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Digital Imaging The digital camera has overtaken the consumer photography experience and continues to offer greater capabilities at reduced prices. For the first time ever, digital cameras unseated DVD as the number one planned CE gift purchase during the 2004 holiday season, according to CEA's annual survey. Prices are plummeting particularly in the high-resolution segments, sending some households to upgrade to their second digital camera purchase, an indication of a steadily maturing market. CEA projects the sector will leap from an estimated 17.7 units sold in 2004 to 20.2 units sold in 2005, with factory sales jumping from $4.5 billion in 2004 to $5.1 billion in 2005. Sales of still cameras and digi-cams, projected to top 20 million units in 2005, are fueling a need for a host of complementary accessories, including additional memory, paper for printing photos, carrying cases and lenses. While lab-produced 4x6 prints now cost about 30 cents, less than half of what they did five years ago, the number of consumers opting to print their digital photos at home continues to rise. |
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