Digital cameras record 69-% year-on-year growth 4Q 2010

With an all-time high of 8.45 lakh units, the India digital camera market recorded a 69-per cent year-on-year growth in October-December 2010 (or Q4 CY 2010).

According to CyberMedia Research's India Quarterly Digital Camera Market Review for the December ended fourth quarter of 2010, the fastest growing segment was the digital single lens reflex (DSLR), which  grew at 120 per cent year-on-year during this period.

Sony was the market leader in the point-and-shoot (P&S) category, with a 31-per cent market share during 4Q CY2010, followed by Nikon with 24 per cent, Kodak with 13 per cent and Canon 12 per cent.

In the DSLR category, Nikon led with a 51 per cent share in shipments, followed by Canon with a 46 per cent.
 
"Multiple market forces have converged to drive the rise in sales of digital cameras in the India market in recent quarters," says Anirban Banerjee, associate vice president, research and advisory services, CyberMedia Research. "The most important ones are – increase in availability and sharing of digital content, increase in 'real' spending power and reduction in average selling values."

Growing competition in recent quarters has led vendors to launch feature-rich cameras at affordable prices. This market activity typically starts around the April-June quarter and culminates in large sales during the 'festive' months lasting August-January, backed by heavy advertising in popular media channels and promotional schemes. 

Digital cameras price segment below Rs10,000 contributed around 75 per cent of total sales in the country during the quarter.