The latest statistics from GfK Marketing Services Australia show digital camera sales more than doubled during 2003, while sales of analogue cameras declined.

 

February 4, 2004: The latest statistics from GfK Marketing Services Australia show digital camera sales more than doubled during 2003, while sales of analogue cameras declined.
Both digital still cameras (DSC) and camcorders posted significant percentage growth figures, with DSCs up 104.2% and camcorders rising 49%. Not unexpectedly, the hardest hit market sector was the instant camera category, where the number of cameras purchased was roughly half the number sold in 2002. Digital cameras are fast replacing instant cameras where on-the-spot access to pictures is vital. Consequently, sales of instant film declined by 19.1% during 2003.
Compact APS film camera sales fell 20%, while sales of compact 35mm cameras were down 8.2%; SLR camera sales declined by 13%. Interestingly, the conventional film market grew, with 35mm films up by 2.9% and APS films rising 37.6%. Sales of single-use 35mm cameras continued to show strong growth, with an increase of 30% in units sold in 2003. Single-use APS cameras declined by 3.0%.
The good news for camera buyers is that average prices for cameras have fallen in most sectors over the past 12 months, with DSCs and camcorders declining by between 17.5% and 18.0%. In contrast, the average price of both film and single-use cameras has risen, although only by single-digit amounts.
Click here for a PDF table that has been supplied to Photo Review Australia by GfK Marketing Services (www.gfk.com.au) and covers data collected for 2002 and 2003. Note that Photo Inkjet Paper is a new category so no data is available for 2002.

GfK’s coverage of the market is as follows:
Digital still cameras and camcorders – 80-85%
Analogue cameras – 70%
Film – 35%
Photo Inkjet Paper – 75%