New Imerge Consulting Group Worldwide Consumer Digital Camera 2004 - 2009 Forecast Refutes 1% Consumer Digital Camera Growth Scenario
In 2004, the worldwide consumer digital camera market experienced enormous pricing pressure on the low-end, primarily due to camera phone adoption, effecting DSC unit sell-through which remained nearly flat from 2003 at a 26.3% growth rate, amassing .2B in street valued revenue. ASP’s in 2004 plummeted –19% on average across all geos. Those non-branded camera vendors providing sub units suddenly found themselves in competition with branded vendors at retail selling cameras at the same price-points. Many were forced out of the market in 2004.Contrary to another research firm’s assessment for the WW consumer DSC market, (guessing 1% year on year growth rate in 2007), Imerge Consulting Group firmly believes this sector will slowly settle between 5% and 10% growth year on year out to 2009. Even though resolution will peak and will not be a market requirement or driver out to 2007 and beyond, price, wireless transmission, improved image quality, digital filtration, location based services, digital specific attributes providing more convenience and an enhanced value proposition will backfill to provide an enhanced user experience. Also as a benchmark, consumer point and shoot film cameras continued to grow at a 2.0% yearly rate up until just recently, even when competing for mindshare with digital cameras.
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