InfoTrends estimates that 63% of Western European digital camera purchases were made by repeat buyers in 2008. By the end of the forecast period, repeat buyers will account for 96% of all digital camera purchases.

While the market was once dominated by tech-savvy hobbyists and early adopters, it now includes many more consumers from the general population. Not only are these mainstream consumers looking for the ability to take great photos, but they want to do so with very little technical knowledge. As vendors continue to add new features to their products, they must do so in a way that simplifies the picture-taking process, catering to the needs of the changing consumer base. Ultimately, these mainstream consumers are seeking products that will enable them to take the best photos possible with little or no learning curve on using the device.

Source: Western European Digital Camera Forecast for 2008-2014