Camera makers fight threat from smartphones

It's sometimes fascinating to watch fading industries struggle to remain relevant. The quick rise of tablets eclipsed the development of desktops and laptops. And pocket cameras are now facing a similar scenario amid increasing smartphone sales.

These days, most phones sold in China have built-in cameras. People are buying fewer compact cameras, as phones are able to take pictures nearly as well and in a much more convenient way.

This has forced camera makers to load their products with glitzy new features, such as easy-sharing online systems and global positioning system tagging, in a fight for survival against mobile phones that let tech-savvy youngsters pose and click whenever they desire.