Kodak gains share in US digital camera sales-study
Fri Nov 19, 2004 05:53 PM ET
NEW YORK, Nov 19 (Reuters) - U.S. shipments of digital cameras rose 40 percent in the third quarter from a year ago, with Eastman Kodak Co.(EK.N: Quote, Profile, Research) gaining market share on Sony Corp.(6758.T: Quote, Profile, Research) , according to an industry study.
Third quarter shipments rose to 5 million units, up from 4.5 million in the second quarter and 3.6 million units a year earlier, according to research firm IDC's "U.S. Digital Camera Market Share Review."
Sony and Kodak were nearly tied for first place, with Sony at 20 percent and Kodak at 19.8 percent. In the second quarter Sony had a 22 percent share, to Kodak's 18.3 percent.
Kodak, which has been undergoing a tough transition to digital products and services and away from its flagging traditional camera and film business, had gained ground on rival camera makers with its lower priced models.
In third and fourth place were Japan's Canon Inc.(7751.T: Quote, Profile, Research) with a 16 percent share and Olympus Corp.(7733.T: Quote, Profile, Research) with a 12 percent share, IDC said.
While the total 40 percent rise is better than that of most other consumer electronics devices, growth in the period, which includes back-to-school shopping, was slower than the second quarter's year-over-year gain of 42.5 percent. IDC said that there are fewer first-time buyers of digital cameras.
"IDC believes that close to 1 out of every 2 digital camera purchases are by current owners, thus restricting the increased penetration of digital cameras into new households," IDC said.
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