Visible Light Range Scientific Camera Market Size, Share & Analysis

Updated on : Sep 12, 2024

Visible Light Range Scientific Camera Market Size, Share & Growth 

The visible light range scientific camera market size is projected to reach USD 0.6 billion by 2028 from USD 0.4 billion in 2023; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.9% from 2023 to 2028.

A scientific camera is essential for any imaging system. These cameras are designed to quantitatively measure how many photons hit the camera sensor and in which location. The visible light range scientific camera market, by type, has been segmented into sCMOS, sCMOS (Backthinned), CCD, CCD (Backthinned), and EM-CCD cameras. The different cameras and their various architectures have inherent strengths and weaknesses and these are covered in depth in this chapter. The spectral response of a camera refers to the detected signal response as a function of the wavelength of light. This parameter is often expressed in terms of the quantum efficiency (hereinafter in this document referred to as QE), a measure of the detector's ability to produce an electronic charge as a percentage of the total number of incident photons that are detected. The sensitivity of a camera is the minimum light signal that can be detected and by convention, we equate that to the light level falling on the camera that produces a signal just equal to the camera's noise. Hence, the noise of a camera sets an ultimate limit on the camera sensitivity.

The report covers the demand and supply sides of the visible light range scientific camera market. The supply-side market segmentation includes type, camera resolution, and camera price. The demand-side market segmentation includes region.

Visible Light Range Scientific Camera Market Forecast to 2028

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Visible Light Range Scientific Camera Market Analysis:

The analysis of the visible light range scientific camera market indicates robust growth, driven by technological advancements and expanding application areas. Market reports highlight the increasing demand for high-performance imaging solutions in scientific research, healthcare, and industrial applications. The market is characterized by continuous innovation, with companies focusing on enhancing the sensitivity, resolution, and speed of their cameras to meet the evolving needs of end-users. Furthermore, strategic partnerships and collaborations are playing a vital role in market expansion, as they enable the sharing of expertise and resources to develop cutting-edge imaging technologies. The analysis also points to a growing global market, with significant contributions from North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific regions, where research and development activities are particularly intensive.

Visible Light Range Scientific Camera Market Share:

The visible light range scientific camera market is seeing a significant distribution of market share across various segments, driven by increasing demand in diverse applications such as microscopy, spectroscopy, and astronomy. Leading companies in the market are capturing substantial shares by continually innovating and offering high-performance cameras with superior sensitivity and resolution. The academic and research sectors represent a major portion of the market, as these cameras are essential tools in scientific exploration and analysis. Additionally, the healthcare industry, particularly in medical imaging and diagnostics, is contributing to the market's expansion, further solidifying the position of key players.

Visible Light Range Scientific Camera Market Trends:

Several trends are currently shaping the visible light range scientific camera market. One prominent trend is the growing adoption of advanced imaging technologies, such as CMOS and CCD sensors, which provide higher resolution and faster processing capabilities. There is also a significant shift towards the miniaturization of scientific cameras, making them more versatile and easier to integrate into various research and industrial applications. Another notable trend is the increasing use of these cameras in emerging fields such as quantum computing and nanotechnology, where precise and detailed imaging is crucial. Moreover, there is a rising emphasis on developing user-friendly interfaces and software to enhance the accessibility and functionality of these cameras for a broader range of users.

Visible Light Range Scientific Camera Market Trends & Dynamics:

Driver: Increasing number of surgical procedures

Many surgical procedures require medical cameras, and recently, the volume of surgical procedures has considerably increased due to the rapidly expanding geriatric population worldwide and the growing prevalence of chronic diseases, leading to the increasing demand for advanced medical equipment. Many countries across the world are facing the challenge of significantly high senior populations. According to the United Nations (UN), in 2019, globally, there were 703 million persons aged 65 years or over. The senior population is estimated to double ()1.5 billion) by 2050. Non-invasive surgeries (mainly using highly advanced camera technology to carry out endoscopic and microscopic surgeries) are preferred for older people due to lesser complications and faster recovery than conventional surgeries.

Microscopy cameras are widely used in many surgical procedures, from spinal and neuro-surgery to cataract and dental procedures. Over time, the evolution of surgical microscopes from a traditional magnifying device to an information and communication center has adequately helped examine the condition of a patient while reducing morbidity rates. Therefore, medical cameras are widely used in endoscopy, surgical microscopy, dermatology, ophthalmology, and dentistry. With a growing number of surgical procedures in these fields, the demand for medical cameras is also expected to increase.

