A stronger rand and reduction in cost price have led to an average decrease of over 20% in digital camera prices, say industry experts.
The entry-level price for digital cameras is now around R800, with the retail price of three-megapixel cameras having dropped by up to 50% in some cases in recent months.
"Price declines will continue due to technical advances, emerging market growth and camera phone pressure," says Reggie Nxumalo, Imaging and Printing Group country manager at HP SA.
The days of the entry-level digital camera offering only two- to three-megapixels are numbered, says Anthony Delport, market executive of Photo Connection. "Growth in the entry-level market lies in the six- to seven-megapixel camera," he adds.
Consumer demand for more megapixels, along with technological advances in optical zoom and quality of image output, will be what separates the old digital cameras from the new, says Andrew Jackson, the merchandise manager for Makro SA.
More players in the field
Delport notes that the digital camera market is being flooded as traditional optical camera companies, like Pentax, vie for business against consumer electronic companies such as Samsung.
This growth has also been fuelled by the growing popularity of single lens reflex digital cameras over mini digital cameras, which has also added to the decline in price, says Gary Shap, MD of Tudor Photographic.
Another factor behind the price drop is an over-supply caused when manufacturers anticipated the market taking off, says HP`s Nxumalo.
Jackson notes that retailers are eagerly awaiting news from this year`s annual Photographers Market Association show in the US on 20 February, for an indication of what new digital camera technology will come to market.
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