CIPA: Cameras bouncing back after 2020 disaster

After an abysmal 2020, the Japanese camera manufacturers are reporting the first quarter of 2021 is showing signs of life. According to CIPA, the Japanese camera manufacturer association, interchangeable lens cameras almost doubled shipments in March shipments, compare to last year. For the quarter, ILCs are up 18 percent in volume and 48 percent in value compared to the same quarter last year.

DSLRs continue to slip, now at about 6 percent less than last year, but mirrorless cameras increased 30 percent in volume terms and more than 80 percent in value. While mirrorless cameras now account for about 60 percent of ILCs shipped, three out of every four dollars spent on an ILC goes towards a mirrorless, reports Inside Imaging. Lens shipments are also up for the quarter, peaking at 41 percent year-on-year in March.

Compact cameras continue to decline, dropping to 287,000 units in March 2021, compared to 600,000 for the same month of 2020.