IDC Press Release

While Number of Digital Images Captured Increases Rapidly, Consumers’ Printing Behavior Changes, IDC Reveals

FRAMINGHAM, Mass., August 24, 2005 – The number of aggregate digital images captured per month continued to grow another 18 points in 2005, largely driven through cheaper flash memory card prices and increased capacities, IDC found in a new study of U.S. digital camera owners’ usage habits. As a result, the total number of average monthly prints is expected to increase by 29% in 2005. However, printing behavior is changing with home printing continuing to decline in favor of retail locations.

“Variability in printing behavior is obvious,” said Chris Chute, senior analyst, Worldwide Digital Imaging Solutions and Services. “While one-third of digital camera owners never print, over 10% print every image they keep. There are therefore distinct clusters of users who can be identified by their printing behavior.”

Other key findings from IDC’s Consumer Digital Imaging Survey include:

The mean number of digital images captured per month is 75.
14% of total digital camera owner respondents capture more than 100 images per month.
15% of total respondents never delete any images, while 6% delete all their images.
IDC’s new report, 2005 U.S. Consumer Digital Imaging Survey, (IDC #33840) is a top-level study of U.S. digital camera owners. The survey focuses on key consumer imaging applications, including quantifying how many images users capture, delete, print, and archive. Analysis of image sharing is brought to light, and trends are identified across survey responses from past years.

To purchase this document, call IDC’s Sales hotline at 508-988-7988 or email [email protected].

For additional information about IDC’s Digital Capture Devices research, please contact Anne-Sophie Dankens at [email protected].