DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY NEWS

Lyra Sees Digital Camera WW Shipments Exceed 130M by 2010, 10% CAGR, Despite Market Saturation, Camera Phone Competition

According to the latest forecast from Lyra Research, the digital imaging authority (www.lyra.com), worldwide digital camera shipments rose 21 percent in 2006 to approximately 98 million units. This sizeable growth spurt occurred despite household penetration of greater than 50 percent in Japan, the United States, and leading nations in Western Europe, and in spite of multimegapixel camera phones becoming commonplace in Asia and Europe. Lyra's forecast now projects worldwide digital camera shipments to exceed 130 million units in 2010 for a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 10 percent.

NEWTON, MA (PRWeb) January 10, 2007 -- According to the latest forecast from Lyra Research, the digital imaging authority (www.lyra.com), worldwide digital camera shipments rose 21 percent in 2006 to approximately 98 million units. This sizeble growth spurt occurred despite household penetration of greater than 50 percent in Japan, the United States, and leading nations in Western Europe, and in spite of multimegapixel camera phones becoming commonplace in Asia and Europe. Lyra's forecast now projects worldwide digital camera shipments to exceed 130 million units in 2010 for a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 10 percent.

"Sales in 2006 showed that consumers' appetite for digital cameras has not been abated by the spread of camera phones or by existing digital cameras in the household," comments Steve Hoffenberg, Lyra's director of consumer imaging research. "Current digital camera users upgraded in droves to new models offered by every major manufacturer, lured by image-stabilization features, broader zoom lens ratios, and higher-resolution sensors. While the upgrading activity will eventually taper off, it shows little signs of vanishing through the end of the decade, as camera makers continue to pack more value into their products."

Lyra's complete digital camera forecast, available to subscribers of Lyra's Consumer Imaging Intelligence service, includes projections of unit shipments, installed base, average selling prices, and revenue for each of the seven product segments and four geographic regions.

Steve Hoffenberg to Speak at the 2007 Lyra Imaging Symposium
Lyra's Steve Hoffenberg will be speaking about consumer imaging and digital photography at the 2007 Lyra Imaging Symposium, which will take place January 29-31 in Rancho Mirage, CA. On, January 31, 2007, Hoffenberg will present "Where's the Print? Photo Printing at Home versus Online versus Retail" and will moderate a related panel with speakers from Eastman Kodak, Epson America, EZ Prints, Photofinishing News, and Pixology.

Additional speakers in the consumer imaging and digital photography segment include Mark Cook, director of worldwide marketing for consumer imaging systems at Eastman Kodak; Larry Jamieson, director of Lyra's Hard Copy Industry Advisory Service; and Henry Wilhelm, Wilhelm Imaging Research's cofounder, president, and director of research. For more information on the Lyra Imaging Symposium and to see the event's complete agenda, visit www.lyra.com/symposium.

About Lyra's Consumer Imaging Intelligence (CII) Service
Supported by an experienced team of analysts and researchers, CII provides detailed analysis of the consumer digital imaging industry, products, and services. CII's innovative approach comprehensively tracks the nuances of the complete image life cycle--from capture to viewing, to printing and storing, to sharing online and in person. The unequaled breadth and sophistication of CII's exclusive Forecast 360 deliver a wealth of actionable data on consumer imaging products, services, and behaviors.

CII offers straightforward, practical insight, including well-crafted primary market research studies, perceptive industry analyses, accessible expert consultation, targeted industry news services, convenient e-mail briefs, and tailored annual briefings. Lyra's CII is indispensable for consumer imaging companies and firms in related industries such as Canon, Casio, Cingular, Flickr, Fuji Photo Film, Hewlett-Packard (HP), Kodak, Lexmark, LG, Motorola, Nikon, Nokia, Olympus, Panasonic, Pentax, Photoworks, Samsung, SanDisk, Sanyo, Shutterfly, Sony, Sony Ericsson, Sprint Nextel, Verizon Wireless, Vodafone, and others.

For more information on Lyra's Consumer Imaging Intelligence service (CII), visit http://www.lyra.com/lh3m.nsf/DigitalPhotography or contact Lyra's Brian Jones by phone at 1-617-454-2641 or by e-mail at bjones AT lyra DOT com.

Lyra Research: The Digital Imaging Authority
Lyra Research collaborates with imaging industry decision makers worldwide, enabling clients to strengthen their market position and achieve profitable growth. Lyra's expert analysts and editors help clients devise and implement creative solutions to business challenges, arming them with competitive intelligence, strategic and tactical advice, news and analysis, and market forecasts.

Since 1991, Lyra's custom research and consulting, advisory services, award-winning journals, and innovative events have set the standard for analysis of imaging hardware, consumables, and digital photography markets.

Visit www.lyra.com to learn more about how Lyra can be your strategic business partner.