Will the Nikon DX format eventually phase out?
Since the FX format is better and newer. It seems like Nikon will eventually phase the DX out slowly. In the other hand I hear lots of arguments saying because of the smartphone revolution. Manufacturers are concentrating on smaller and better image sensors even mirrorless ones. One opinion even suggest it is the FX format is the one that might get phased out.
What do you guys think?
No they are unlikely to phase out either. The APS-C sized sensors used in the consumer range are cheaper to manufacture and are ideal for beginners and hobbyists using DSLR's
Similarly, pro sports and wedding/portrait photographers will continue to use the FX format for good image quality, high ISO performance when coupled with pro lenses.
Although APS-C sensors can't directly compete with FX cameras, there are some advantages, such as the 1.5x crop factor when trying to do long range photography
if you are trying to shoot a lion from ways away, suddenly an 800mm lens becomes a 1200mm equiv lens
Both are here to stay, for a long time.
The advantages of FX, namely a big sensor that catches lots of light and can provide very shallow depth of field can't really be replaced with a smaller one. Also, any technological advance that applies to small sensors also can be applied to the big FX ones. Hence they automatically always stay ahead about low light performance, no matter how many improvements there are for DX sensors.
"Since the FX format is better and newer."
FX actually is older. DX is the newer format. I wouldn't call either one "better" - they are different. FX is more suitable for some purposes, DX for others (e.g.telephoto applications where the crop factor is helpful)
DX won't be phased out anytime soon either. Unless truly groundbreaking changes occur which allow a far cheaper manufacturing of FX size sensors (unlikely to happen), the DX format will remain for consumer grade DSLRs.
In DSLR and similar cameras the sensor is most expensive single component. As the sensor gets larger the complexity, and failure rates during manufacture increase exponentially. Failure rates can be reduced by using more exotic manufacturing techniques but again this bumps up the cost. Also using a larger sensor means that other components need to be larger, manufactured to higher specs, and hence more expensive again.
APS-C/DX is a nice size to build a camera too at a sensible price. Move up to FX format, and you are looking at 10x the price of a basic DSLR, go to medium format and you are looking at 100x the price of that basic DSLR.
Nope.
The APS-C (DX) sized chips are considerably less expensive to make than FX-sized chips, and Nikon's already made lots of lenses specifically for them. That format isn't going anywhere.
I don't think they'll "phase out" either, having both gives photographers more options, and smartphones won't be taking over the pro jobs DSLRs do any time soon.