Japan shipments of DSLRs up nearly 25 percent

According to the Camera and Imaging Products Association (CIPA), cited in Tech On!, domestic in Japan shipments of DSLR cameras in March 2008 increased by 24.5 percent over the corresponding period last year, setting a record high of 127,500 units. The shipment value was ¥7.68 billion (US$74 million), an increase of 31.9 percent over the corresponding period last year. The shipment volume of DSLR cameras was approximately 10 percent of the total domestic shipment volume of cameras, but the shipment value of DSLR cameras was about 25 percent of the total shipment value.

Shipments of compact cameras remained roughly the same. The shipment volume increased by 1.6 percent to 1.08 million units, while the shipment value increased by 2.6 percent to ¥23.44 billion. Cameras greater than 8 megapixels comprise more than 90 percent of shipments.