Post Photokina, it is time to touch base with reality.
According to CIPA, worldwide shipment of compact digital cameras in 2012 are projected to decline 0.8%, to 99 million units. Prices are under challenge and smartphones are stealing some market share.
The Japanese camera manufacturers can be split into three camps:
a) Canon, Nikon and Fujifilm are expected to fare better and also make more money.
b) Sony and Panasonic are expected to produce flat results with flat sales.
c) Olympus, Casio and Pentax are struggling to increase sales and get into the black.
Shipment projections for 2012 from the top Japanese manufacturers are shown below:
(000’s of Units)
| Canon | 30,200 |
| Nikon | 25,000 |
| Sony | 18,000 |
| Fujifilm | 12,300 |
| Panasonic | 11,000 |
| Olympus | 8,200 |
| Casio | 2,000 |
| Pentax | 2,000 |
| Samsung | Not Available |
The decline in demand for compact digital cameras is beginning to affect OEMs like Ability and Altek of Taiwan. Both are trying to increase their smartphone manufacturing capacity and moving into new areas like car electronics and medical devices.With the market still growing at 15-18%, what are we in India complaining about?
Meanwhile, listed below are the top ten cameras in the UK in August 2012:
1. Panasonic Lumix TZ30
2. Nikon Coolpix L120
3. Canon EOS 600D
4. Nikon Coolpix P510
5. Canon Powershot SX40 HS
6. Nikon EOS 550D
7. Nikon D7000
8. Fujifilm HS30 EXR
9. Panasonic Lumix FZ 48
10. Nikon D5100
H. S. Billimoria
