Digital Camera Makers Compete With Color

Colored cameras were all over PMA this year. The colored point-and-shoot camera trend began a year or so ago but really exploded this year at the CES (Consumer Electronics Show) and PMA tradeshows. All the camera manufacturers offer brightly colored compact cameras and there appears to be a competition for the most variety and funkiest colors. I haven’t actually counted, but Olympus seemed to be offering the most colors at the show. And even more conservative companies like Nikon and Canon are jumping in with more colors than they have in the past.

There’s more here than meets the eye, though. Colored cameras indicate fierce competition between camera companies in a slowing compact digital camera market. Although compact digital camera sales are still rising, it’s only by a few percentage points. Most of the action is with digital SLRs. And we’re far past the point where camera makers can sell us a new camera just by increasing the number of pixels. So what’s next? Style. The look of the camera is becoming more important. It’s not just colors, either. Point-and-shoot, pocket-sized digital cameras are looking sleeker and cooler than ever. It’s not enough to sell us features and performance (although eliminating shutter-lag would be nice). Now we’re being offered self-expression in the form of camera colors.

Now we all know that the color of your camera won’t make it perform better. But I admit that my last point-and-shoot camera decision was influenced a bit by the cool titanium body. I also like tough-guy black. I’m a traditionalist that way. Plus, I know I take better pictures when I’m feeling cool. I think the bright colors are mostly for the ladies and the kids. And if matching cameras to shoes and skateboards helps sell more cameras, then it’s ok with me. Because more camera sales mean better digital cameras in the long run. And that’s good for all of us.

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