U.S. Digital Still Camera and Camcorder Owners Look to Accessorize, IDC Says

Business Wire, Sept 6, 2006

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- U.S. digital still camera and camcorder owners are accessorizing to complement existing assets. According to a new IDC survey of U.S. digital still camera and camcorder owners, 84% of respondents have purchased accessories, and the majority are very pleased with those purchases.

For those looking to purchase accessories in the future, memory cards, add-on lenses, and 4x6 photo printers are among the wish-list leaders. "When digital still cameras owners outshoot the capacity of the memory card bundled with their camera, they are very willing to purchase additional, higher capacity cards," said Chris Chute, research manager for IDC's Worldwide Digital Imaging Solutions group. The 4x6 photo printer has also emerged as a critical accessory to digital still camera users. "Photo printers are helping break the chains of traditional PC dependency," Chute said. "Ease of use, photo print speed improvements and eroding prices are contributing factors to the success of the 4x6 photo printer."

Other key findings from the IDC survey include:

--Memory card capacity and battery type (standard vs. rechargeable) are important influencers in digital camera purchases

--Sony is still dominant in the camcorder space, with more than a third of respondents owning Sony camcorders

--One-quarter of respondents purchased a case or pouch at the same time as their device purchase, however, most don't know the brand

IDC's new multiclient study, 2005 U.S. Digital Still Camera and Camcorder Accessory Owner Survey, contains results from a top-level study of U.S. digital camera and camcorder owners' accessory purchase patterns for their respective device. It was conducted in June 2006, with a total ownership sample size of 416 digital camera and 222 camcorder owners. This study is designed to help camera, camcorder, and accessory vendors understand the true opportunity for accessories such as: flash memory cards by format, add-on lenses, camera bags/pouches, accessory kits, 4x6 photo printers, and camera printing docks.

To purchase this document, please contact IDC sales at 508-988-7988 or sales@idc.com.

About IDC

IDC is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. IDC helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community make fact-based decisions on technology purchases and business strategy. Over 850 IDC analysts in 50 countries provide global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends. For more than 42 years, IDC has provided strategic insights to help our clients achieve their key business objectives. IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world's leading technology media, research, and events company. You can learn more about IDC by visiting www.idc.com.

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