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Japanese digital camera exports totaled 3.29 million units in February, the first year-on-year monthly decline since Japan's Camera and Imaging Products Association (CIPA) began compiling data on exports in 1999.

CIPA data covers only cameras manufactured by Japanese companies but is considered the industry standard as Japanese makers account for about 80 percent of the global output of digital cameras and own most of the world's top brands.

February's data is the latest bearish report on the digital camera industry, which is experiencing growing pains after years of expanding at break-neck speed.

The household penetration rate has already topped 50 percent in Japan and is climbing rapidly in the United States and Europe.

Exports to Europe dropped 10.7 percent in February, reflecting a move by a maker to limit shipments in order to run down excess inventories.

Domestic shipments of digital cameras fell 0.8 percent in February to 560,000 units, marking the fifth straight month-on-month decline. Shipments in Japan rose 4.6 in value terms, however, due to an increase in single lens reflex models.

Total shipments of Japanese-made digital cameras fell 0.9 percent to 3.85 million units in February, CIPA said.

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