Camera phones dominate image sensor market

ARIZONA, USA: The 2006 image sensor market saw strong growth, due primarily to one application: camera phones, reports market research firm In-Stat. In 2006, image sensors for camera phones comprised over three-quarters of all image sensors shipped, the high-tech market research firm says. Fueled by camera phones, CMOS sensors dominated CCDs in units shipped in 2006.

CMOS also made inroads into digital still cameras and camcorders in 2006, two markets that traditionally have been dominated by CCDs. CCDs continued to dominate the point-and-shoot sweet spot of the camera market. However, the rapidly growing digital single lens reflex (DSLR) market has been transitioning to CMOS sensors, led by Canon, which exclusively uses its own CMOS sensors.

Recent research by In-Stat found the following:

CMOS sensors held nearly an 80% share of image sensor shipments in 2006.

CCD sensors remain strong in digital still cameras, security cameras, and camcorders.

Dual-camera phones are in high demand among 3G wireless subscribers in Asia and Europe.