News

Digital camera sales expected to replace film camera sales by '08

June 20, 2004

WEYMOUTH, Mass.-A study of photofinishers revealed that approximately 80 percent of consumer photofinishers offer at least one digital print service, be it through a digital minilab, photo kiosk, digital printer, or overnight through a central lab.

According the InfoTrends' press release, digital camera sales are expected to nearly replace film camera sales by 2008 and most photofinishers realize they must offer digital camera users some level of digital print service to remain competitive in this industry.

In fact, 71 percent of photofinishers have plans to purchase or replace a photo kiosk in the next few years, and 85 percent of photofinishers expect to install or replace a digital minilab at some point in the future.

"The industry is still evolving as digital cameras enter the mass market, memory cards become less expensive, and camera phones augment the number of digital photos taken," says Kerry Flatley, a Senior Research Analyst at InfoTrends.

"All of these factors could potentially increase the likelihood that digital camera users will print more of their photos. Increasing education among consumers about their ability to print digital camera photos in retail stores could also bring digital camera users into stores for prints."

InfoTrends' new report, 2004 Retail Photofinishers End-User Survey, examines issues including demographics, penetration, brand and feature preferences, average number of prints, and plans to offer new services. It also discusses non-users' plans to install minilabs and kiosks in the future.