In what I suspected what would happen, according to Japanese trade group CIPA (Camera and Imaging Products Association), the value of camera sales values is up, compared to 2019 at least.
Apparently back then, a ‘standard’ camera purchase was around AUD$450 but in 2022 CIPA says, that has increased to a smidgeon over AUD$900. Individual shipments of cameras has jumped 40% in the last 12 months they say.
In a further comparison, in 2008 the global digital camera market was valued at around AUD$23 billion, and this was comprised of 120 million shipped units. In 2020 the value had rocketed to AUD$1.6 billion, but the number of units had dropped to 22.8 million.
What does this tell us?
Without seeing any raw data, I would suggest back in 2008, as well as dSLR cameras, a huge section of the market was relatively inexpensive point and shoot digital cameras, which of course the advent of the smartphone has now made almost obsolete.
So the “new” market is those who have decided to move beyond the smartphone photography genre with all the limitations it places on taking decent pictures and video, to the new breed of mirrorless cameras and most importantly, the interchangeable lens system. This gives a huge advantage over the smartphone.
Not surprisingly this market is currently owned by Fujifilm, Canon and Nikon, but Sony and Panasonic are certainly snapping at their heels (but again I have no real raw data to absolutely corroborate that in terms of hierarchy).
This week is the “annual” CP+ Camera and Photo Imaging show in Yokohama (I say “annual” because due to the beer virus, it has not been held since 2019), and as one lucky enough to have attended this back in 2012 – thanks Panasonic – it is a sight to behold.
If you have the slightest interest in photography / imaging, I urge you to try and get to one.
