Despite some forecasts that have warned of a decline in overall digital camera sales in the U.S., over all shipments of digital cameras grew 31 percent from the same quarter in 2006, to 16.6 million units – according to a recent IDC quarterly report.
“Despite a lackluster overall holiday season for consumer electronics, the digital camera market continued to defy expectations and post strong growth,” said IDC analyst Christopher Chute.
Claiming the market had matured, early reports in 2007 were showing the market was cooling a bit but some fashionable designs and lower prices helped fuel the Q4 revival. The market was helped in large part by second and third time camera buyers ho were replacing older models according to several market analysts.
“Experienced consumers flocked to DSLRs while doorbuster deals for Black Friday ensured players like Kodak, Hewlett-Packard, and Sony would be able to maintain and grow their shares,” Chute added.
A further breakdown of eth Q4 numbers shows that Canon was the market share leader with 23 percent with Kodak in second at 20 percent and Sony rounding out eth top three with 18 percent. With regard to 2007 on the whole, the U.S. market grew by 23 percent to 37.7 million units, better than its initial forecast of about 30 million units, the IDC report added.
