Positive trends in the Norwegian Photo Market

The value of the photo market, including photo and video cameras as well as lenses, increased by 13 percent to NOK 745 million (Euro 77.85 million) in 2017. 

Equivalent numbers of still and video cameras sold grew 8,6 percent from 116,000 units in 2016 to 126,000 units in 2018.

When looking at the specific categories, sales of compact cameras showed an increase of 2,8 percent from 36.000 to 37.000 units last year. On the other hand, sales of SLRs fell by 5.5 percent from 18.000 units in 2016 to 17.000 units in 2017. Sales of mirrorless system cameras 2017 increased by 35,7 percent from 14,000 units in 2016 to 19,000 units in 2017.

Included in the total numbers of cameras sold are action cams which remained stable at 41,000 units. Sales of traditional video cameras fell from 7,000 units in 2016 to 5,000 units in 2017; instant cameras accounted for a total of 7,000 units, with no numbers aavulable for 2017. Sales of lenses decreased from 28.000 units in 2016 to 26.000 units in 2017.

Compared with 2016, the Norwegian photofinishing market grew by 7.7 percent to an estimated value of NOK 366 million (Euro 38.35 million) in 2017. While 51 million 4 X 6 pictures were printed in 2017 (2016:  53 million), the number of photo books was up 8.6 percent to 240,000 units, the number of greeting cards rose from 4,2 million in 2016 to 4,6 million last year, and wall decoration showed an increase of 9.3 percent to 200 000 units.

Jan Rosholm, CEO of the Norwegian Consumer Electronics Trade Foundation, commented: “People have learned they also can order prints from their mobile devices, and we also clearly see that Instagram and other picture are driving this trend forward.”