Thursday, February 7, 2008

Digital Camera Market Heats Up

It may be the easiest $700 sale retailers make this year: Americans are hot for D-SLR cameras and manufacturers exhibiting at PMA this week in Las Vegas are introducing lower-costing, higher-performing consumer models to meet the demand.

Canon�s upgrading its top-selling entry-level D-SLR, the Rebel XTi, with the new 12.2 megapixel XSi, due out in April at $799. Nikon�s in the game with the D60, a consumer D-SLR with onboard editing and a �Stop Motion Movie� feature, launching this month for $750. Sony, Samsung, Pentax and Olympus have sub-$1000 contenders too. �We�re seeing very powerful products and great prices,� says Nikon�s Senior Technical Manager, Steve Heiner. �These products don�t sit on shelves.�

Indeed, shipments and sales of D-SLR�s outpaced most analyst predictions in 2007. According to a new CIPA (Camera & Imaging Products Associations) report, 7.5 million D-SLR�s shipped in 2007 and over 9 million are expected to go out in �08, an increase of 22.3 percent.

�The market is becoming saturated with compact point-and-shoots,� says Chris Pound, a national sales product coordinator for Pentax. �But people are realizing they can jump a tier creatively. The D-SLR is the next big thing, and these new cameras with auto picture modes help consumers make the transition.�

Audrey Gray

more : picturebusinessmag

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