UK sees record sales of digital cameras over Christmas

Digital camera's like Panasonic's all-new Lumix-FX35 will continue to sell well, despite the advent of the 5MP camera-phone

Market research firm Gfk has released figures suggesting that, far from being overrun by sophisticated camera-phones, the digital camera market has actually just enjoyed its most lucrative Christmas period ever.

According to Gfk nearly 1.2million compact digital cameras were sold in December 2007, an increase of 13.5 per cent compared to December 2006. During the same period DSLR sales rose 22.7 per cent to nearly 54.5 thousand units. In total, the UK spent £142.1 million pounds on digital cameras in December alone.

The figures must come as a great relief to digital camera manufacturers, especially in light of the threat posed by the megapixel arms race currently being played out in the high-end camera-phone market.

Some observers have predicted that the performance gains shown by recent 5MP camera-phones could threaten the long-term viability of the dedicated digital camera market. However, for the time being at least consumer demand for dedicated digital cameras is higher than ever.

One major reason for this, as consumers are beginning to understand, is that there’s a lot more to a good camera than the number of megapixels it boasts. While camera-phones have evolved a great deal in recent years they remain leagues behind dedicated digital cameras in terms of image quality.

In other words, while camera-phones are perfectly adequate for late-night drunken parties, most consumers will continue to take a ‘proper’ camera with them on holiday.

Latest in Phones
Google Pixel 9
Android 16 could bring an improved Samsung DeX-style desktop mode to more phones
Apple products all showing different versions of the Apple Photos app
Apple Photos could actually win you over in iOS 18.4 – here are 4 improvements that are coming
Google Pixel 9 in Wintergreen showing back camera bar
The Google Pixel 10 could get a big camera boost if this new leak is legit
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, close up on the dual camera system, against a marbled background
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is being tipped to come with a sweet Google Gemini deal
Google Pixel 9 on green grey background with price cut text overlay
Want to get a half-price unlimited plan and a Google Pixel 9 for just $400? Check out Mint Mobile this week
iOS 18 Control Center
iOS 19: the 3 biggest rumors so far, and what I want to see
Latest in News
Google Gemini Robotics
Gemini just got physical and you should prepare for a robot revolution
Lilo & Stitch Official Trailer
Stitch crashes into earth and steals our hearts with the first trailer for the live-action Lilo & Stitch
GTA 5
GTA Online publisher Take-Two is gunning for a black market that’s basically heaven for cheaters
Y2K cast looking shocked
Y2K has a streaming release date on Max, so you can witness the technology uprising at home
The Discovery+ homepage
Discovery+ just got a big update to its streaming app that makes it more like Max – here are 5 great new features to try
Two Android phones on a green and blue background showing Google Messages
Struggling with slow Google Messages photo transfers? Google says new update will make 'noticeable difference'