Camera accessory sales buoyant, says Futuresource

Worldwide consumer demand continues to be driven by lenses

The market for sales of camera accessories – such as lenses, bags, cases, tripods and flashes – expanded to reach $5.1bn (£3.3bn) globally in 2012, according to analysis from Futuresource Consulting.

Arun Gill, market analyst at Futuresource, said that although the demand for fixed-lens cameras is declining, the market for those with interchangeable lenses has been expanding 16 per cent year on year.

"In 2012, this translated to an annual average accessories spend per interchangeable lens camera of $307, compared with accessories spend per fixed lens camera of less than $2," Gill said in a PR statement.

Eighty per cent of the total trade market value was from sales of lenses, followed by bags and cases, flashes, and support devices. Most sales were of product made by Canon, Nikon or Sony, which are all strong in lenses.

However, across other segments, specialist brands such as Manfrotto, Metz and Sigma performed well. Online sales, which often offered savings of up to 25 per cent, were becoming more popular, Gill said.