cameras (digital SLR and mirrorless cameras) have maintained the No. 1 share1 of the global market for 23 consecutive years from 2003 through 2025.
Canon’s EOS series of interchangeable‑lens digital cameras is an imaging system based on the basic concept of “Speed, Comfort, and High Image Quality,” for which the company has developed proprietary key components, including CMOS image sensors, the DIGIC image processors, and interchangeable lenses.
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 1132 RF and EF lenses that enable a wealth of creative expression—Canon continues to support the diverse needs of customers.
During the dawn of digital SLR cameras, Canon introduced its breakthrough EOS Digital Rebel / EOS 300D / EOS Kiss Digital (product name varies by region) in September 2003. By launching this groundbreaking camera, which was competitively priced and featured a compact, lightweight design, Canon spurred growth in the digital SLR market, capturing the top share of the global market and heralding the age of digital SLR cameras.
Canon has since continued to introduce innovative products, including the professional model EOS-1D series, as well as the EOS 5D series, which played a leading role in popularizing video recording with digital SLR cameras.
In October 2018, the company launched the EOS R System, which further expands the boundaries of visual expression, followed by the full‑frame mirrorless EOS R5 – the world’s first3 camera to feature 8K video recording, released in July 2020, and the flagship EOS R1, released in November 2024, which combines advanced autofocus performance, high image quality, and high reliability to meet the demanding needs of professionals. Canon continues to pursue new possibilities in imaging expression.
In 2025, Canon expanded the EOS R System even further by releasing the APS‑C mirrorless EOS R50 V (May 2025), the first model in the new EOS V series that offers creative video functions, along with the full‑frame mirrorless EOS R6 Mark III (November 2025), which condenses excellent shooting performance into a single camera to meet the wide‑ranging needs of advanced amateur users.
In addition, Canon released seven models of RF lenses4 in 2025. Through these continued efforts to enhance the EOS R System, Canon secured the No. 1 global market share for interchangeable‑lens digital cameras for the 23rd consecutive year since 2003.
1 Based on a Canon survey
2 Types of lenses sold vary according to each market. Includes 4 types of extenders. Among lenses announced as of February 24, 2026.
3 Among digital interchangeable‑lens cameras released prior to July 8, 2020. Based on a Canon survey
Related reading
- Canon continue to dominate DSLR market, but things are changing
- RIP the DSLR – These are the last Digital SLRs still left for sale
- The biggest selling camera lens brand may surprise you, it’s not Canon, Nikon, or Sony
- Are DSLRs really STILL better than mirrorless cameras?
The views expressed in this column are not necessarily those of Amateur Photographer magazine or Kelsey Media Limited. If you have an opinion you’d like to share on this topic, or any other photography related subject, email: ap.ed@kelsey.co.uk
