Point-and-Shootists rally to Smartphones

Digital camera sales slump as people use smartphones to take snaps

Hi-tech smartphones have driven down the sales of digital cameras by 29 per cent in five years, research shows.

Althought the digital camera market was still worth £598 million in 2011, this is down by nearly a third from 2006, when it was worth £843 million.

Eight per cent of UK adults, or three million consumers, now say they are unlikely to replace their camera when it breaks, instead relying on their phones.

By 2016 the market is expected to be worth £523 million, reports Mintel.

Camcorders have shown a similar drop, falling by 21 per cent in the same time frame, from £354 million to £279 million.

Mintel Technology Analyst Samuel Gee said: "Although smartphone cameras do not typically match the quality of output of dedicated devices, the technology is consistently improving, as the quality of camera image output becomes too high for consumers to reliably distinguish between competitors.

"Dedicated device manufacturers investing in digital services and including social connectivity and image-editing features in upcoming devices will remain a more enticing proposition in the face of gently growing opposition."

Figures show that 80 per cent of us use a digital camera or camcorder, with 40 per cent relying on them exclusively.

This compares to the 45 per cent who use their smartphone.

The traditional film camera is used by jut eight per cent of Brits.

Four in ten (39%) camera owners purchased a camera to replace their old one.

Around a third (34%) of consumers purchased a camera for their holiday (34%) while almost one in five (18%) purchased a camera to record a specific event.

Althoug 21% of all camera and camcorder owners agree that smartphones are a better long term investment, seven in ten (71%) strongly agree that the quality of photos is better on a digital camera or camcorder than a smartphone.

One in five (19%) Brits have bought a compact digital in the past 12 months, with around the same number (22%) claiming they do not own one.

Mr Gee said: "As newer technology continues to improve the specifications of top-end equipment, measurements like megapixel density or the top level of optical zoom possible will become meaningless to consumers best served by less expensive, middle-of-the-field devices.

"Camera manufacturers must choose to either invest in a web service that complements captured photos or video, or to focus on including new, innovative hardware capabilities and modifications, to retain consumer interest."