Kodak Loses Digital Camera Lead; Canon First, Sony Second

Eastman Kodak Corp., Rochester, N.Y., USA, lost the market share lead in digital camera sales in the United States, reported market research firm IDC, Framingham, Mass., USA.

Kodak had held the lead for the last five quarters, according to IDC's research. Canon Inc., tokyo, Japan, the worldwide digital camera leader, captured the U.S. lead in the period. Sony Corp., Tokyo, Japan, despite flat shipments, climbed into No. 2 position.

IDC analyst Christopher Chute said the U.S. digital camera market grew only 3 percent during the quarter. Statistically the first quarter is the least significant for digital camera sales which peak in the Christmas season during the fourth quarter. IDC said many retailers had stocked up on cameras during the fourth quarter and still had ample supplies during the first quarter, resulting in relatively low orders, according to a Wall Street Journal article.

IDC said that in the first quarter, based on U.S. shipments from the camera makers, Canon had a 19.3 percent share, up from 18.6 percent; Sony had 17.1 percent, down from 17.5 percent; and Kodak had a 14.5 percent share, down from 19.7 percent.