Eight million units shipped last year as prices fall and megapixels rise Digital camera sales in western Europe more than doubled during 2002, with eight million units shipped at a value of $3.4bn. analyst firm IDC said that this number will reach 16 million units by 2004, and level out to 20 million units by the end of 2007. Paul Withington, senior research analyst at IDC's European Peripherals research group, said: "Growth on 2001 was largely due to the raft of new products introduced and the migration of product ranges up the megapixel curve.

"Most vendors effectively deserted the one megapixel segment in 2002, as the two megapixel became the sweet spot."

IDC predicted that, as prices drop further, the three megapixel segment will take over this year. This level of resolution is considered to offer 10 x 15cm photographs of equal quality to those taken on the average analogue camera.

The transition from analogue to digital photography is having a very positive effect on the complementary markets of photo quality inkjet printers and the home PC, according to IDC.

The analyst said that the digital camera and PC markets are actually driving each other.

Home penetration rates for the PC are currently under 30 per cent and forecast to rise steadily to over 40 per cent in 2007. IDC expects this to further push the growth in digital camera sales
By Robert Jaques [18-08-2003]
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