Digital Camera Sales Fall for First Time

For the first time since they entered the marketplace, sales of digital cameras have dropped, according to market research firm IDC. In the fourth quarter of 2006, shipments fell 3 percent to 12.1 million cameras; 12.4 million were shipped in 2005.

This wasn't necessarily bad news for Canon, though, which surpassed Kodak as the top supplier of digital cameras in the quarter. The company shipped 2.5 million cameras, while Kodak shipped 2.4 million. Sony rounded out the top three suppliers, shipping 2.2 million digital cameras, IDC said. Canon controls about 20% of the total market, with Sony and Kodak holding 17% and 16%, respectively.