DSLR Sales Accelerate, Compacts Slow

In 2007 the DSLR camera market grew by 40% in North America, compared to the point-and-shoot market, which grew by 24%, according to a new InfoTrends report. “Consumers who are upgrading to DSLRs are no longer just hobbyists, but also include families with young children who are looking for cameras with no shutter lag. A profitable DSLR market is able to support research and development (R&D), and we expect innovation in DSLRs that may cause consumers to regularly upgrade their camera body,” commented Mette Eriksen, Director of InfoTrends’ Digital Photography Trends Service. InfoTrends predicts that entry-level DSLRs will become fancy point-and-shoot cameras with interchangeable lenses during 2008.

InfoTrends Press Release

Digital SLRs Represent Brightest Spot in the Digital Camera Market

According to a new InfoTrends report entitled North American Consumer Digital Camera Forecast: 2008-2013, digital SLRs represent the brightest spot in the digital camera market, offering vendors growth far outweighing the increase in the digital camera market as a whole. In 2007, the DSLR market grew by 40% compared to the point-and-shoot market, which grew by 24%. As growth in the compact camera market has slowed, vendors have looked to DSLRs to provide additional revenue streams. DSLR market growth is driven by lower prices, easy-to-use technology, and increased model availability.

“Consumers who are upgrading to DSLRs are no longer just hobbyists, but also include families with young children who are looking for cameras with no shutter lag. A profitable DSLR market is able to support research and development (R&D), and we expect innovation in DSLRs that may cause consumers to regularly upgrade their camera body,” commented Mette Eriksen, Director of InfoTrends’ Digital Photography Trends Service. “2008 and 2009 will be critical years for the players in the DSLR market who are looking to hook in first-time DSLR buyers to their system of lenses.”

Although DSLRs are feature packed, vendors are increasingly striving to incorporate the simplicity of compact cameras. The DSLRs of tomorrow are expected to more closely mimic some of the functionality of point-and-shoot cameras. Automated features common in compact cameras, such as red eye removal and face detection, will make their way into DSLRs as live view becomes standard. This may also be the year that video capture becomes possible in cameras with interchangeable lenses. These features appeal to new DSLR segments like parents with young children and consumers who enjoy taking quality photographs but aren’t particularly interested in the technology. In essence, entry-level DSLRs will become fancy point-and-shoot cameras with interchangeable lenses during 2008.

This highly informative new report presents the 2008 consumer digital camera forecast for North America along with a comprehensive analysis of the consumer digital camera market. The forecast is broken out in terms of units, revenue, and average selling price for the consumer (sub-$1,500) digital camera market. It is also broken down in terms of P&S cameras vs. DSLRs, price segments, resolution segments, first time buyers and replacement buyers, household penetration of digital cameras, and vendor market share.

The complete research report is available immediately to clients of InfoTrends’ Digital Photography Trends Service. For more information about the report or to make a purchase, visit our online store or contact Michelle Boczanowski at +1 781 616 2100 ext. 109 or

Published: Wednesday, June 11, 2008

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