‘2012 is a challenging year for the imaging sector,’ reports GFK Retail and Technology UK in its latest newsletter.

‘The total value of the digital camera market was down 10% in value and 16% in units…’

Compact cameras continued to take the biggest hit, with sales of models featuring a zoom of less than 10x plunging 36% in revenue terms.

However, the demand for ‘superzoom’ compacts rose nearly 50% over the same period, compared to 2011.

DSLR sales remained flat over the period, according to GfK.