A report by the Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA) states that over 100 million cameras were shipped in 2007. Sales of DSLRs were particularly strong, up 43% from 2006 to 12.51 million units. In stark contrast, the total shipment of film cameras for 2007 was approximately 0.79 million units. For the future, continued overall growth at a gradually declining sales growth rate is predicted for digital cameras. Sales of SLR cameras with interchangeable lens are forecasted to grow at a faster rate than sales of digital cameras with built-in lens.

CAMERA & IMAGING PRODUCTS ASSOCIATION (CIPA) Press Release

2008-2010 Outlook on the Shipment Forecast by Product-Type Concerning Cameras and Related Goods

The Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA, President: Tsuneji Uchida) has announced the outlook on the shipment forecasts by product-type concerning cameras and related goods for the term from 2008 to 2010.

1. Outlook on Shipments in 2008
1) Digital Cameras
The total shipment of digital cameras in 2007 based on volume was approximately 100.37 million units, up 27.1% from the previous year, due to high growth in shipments of cameras with built-in lens especially to North America, Asia and other regions along with shipments of digital SLR cameras with interchangeable lenses to all regions at a rate that far surpassed last year’s forecasts. As a result, 2007 is the first year in which CIPA figures for shipment have broken through the 100 million unit mark.

Based on this track record of shipments, the outlook in 2008 is for continued growth at a slightly decelerating rate with sales and forecasts to reach approximately 111.95 million units, representing a year-on-year increase of 11.58 million units or 11.5%. On a breakdown by type, shipments of digital cameras with built-in lens and digital SLR cameras with interchangeable lenses are forecasted to reach approximately 102.81 million units (a year-on-year increase of 10.7%) and approximately 9.13 million units (a year-on-year increase of 22.3%) respectively.

2) Interchangeable Lenses for SLR Cameras
The total shipment of interchangeable lenses for SLR cameras in 2007 based on volume was approximately 12.51 million units, up 43.0% from the previous year, a significant increase coinciding with the strong growth in SLR cameras with interchangeable lenses.

In 2008, owing to continued vigorous growth in sales of digital SLR cameras with interchangeable lenses, growth in shipments of interchangeable lenses is expected to continue and forecast to reach approximately 14.67 million units, representing a year-on-year increase of 2.15 million units or 17.2%.

2. Outlook on Shipments for 2009 and 2010
1) Digital Cameras
The outlook on total shipment of digital cameras for the years 2009 and 2010 is for continued overall growth at a gradually declining sales growth rate. Against the backdrop of robust growth momentum in Asia and other regions, shipments are forecasted to reach approximately 120.36 million units (a year-on-year increase of 7.5%) in 2009 and approximately 126.50 million units (a year-on-year increase of 5.1%) in 2010. By type, sales of SLR cameras with interchangeable lens are forecasted to grow at a faster rate than sales of digital cameras with built-in lens.

2) Interchangeable Lenses for SLR Cameras
Total shipments of interchangeable lenses for SLR cameras are expected to grow at a rate near to that of digital SLR cameras with interchangeable lenses and forecast to reach approximately 16.30 million units (a year-on-year increase of 11.2%) in 2009 and approximately 17.43 million units (a year-on-year increase of 6.9%) in 2010.

3. Film Cameras
Shipments of film cameras have declined over the last decade in inverse proportion to the growth in digital cameras, and the total shipment of film cameras for 2007 was approximately 0.79 million units (a year-on-year decrease of 51.6%). This declining trend is expected to continue from the year 2008 on.
After the year 2007, due to the difficulty in providing forecasts of shipments of film cameras, CIPA shall compile only figures for actual shipments of film cameras.

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