However, even if the firm decides to commit to such an idea it would take ‘at least a year’ to make its way into a camera, said Panasonic Japan’s imaging consultant Michiharu Uematsu.

In a meeting with AP and WDC, before CES, Koji Fujita from Panasonic’s product planning marketing division, added: ‘The smartphone is becoming a very big threat for our compact category.’

Fujita suggested that lower-end cameras continue to be hardest hit.

‘High-end, high-zoom, bridge-type and tough [rugged, outdoor] cameras still have stable demand,’ he added.

Meanwhile, Panasonic has indicated that it is seeking to push up sales of its G-series models.