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InfoTrends/ CAP Ventures’ Western European Digital Photography Study Reveals Strong Regional Differences in Digital Camera and Print Behaviour

(Weymouth, MA) ... Germany and the U.K. are the most mature digital camera markets in Europe, according to a new study from InfoTrends/CAP Ventures that details European digital camera and printing behaviour.

Although Europe is still in the early adopter stage of the digital camera market, significant growth is expected in 2005, with household penetration expected to increase from 26% in 2004 to 40% by the end of this year.

Replacement cameras are helping to drive the market. European consumers are already paying premium prices for replacement and additional cameras to obtain the brands and features that they desire, which is good news for camera manufacturers.

The most noticeable differences by country were in brand preferences and purchase locations, length of digital camera ownership, incidence of replacement and additional cameras, and the difference in average income between digital camera owners and non-owners.

“Our study confirms that Europeans are active digital photographers that capture photos frequently and store a high percentage of them,” commented Mette Eriksen, a Senior Consultant with InfoTrends/CAP Ventures. “However, consumer requirements vary significantly by demographics and by region. Vendors who wish to increase profits and sales volumes need to understand these differences and develop strategies to target the growing segments.”

The home is the most popular location for printing, and this is also the place where the largest number of photos are currently produced. Nevertheless, there are signs that this is beginning to change as retailers continue to increase consumer awareness through advertising, marketing, and low prices. At this time, 23% of digital camera owners report printing photos at retail, compared to 68% who said they print at home.

“Again, we’re seeing considerable differences by country when we look at printing practices,” said Eriksen. “For example, digital camera users in Italy and Spain were more than twice as likely as respondents from other countries to print at retail. What’s also striking is the relatively small percentage of images that are being printed across all regions. The industry as a whole must do more to encourage printing and increase the total number of photos printed.”

InfoTrends/CAP Ventures’ new report entitled

The report is available immediately to clients of InfoTrends/CAP Ventures’ Digital Photography Trends Europe Consulting Service. For more information on the report or to make a purchase, visit our 

InfoTrends/CAP Ventures is the leading worldwide market research and strategic consulting firm for the digital imaging and document solutions industries. We provide research, analysis, forecasts, and advice to help clients understand market trends, identify opportunities, and develop strategies to grow their businesses. Additional information about InfoTrends/CAP Ventures is available on the Web at

CONTACT: Matt O'Keefe, InfoTrends tel. , fax , , Weymouth, MA 02189,