News

Digital camera sales set to pass film camera buys in '03

July 14, 2003

NORWELL, Mass. -- A study by InfoTrends Research Group reveals that digital camera sales in North America are expected to surpass film camera sales this year, and nearly quadruple them by 2008.

Photography retailers are expected to offer more services like self-serve photo printing, fearing the loss of business, according to a story in the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Photography companies have begun to put more research-and-development dollars into digital cameras, said Gary Pageau, a spokesman for the Photo Marketing Association, an organization of photography companies.

"It's just really about instant gratification and communicating with photos," said Michelle Slaughter, director of digital photography trends for InfoTrends.

Prices for digital cameras have dropped to near $250, and they're expected to drop to $100 to $200 in the next five years.

According to InfoTrends, digital camera sales will hit 14.3 million year, surpassing unit sales of film cameras of 11 million. In 2008, digital camera sales will rise to 19.4 million units by 2008, while film camera sales fall to 5 million, InfoTrends predicted. Projected figures do not include one-time-use cameras, the story said.