While worldwide Digital Camera Shipments Continue to Grow, Market begins to Shake Out, IDC Finds

IDC: While overall digital still camera (DSC) shipments continued to grow in 2005, the market began to consolidate as weaker camera vendors exited the market and new consumer electronic vendors enhanced their global presence. Additionally, IDC predicts that the worldwide DSC 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 standardized around the world.

• 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 (ROW) will emerge as powerhouses and account for over 40% of the global DSC shipments in 2010.

• More vendor will exit the market in the next 18 months.

IDC's study, Worldwide 2006-2010 Digital Still Camera Forecast Publ 20060619