PMA Data Watch: A look at the most popular camera phones in the Flickr community
The popular photo sharing site Flickr includes a feature allowing users to get the scoop on the most popular camera models and camera phone models being used to upload photos in the Flickr community. Popularity is determined by tracking the number of users, as well as, the number of images uploaded on any given day with each of the models. The Apple iPhone is by far the most popular camera phone model, as it was every time PMA Marketing Research surveyed the site. Following in order of popularity are the Nokia N95, BlackBerry Storm 9530, BlackBerry Curve 8330 and the Nokia E71.
On June 4, 2009, there were 24,563 images uploaded on Flickr from the popular Apple iPhone and there were 3,887 users. Numbers continue to climb with 5,251 users and 31,814 images uploaded on September 24. The number of pictures uploaded per user, however, remains about the same as it did in June.
In any case, this is significant as the number of photos being uploaded from the iPhone exceeds the number of photos or videos uploaded on the same day from the most popular point-and-shoot camera, the Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS. On average, 22.1 photos or videos are being uploaded per user with this particular model.
The number of items uploaded on the above mentioned day in June from the top five camera phones totaled 35,488 items. This month, however, the number moved up to 39,522 items. Users, on the other hand totaled 6,922 items in September, up slightly from 5,923 in February. This data indicates that on the given day in June each user uploaded, on average, 6.0 images, but only 5.7 images were uploaded per user on the day surveyed in September.
For more information on the models mentioned above and more visit the Camera Finder page on the Flickr website.
PMA Data Watch: A look at camera sales and digital print volumes in July
According to NPD Group Inc., digital camera sales were down 13 percent compared in July 2009 compared to the same month last year. Digital camera sales were down about 13 percent in June 2009 compared to the prior year, as well. Year-to-date sales in July of this year were down 12 percent whereas they were up 5 percent in July 2008.
Resolutions of digital cameras are continuously improving, even just compared to last year. Eighty-three percent of cameras sold in July 2009 were 10 megapixels or more. Only 7 percent of cameras sold were fewer than 8 megapixels. Looking back to July 2008, only 25 percent of cameras sold were 10 megapixels or more and 27 percent were fewer than 8 megapixels.
As digital camera sales have softened, digital print volumes are also being affected by the weak economy. There was still some growth, but there are definite signs of a slow down, according to PMA Marketing Research. Some printing methods as well have experienced declines in July 2009 when compared to previous years.
Overall printing volumes were down 3 percent in July 2009 compared to being up 21 percent in the same month last year. Online ordering activity, the fastest growing method of printing, grew at a rate of only 2 percent, compared to a rate of 47 percent in 2008. Printing volumes at retail minilabs fell at a rate of 6 percent; printing volumes on kiosks fell by 12 percent in July 2009. In July 2008, printing volumes at retail minilabs and kiosks grew at much higher rates of 25 percent and 21 percent, respectively. Printing at home was down 2 percent this July, as opposed to being up 5 percent last July. Other methods of printing, such as printing at the workplace, appear to be on the rise. Growth was 42 percent in July 2009, whereas in July 2008 other methods were down 6 percent. 
PMA Data Watch: Portrait customers more likely to purchase photo publishing products
According to the 2009 PMA U.S. Camera/Camcorder Digital Imaging Study, 33 percent of U.S. households made or ordered photo publishing products in 2008. Households that purchased portraits were even more likely to make or order these products. Those who purchase certain types of portraits are more likely than others to be photo publishing product customers.
Households that purchased certain portrait types were about twice as likely as the average household to purchase photo publishing products. Sixty-one percent of households that purchased studio portraits also purchased photo publishing products, making them the most likely candidates for these products. Those purchasing wedding photos and sports team photos were almost as likely to purchase these items, with 59 percent from each category doing so. Even households that purchased theme park portraits were nearly twice as likely to make or order photo publishing products, 57 percent. About half (52 percent) of school K-11 portrait customers also purchased photo publishing products. Households that purchased senior school portraits were less likely than purchasers of other portrait types to make or order photo publishing products, but even so, almost half of them did (49 percent).
Portrait purchasing consumers are also more likely to make photo books. Not surprisingly, those who purchased wedding photos were most likely to also make a photo book in 2008. Thirty-five percent of wedding photo purchasers also made photo books, making them twice as likely as the average consumer to make a photo book. Portrait customers purchasing school K-11 photos are less likely than those purchasing other types of portraits to make photo books, but still more likely than the average consumer.
PMA Data Watch: Photo book making activity by generation
According to the 2009 PMA U.S. Camera/Camcorder Digital Imaging Study, generation Y and X females have the highest activity level in photo book making, but at the same time, they have the most unfinished books. Twelve percent of generation Y females and 12 percent of generation X females finished making all of the photo books they started in 2008. Nineteen percent of generation Y females have unfinished photo books compared to 14 percent of generation X females having unfinished books. Next to generation X and Y females, baby boomer females are most likely to make photo books and seniors are least likely.
The most common reason given for not finishing a photo book was the intention to finish at a later time, cited by 65 percent of those who did not finish making a book. Generation X and Y females were more likely to give this reason than their baby boomer and senior counterparts. Another common reason for not completing a book is that it is too time consuming. Young females appear to be most pressed for time and seniors were not very likely to state lack of time as a reason for not finishing a book. Seniors are most likely to not have enough pictures to finish making a photo book. Generation X and Y females are more likely than average to say it costs too much to finish a book or they are just too busy.
Software and procedural improvements are necessary to accommodate busy lifestyle of generations Y and X. Also, a personal advisor or instruction of needed poses or scenes in the template may keep interests in making photo books, or improve problems such as “not enough pictures to make it”, or “did not have pictures I wanted.” If these problems can be solved, there are $200 million extra revenue waiting for you.