Restraint: Heavy maintenance and high costs of cutting-edge camera technologies

3D image sensors are susceptible to dust, microparticles, impurities, and shocks. A slight disturbance can cause a significant decrease in the quality of an image. Hence, these 3D sensors require special care. Technologies such as 3D depth sensing, 4K pixel, and ultra-HD cameras are costlier than the CCD and CMOS image sensor camera technologies. This limits the deployment of cameras to select places across a production/assembly line. The cost of these cameras has reduced significantly over the last few years; however, it is not low enough to attract small-scale companies.

For the consumer electronics segment, 3D image sensors used in the 3D depth sensing technology must be protected against dust and shocks by solid compact packaging. Thus, manufacturers are compelled to spend more on packaging the device, which incurs additional costs. 3D image sensing technologies, such as medical 3D imaging sensors, have a limited life. The cost incurred due to frequent maintenance or replacement may discourage potential buyers.

Furthermore, images captured using low-megapixel cameras have several drawbacks. The image quality of such pictures gets reduced while zooming in, cropping, or taking prints. Hence, high-megapixel cameras are preferred. Endoscopic cameras used in clinics (in India) cost ~USD 1,300, whereas endoscopic camera prices in hospitals vary from USD 500 to USD 9,000. Intraoral cameras range from USD 50 to USD 5,000. The prices vary depending on megapixel sizes, sensor types, and other features. To increase the number of pixels, manufacturers can either increase the chip size or shrink the pixel pitch. However, larger chip sizes increase the cost of manufacturing. The only way to produce a high-resolution image at a lower cost is to shrink the pixel pitch, which is a complex process. Thus, if the manufacturing cost increases, then the price of the medical camera also increases. Along these lines, the high costs associated with medical cameras could be an obstacle to overall market growth.

Opportunity: Strong focus on developing scientific cameras with improved storage capacity and high-throughput sensors

There is an increasing focus on developing cutting-edge image storage solutions and sensors employed in scientific cameras. The frame rate of the high-speed camera requires more storage capacity; moreover, the panoramic technologies used in video surveillance scientific cameras demand a higher data storing capacity. With further developments in the storage technologies in the scientific camera market, such cameras will be more suitable for video surveillance and astronomy applications.

Digital scientific camera technology is changing all the time. However, some recent developments indicate that the companies are entering into a period of exciting innovation, where advancements are apparent in the revolution occurring in autofocus technology. These developments focus on better storage capacity and the use of the throughput capabilities of the sensors in these scientific cameras.

Challenge: Availability of refurbished scientific medical camera products at lower costs

The availability of refurbished scientific medical camera products is a significant challenge to the growth of the market. Many end users (mainly small and medium-sized hospitals, ASCs (ambulatory surgery centers), and specialty clinics) look for cost-effectiveness and opt for refurbished systems, particularly in price-sensitive markets in developing countries. A few companies offering refurbished scientific medical cameras include Golden Nimbus International (India), Medicure Surgical Equipment (India), and Bimedis LLC (US). Considering these factors, the demand for refurbished scientific medical cameras is expected to increase in the coming years. These systems offer the same functionalities as new equipment but at lower costs. Therefore, introducing refurbished products in the market could hamper the growth of a company offering new scientific medical cameras, challenging overall market growth.

By Type Segment Analysis:

sCMOS type segment will continue to hold largest visible light range scientific camera market share during the forecast period

In recent years, there has also been an observable shift in the preference for sCMOS sensors over CCD sensors. sCMOS cameras have an updated technology than CCD cameras, which is increasing their popularity and acceptance in the market. sCMOS technology overcomes the trade-offs that are associated with conventional CMOS cameras. Unlike previous generations of CMOS and CCD-based sensors, sCMOS offers rapid frame rates, extremely low noise, large field of view. wide dynamic range, and high resolution. sCMOS has dual amplifiers and dual analog-to-digital converter readout, which leads to a high dynamic range. A low-gain channel and a high-gain channel are read simultaneously, and the information is combined. This produces an exceptional dynamic range. In 2009, scientific CMOS (sCMOS) technology was launched, with sCMOS cameras being commercially available from 2010 to 2011. sCMOS cameras can provide low noise, high speed, and a large field of view, making sCMOS cameras ideal for a wide range of applications, from astronomy to microscopy.

