Digital SLRs are not just for geeks anymore

Westlake Village (CA) - A recent study conducted by JD Power and Associates found that consumers are increasingly content with their digital camera purchases. The study also revealed that once virtually unaffordable digital SLRs are quickly gaining traction in the market.

Walking down the aisles of your local electronics store, it’s easy to find customers looking to buy the latest mega-pixel wonder. Every year, the aisles grow a little more crowded as dozens of new models are introduced not only during the year, but especially during trade shows such as CES. While buying a digital camera sometimes is considered a learning experience and consumers often have to purchase more than just one camera to find what they are looking for, JD Powers and Associates today said that users tend to be happy with what they get for their money. For example, Kodak is first in customer satisfaction for cameras costing $399 and less. Sony ranks highest for cameras costing $400 and up.

Especially in the lower price segments, ease of use appears to be the key to success for manufacturers. According to Nancy Carr, Vice President of Marketing at Kodak, the company’s efforts in making the functionality of cameras is paying off : "I would not believe that people are getting used to the dials. Look at how many people still can’t program their VCR. We’ve made the menus [on the cameras] easier to read and we’ve cut down on the buttons," says Carr.

While a five megapixel point-and-shoot camera may satisfy the average user, the study also states that the pricier and more complex digital SLRs are the fastest growing segment in the market. Digital SLRs (DSLRs) have interchangeable lenses and a variety of external attachments such as a flash or grips that used to be an exclusive for professional photographers. With DSLRs hitting price points of $700 and below, more and more users are aiming for this segment.

Canon and Nikon have been the market leaders in the high-end DSLR markets, but most camera companies concentrate on the mainstream. Carr said she isn’t worried about letting the high end of the market go : "85 percent of the market is under $399. So for us, everything under $399 is the market."