High-end digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera sales is reportedly struggling as most consumers prefer to use photo-editing apps downloaded on their smartphones, according to Wall Street Journal.

Alarmed by the plummeting sales of its high-end cameras and lenses, companies such as Nikon Corp. and Canon Inc. are suspecting that the proliferation of smartphones that have camera features and wide array of apps could be the culprit.

Moreover, there is reason to suspect that not only the simple cameras with point and shoot features are affected but also those belonging to the premium category are bearing the brunt.

This year, there has been a drastic decline in the shipments of ‘interchangeable lens cameras.’ These are high-end versions that allow users various lens swapping with their cameras. Most of them are the bulky DSLR cameras used predominantly by professional photographers and photo enthusiasts.

The reason behind the sales decline is still unclear. Nikon, Canon, and Tamron are eyeing that inventory buildups and a weak global economy could just be the overall denominator.

Lie Fhung, artist and graphic designer based in Hong Kong, suggests that consumer tastes continue to evolve. Being an owner of a Canon DSLR herself, she admits that she now rarely uses the device which she bought five years ago. Instead, she uses her iPhone in taking most of her photos. Moreover, she further amuses herself with the fact that she can easily manipulate the images with her phone’s wide array of photo-editing apps.

Digital-imaging research director Christopher Chute of IDC pointed out that some consumers are opting to spend money on tablets and smartphones instead of investing in good-quality stand-alone cameras.

General manager Tsugio Tsuchiya of Tamron added that smartphones indeed pose a threat not only to compact cameras but also to entry-level DSLRs.

On the optimistic side, camera makers argue that photography hobbyists using smartphones and apps could eventually gear up to purchase better cameras once they take their hobby on a more serious note. However, the pessimistic ones are saying that the situation will remain unchanged unless sales would start picking up steadily again.