That's the whole point though. The market is crumbling because it no longer exists. Professional photographer are few and far between and they are the only ones that need the features provided by a professional camera.
Compare pictures take on an iPhone to those take on a top of the line F4 from thirty years ago, the iPhone pictures are _much_ better.
The only reason to have a professional camera is to be in full control of all settings, which would make your proposed DSLR without those controls purely a vanity device/big heavy smartphone minus the phone for people who want to show off how much money they have.
While they's always a market for people to show off their wealth, it won't be a useful camera.
They are definitely willing to purchase dedicated high-end equipment. iPhone cameras are absolutely not on par or better than a professional dedicated camera. They are actually known to be the worst camera in terms of clarity and accuracy than any other smart phone camera. Just check out any camera review comparing it to other smartphone cameras. There are a lot of AI enhancement models that alter the image in ways that are unrealistic and strange.
I personally purchased a nice Canon mirrorless because I want more control over my picture. I want to be able to set the mood of an image and capture the features I want to be visible on my own. It's also nice to have a separate camera that doesn't bother me with unimportant notifications and baggage that a connected device offers.
As for no business, I don't think that having a business that caters to a smaller demographic means that there is no money in it. There are few reasons why companies like Nikon, Canon, and Sony don't diversify into other markets with other products... which they absolutely do.
I don't _want_ a "professional" camera. I'm not getting paid for pictures (and btw, the "professional photographer" market is saturated now).
I want a camera with good changeable lenses that can provide reasonable optical zoom, so I can take a picture of that curious bird on a tree branch. Or to take a macro picture of a really nice flower. And maybe a beautiful picture of the moon hanging just near that waterfall.
Anyway we're beating a dead horse, you're longing for something I don't fully understand, I hope some company steps in to fill your niche!
When I leave my MILC at home, it's because the optics are large and heavy, not because the body is. When I do take my camera, I usually opt for the Sony Zeiss 35 mm Sonnar T*, because it's so small. From an optical point of view, it's a good lens, but it's not the best 35 mm lens I have.
For capturing memories, the best camera really is the one you have with you at all times. For creating photographs, the bulk of the camera body really doesn't matter that much.
You mean, the market that is crumbling fast because most people are not professional photographers?
> Camera makers are struggling because a substantial portion of the market doesn’t really care about photography, they care about capturing memories.
Exactly. And this market has a really unfulfilled niche: cameras with a decent optical system and changeable lenses. I have a Sony Alpha camera and it's plenty enough for me in image quality, but I now leave it home most of the time because I just don't want to fiddle with it.