As we step into August, we have only a few more months before the year ends. However, crossing the six-month mark before the new year often calls for a time of reflection. And we don’t just mean a personal one; rather, we mean how the camera industry is performing amidst the varied global and economic turmoil. To give us better clarity, the Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA) has just announced its mid-year report, which sheds light on how sales are working and in whose favour. Here’s a look.
Per Nikon Rumors, the CIPA has projected that this year’s shipments will reach 6.66 million for interchangeable lens cameras (ILCs), 1.92 million for compact cameras, and 10.6 million for interchangeable lenses. Per the report, DSLR is the worst hit, with the ships seeing a 21% decline based on year-on-year sales, and a 24% downfall in shipped value. About 1,869,993 DSLR cameras have been shipped around the world in June, with Europe and America having the leading numbers (713,756 and 778,940). Those who are still purchasing this could choose the device over mirrorless due to the cost difference or the variety of lenses available in the DSLR range.
On the other hand, both compact cameras and mirrorless systems have seen a positive response. Compact cameras have risen in units, standing at a 20% increase, and their value has also risen by 40%. In other words, about 13,007,390 compact cameras have been shipped worldwide, with Europe (3,504,746 units), America (3,142,297), and China (2,134,758) showcasing the most interest. Models like X-Half, GFX100RF, G7 X Mark III, and Kodak Pixpro FZ55 prove why compact cameras are back in fashion.
Mirrorless cameras are also doing well, but their shipped value is not as high as that of a compact. This segment saw 22% units shipped around the world (61,757,750), with China ahead at 17,869,370 units, followed by Europe at 17,654,470 units. In fact, full-frame cameras are still in demand, with 39,401,721 units being shipped around the world, which is far higher than 24,226,022 units of less than 35mm cameras. This is why it is not surprising to see companies like Canon, Sony, and Nikon consistently trying to launch a full-frame flagship with innovations, with APS-C cameras getting less than their share.
Lenses, too, have seen a unique turn. Optics for cameras under 35mm, the value of units rose by 11% rise, which is higher than the 2% decrease seen for 35mm or bigger sensor lenses. The same goes for the sale value, which shows a 13% increase for smaller sensors and a 5% fall for bigger sensors. One of the reasons could be that there are APS-C lens launches, particularly by third-party lens makers. China is also into this business full time, giving APS-C users a wider variety than full-frame users. There is also the cost factor that continues to drive this trend.
It will be interesting to see how this report plays out in the future, as there is a new series of tariffs on many cameras and lenses. Perhaps, they won’t affect the sales as much as we had anticipated initially. Only time can tell.