Camera Accessories Market: $5.1bn Trade Value in 2012

Digital camera vendors – including Canon, Nikon and Sony – represented the majority of accessory sales in value terms, mainly due to their strength in lenses. For other accessories, a number of specialist brands play a more significant role, including the likes of Manfrotto, Metz and Sigma.

“Although worldwide demand for fixed lens cameras is declining, we’re seeing interchangeable lens camera sales bucking the trend and posting solid growth in excess of 16% year-on-year,” said Arun Gill, Market Analyst, Futuresource Consulting. “In 2012, this translated to an annual average accessories spend per interchangeable lens camera of US$307, compared with less than two dollars accessories spend per fixed lens camera.”

“In terms of purchase behaviours, many high value users may still prefer to use photo specialists to get expert advice and handle the product before purchase,” Gill added. “However, when it comes to the sale, a growing number of these users are buying through pure online players, motivated by savings of up to 25%.”