Currently released CIPA numbers* paint a picture of 30% growth in compact cameras for 2025, yet these numbers don’t include Kodak, who are constantly at the top of the best-selling charts on Amazon and other retailers, so the growth in compact camera sales could actually be much higher. Especially as according to other data available, Kodak sit at the top of the sales charts.
The reason for the big sales numbers could be due to the low price of compact cameras (compared to mirrorless cameras and DSLRs), the recent interest in authentic images (and avoiding AI and fake images), and perhaps the price difference between a compact camera (under $400) compared to the high price of most smartphones. With there being a limited number of compact camera models to choose from, the brands who do have cameras to sell should be laughing all the way to the bank.
Leica also aren’t included in these figures, as they are famously a German company, and CIPA provide figures for shipments from Japan. Yet, they also offer a range of compact cameras, albeit at the premium end of the market. So whilst the numbers for Leica camera sales may be low, they could also show a bigger increase in compact camera sales, that is not recorded in the CIPA figures.
In addition, these numbers don’t reflect the second-hand market, and as we recently reported, second-hand sales of compact digicams from one retailer based in the UK are in the 1000s. With so many vintage digicams available to buy second-hand, the number of people using compact cameras could be higher again.
In *CIPA numbers reported by DPReview, the numnbers paint a relatively positive pictures of not only an increase in sales of compact cameras, but also in mirrorless cameras. Here are some more interesting numbers from the latest CIPA data:
There’s been a 12% growth in mirrorless
This makes a lot of sense, as mirrorless cameras are the main focus for almost every camera brand. Sony remain in the number 1 position for mirrorless cameras, and Sony dominate Canon and Nikon in the mirrorless camera market for the third year running.
But, there’s also been a continued drop in DSLRs with a 31% decline
The decline in DSLR sales doesn’t come as much of a surprise. You can barely buy new DSLRs, with only 7 models still available to buy new in the UK. If you do buy a new DSLR, then Canon appear to be seeling the biggest numbers, as they offer some of the cheapest DSLRs still available.
CIPA are a Tokyo based industry group make up of the major Japanese manufacturers including Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm, OM Digital (formerly Olympus), Panasonic, Ricoh/Pentax, Sony, and Tamron. They track market data, create international standards, and operate the CP+ camera show.
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