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According to a report on Nikkei, new data conducted by Japan’s Cabinet Office shows that digital camera penetration has fallen to below 50%. This is the first time in 19 years that digital cameras have faced such low demand in Japan’s households.
The decline in camera ownership seems largely down to the proliferation of smartphones. And, well, it’s not really surprising. According to recent CIPA data, digital camera sales have dropped over 92% in the past 15 years.
Less than 50% Household Penetration in Japan
The Japanese Cabinet Office conducts a survey each year of around 5,000 households. Each household must contain two or more people and they’re selected from a nationwide pool. When it comes to digital cameras, ownership levels are dropping.
Nikkei reports that the survey’s findings revealed that digital cameras only have a 48.6% household penetration rate. This is the first time that number has dropped below 50% in 19 years. The decline, of course is down to one thing. Smartphones.
The same report says that smartphone penetration sits at 93.8%. And, honestly, I’m surprised it’s not higher. With the quality of smartphone cameras easily meeting the needs of most people today, fewer are buying dedicated cameras.
After all, your smartphone’s always with you. Most people are only going to need a camera when they’re out having fun or on vacation and don’t want to go through the hassle of carrying a camera.
Around its peak in 2012, the household penetration rate for digital cameras was 77%.
Camera sales dropped more than 92% in the past 15 years
The Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA), also based in Japan, shows a similar downward trajectory in their most recent report. Domestic shipments of digital cameras have fallen from 11.11 million units in 2008 to only 910,000 units today.
That’s a significant drop. And while both reports are limited to Japanese households, similar trends can be seen around the world on a regular basis. Also, most camera companies are based in Japan, where they have a home advantage.
It will be interesting to see how the landscape evolves over the next decade or two. As demand for cameras drops even lower, there will come a point when there aren’t enough customers to satisfy all the companies that exist today.
Of course, maybe it’ll put an end to all the PR nonsense citing new product shipping delays for “user demand that exceeded our expectations”. And don’t even get me started on those stupid lotteries.
[via Nikkei/CIPA]
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