Despite overall digital still camera shipments continuing to grow last year, the market began to consolidate as weaker camera vendors exited the market and new consumer electronic vendors enhanced their presence, new research has shown.
IDC predicts that the worldwide digital still camera market, which entered early maturity last year, will continue to mature across the world as emerging markets experience strong growth curves and older markets begin to decline.
“As the digital still camera market heads into the end of its growth curve certain metrics will become more standardised around the world,” said Christopher Chute, senior analyst for IDC’s Digital Imaging Solutions and Services division.
IDC predicts that global demand will continue to be strong in the short term, with 111 million units shipping in 2008, but a slowdown is on the horizon.
Asia/Pacific and the rest of the world outside the US will emerge as powerhouses and account for more than 40pc of the global digital still camera shipments in 2010.
IDC forecasts that more vendors will exit the market in the next 18 months.
By John Kennedy
