As demand for DSCs is waning, brand vendors are turning cautious about releasing new models. In 2013, the top-7 vendors released a total of only 81 DSC models, a sharp drop of over 40% from 2012. Fujifilm, which used to flood the market with multiple models, had a dramatic drop in the number of new models in 2013, while Nikon was the only vendor with an increase.
In November-December 2013, only two new DSC models were released: the Olympus Stylus 1 and Fujifilm XQ1. Both of them are mid-range/high-end models featuring high-end specifications such as large apertures in order to differentiate from smartphones cameras, according to Digitimes Research.
The Stylus 1 features a constant F2.8 maximum aperture and instead of the usual five-axis sensor-shift image stabilization technology, the stabilization mechanism is in the lens, the first time Olympus has ever adopted such a technology. Because of the new technology, the Stylus costs US$572.
The XQ1 has the smallest size among Fujifilm's high-end X series DSC models. It only has a width of 10cm and thickness of 3.33cm. The maximum aperture of the device's wide-angle lens is at F1.8. The device is priced at US$367.
