2010 Camera outlook on still sees increase, according to CIPA

The Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA) has announced the outlook on the shipment forecasts for 2010 concerning cameras and related goods by product-type. In 2009, the total shipments of digital cameras reached 105.9 million units, exceeding the performance in 2007 for the third consecutive year. Shipments broke through the 100 million unit mark for the first time since CIPA began compiling statistics in 2007.

Shipments in 2009 decreased 11.6 percent compared to 2008 when shipments exceeded 119 million units; shipments of cameras with built-in lenses (compact digital cameras) decreased 12.8 percent while shipments of digital SLR cameras (with interchangeable lenses) increased by 2.3 percent. Additionally, shipments of interchangeable lenses for SLR cameras reached 16.1 million units in 2009, representing and increase of 2.8 percent from the previous year, and exhibiting solid growth in categories with higher values.

The forecast for shipments of digital cameras in 2010 is 109.9 million units, representing a 3.8 percent increase over this past year. Shipments of digital cameras are forecasted to grow 3 percent, reaching 98.9 million units. Compact digital camera shipments are expected to increase by 3 percent while digital SLR shipments are expected to increase by 11.1 percent. Outside of Japan DSLR shipments are anticipated to grow 12.5 percent, to 9.9 million units. As the market for DSLR cameras continues to expand, the shipment of interchangeable lenses is forecasted to grow to 17.9 million units, an 11.2 percent increase.