Camera sales inching back upward

Resolutions of digital cameras purchased in February 2009 have increased compared to the previous year. Nearly half (42 percent) of units sold were 10 or more megapixels. Only 15 percent of cameras sold were fewer than 8 megapixels. Looking back to February 2008, only 12 percent of cameras sold were 10 megapixels or more and 60 percent were fewer than 8 megapixels. As digital camera sales have softened, digital print volumes are also being affected by the weak economy. There was still some growth, but there are definite signs of a slow down, according to PMA Marketing Research. Some printing methods as well have experienced declines in February 2009 when compared to previous years.

Overall printing volumes were up 3 percent in February 2009 compared to 25 percent in the same month last year. Online ordering activity, the fastest growing method of printing, grew at a rate of 19 percent in February 2009, compared to a rate of 51 percent in 2008. Printing volumes at retail minilabs grew only 3 percent in February 2009; printing volumes on kiosks fell by 4 percent in February 2009. In February 2008, printing volumes at retail minilabs and kiosks grew at much higher rates of 20 percent and 35 percent, respectively. Printing at home was down 6 percent this February, as opposed to being up 12 percent last February. Other methods of printing, such as printing at the workplace, appear to be on the rise. Growth was 39 percent in February 2009, whereas in February 2008 other methods were down 24 percent.