Visible Light Range Scientific Camera Market by Region

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By Regional Analysis Growth:

The visible light range scientific camera market in APAC is expected to grow at highest CAGR during the forecast period (2023-2028)

China is expected to offer significant opportunities for visible light range scientific camera manufacturers during the forecast period. The high growth in these markets can be attributed to the high demand for advanced technologies in this region. With developed economies reaching saturation, manufacturers, and suppliers are expected to focus on opportunities in the emerging Chinese market, supporting market growth in the coming years. Healthcare authorities in China are encouraging the private sector to build healthcare facilities by relaxing various policy controls. Improvements in the country’s healthcare infrastructure will serve to attract global medical device companies, including companies providing visible light range scientific cameras. Furthermore, technological advancements in the country are also supporting the growth of the visible light range scientific camera industry.

Top Visible Light Range Scientific Camera Companies - Key Players

The visible light range scientific camera companies operating in the market are Hamamatsu Photonics (Japan), Teledyne Technologies (US), Thorlabs, Inc. (US), XIMEA GmbH (Germany), Photonic Science (UK), Excelitas PCO GmbH (PCO-TECH Inc.) (Germany), Oxford Instruments (Andor Technology) (UK), Atik Cameras (UK), Diffraction Limited (Canada), and Spectral Instruments, Inc. (US).

Impact of Recession

The demand for visible light range scientific cameras is expected to experience a low negative impact of the recession. Medical device companies are expected to witness a mixed impact of the recession. The diagnostic imaging companies are expected to witness a slowdown led by tighter CAPEX by hospitals, which might refrain them from buying or investing and procuring equipment such as surgical robots, MRI/CT machines, etc. These will decrease the demand for visible light range scientific cameras as the major market is in the medical sector. The largest impact on this market could be from the demand side, as end-use industries face the pressure of rising costs of raw materials. The various end-use industries such as medicine, astronomy, research, and security & surveillance have witnessed reduced investments in their upcoming projects due to inflation. they are increasingly focusing on organic and inorganic growth strategies after and during the pandemic, but this inflationary period has slowed down the trend.

To counter the rising inflation, central banks across the world have increased their lending rates. But these counter-inflation measures could decrease the global GDP growth by 0.4%—settling down to 0.5% in 2023 (Source: World Bank)—which would meet the technical definition of a recession. This would impact manufacturers across the world, and thus affects visible light range scientific camera providers as well.

Visible Light Range Scientific Camera Market Report Scope

The report covers the demand- and supply-side segmentation of the visible light range scientific camera market. The supply-side market segmentation includes the type, camera resolution and camera price, whereas the demand-side market segmentation includes region.

The following are the years considered:

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Scope of the Report

Visible Light Range Scientific Camera Market Highlights

In this report, the visible light range scientific camera market has been segmented into the following categories:

Recent Developments

• In June 2021, Photonic Science announced the launch of HAWKeye sCMOS camera 4123. It features a state-of-the-art BAE Fairchild sCMOS 4123 sensor with 0.5 electron readout noise, low dark current, and a defective pixel count.
• In May 2021, Hamamatsu Photonics introduced a photon-number-resolving scientific camera with incredibly low noise and 9.4 megapixels. It reduces the photoelectric noise to a level below the signals generated by photons (particles of light), which are the minimum unit of light. This makes the ORCA-Quest the first camera in the world to achieve 2D photon-number-resolving measurement, which means that it accurately measures the number of photons to create an image
• In March 2021, Atik Cameras announced their collaboration with leading global OEMs of real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) DNA amplifiers, securing multiple new contracts to supply high-performing cameras for reliable COVID-19 testing. The commercially competitive VS series of scientific CCD cameras offer superior sensitivity and image quality and are now proven across thousands of PCR installations.
•  In May 2020, Hamamatsu Photonics announced the next evolution in the market-leading ORCA brand of sCMOS cameras—the ORCA-Fusion BT. This camera takes the strict specifications of the ORCA-Fusion—ultra-low readout noise, CCD-like uniformity, fast frame rates—and combines that with back-thin enabled, high quantum efficiency to achieve the pinnacle of sCMOS performance.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

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