Canon camera sales drop 22%

Canon has blamed a 22% drop in unit sales of digital cameras on a shortage of parts for compact models caused by the Japanese earthquake and tsunami.

Canon said the sales dip for the three months to 30 June reflected the ?significant impact of parts-supply shortages? that followed the 11 March disaster, despite launching 10 new Ixus and PowerShot-series models earlier this year.

However, demand for digital SLRs experienced ?solid growth? as Canon quickly recovered production levels for models such as the EOS 60D.

Though, in unit terms, DSLRs, lenses and related accessories make up just 28% of Canon?s camera sales, they account for 70% of revenue.

Canon?s overall net profit fell by more than 20% in the second quarter of 2011 compared to the same period in 2010.