CIPA reports worldwide digital camera shipments down in 2009

[Jamison Cush]

Digital camera shipments reached 105.9 million units in 2009, down 11.6% compared to 2008 when more than 119 million units shipped.

The numbers were buoyed by digital SLR shipments, which increased 2.3% to nearly 10 million units. Compact camera shipments dipped 12.8% from 2008 to 96 million units, according the numbers from the Camera Imaging Products Association (CIPA).

Despite the drop, the association predicted market growth for 2010, with overall shipments increasing 3.8% to approximately 110 million units. DSLR cameras will once again lead the way with an 11% increase in shipments from 2009.

As DSLR shipments rose, so too did interchangeable lens shipments, 2.8% with 16.1 million units. That number is expected to rise 11.2% in 2010 to approximately 18 million.

The association defined DSLR cameras as having an interchangeable lens. This includes compact cameras from Panasonic and Olympus utilizing the Micro Four Thirds system.

[Andy Stanton]

Not surprising considering the economic downturn in 2009. I expect things will pick up in 2010.

[Jamison Cush]

The economic downturn is certainly a reason for the dip in sales. But, I also suspect that camera phones are cutting into business. Why spend a couple hundred dollars on a 12 megapixel camera when you already have upwards of an 8 megapixel camera on your smartphone? In addition, the ease of uploading videos and photos from a smartphone currently beats anything a compact camera offers.

I'm guessing you'll see the same decline in GPS and pocket HD camcorder sales as more mobile units come equipped with the functionality.