New April sales data from Japan: surprise is Kodak!

You know what camera is selling best in Japan according to the latest April sales data from BCN? It’s that low quality and boring model I never heard of before (Click here). It’s currently being hyped by the younger generation and influencers. They want affordable and compact cameras that give you a pixelated and more stylish image quality!

BCN reports:

• In April 2024, KODAK captured a 22.5% sales share in the overall digital camera market, which combines compact digital cameras (compact digital cameras), mirrorless single-lens cameras, and single-lens reflex cameras. This was the first time that KODAK had ranked first in monthly market share by manufacturer since BCN began compiling digital camera data, according to the “BCN Ranking,” which compiles actual sales data from electronics retailers and online stores.
• The three products that drove KODAK’s market share were the PIXPRO FZ55, PIXPRO FZ45, and PIXPRO WPZ2. All of them were ranked in the top 10 in sales by series for all digital cameras in April 2012. In particular, the PIXPRO FZ55 took the top spot, accounting for more than 10% of the market share. The average unit price is less than 20,000 yen, and its strength is that it is easy to purchase and use.
• Major camera companies have shifted their focus to expensive mirrorless single-lens cameras, and have reduced the handling of inexpensive compact digital cameras or withdrawn from the market. On the other hand, the demand for easy-to-use compact digital cameras remains. Furthermore, due to the influence of the retro boom in recent years, inexpensive compact digital cameras have become a hot topic on social media, and their popularity has increased, especially among young people. KODAK has made great strides by tapping into such niche needs. (BCN Research Institute, Kakei Saito)

Here are the the top 10 best selling cameras:

1. Kodak PixPro FZ55 (11% share)
2. Sony ZV-E10 (8.2% share)
3. Kodak PixPro FZ45 (6% share)
4. Instax MIni EVO (5.5% share)
5. Kodak PixPro WPZ2 (5.1% share)
6. Canon IXY 650 (4.9% share)
7. Canon EOS R50 (4.0% share)
8. Kenko KC-03TY (2.7% share)
9. Canon EOS R10 (2.4% share)
10. Nikon Z30 (2.3% share)

Between Kodak, Kenko and the IXY we have 5 super cheap compact cameras on top! We don’t have such accurate data in the US and Europe. So let me show the crazy unknown cameras selling hot on Amazon (Click here to see the full bestseller list).

I have been in the camera business for 15 years and I never thought I would see a comeback of the ugly, cheap compact cameras! Also because I did not foresee the advent of the crazy world of social-influencers. This is a ‘world’ based on pure irrationality and an emotional rollercoaster. Now I feel like dropping everything and becoming a farmer in a lonely valley :)

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Source: BCN