According to this Financial Times article titled Camera makers focus on functionality, camera makers are no longer engaged in pixel wars but rather focusing on functionality.
Even though the market is reaching maturity, the digital camera technology is still far from perfection. Camera makers are offering various new things and consumers are showing interests in upgrades. New technology will continuously expand the existing limits and make what was impossible possible.
Currently one of the biggest trends is the transition from digital compact cameras to DSLR cameras, which offer changeable lenses, much better image quality due to larger image sensors and quicker responses. Many people I know have bought DSLR cameras even though quite a few of them use their DSLRs as an expensive point-and-shoot by leaving the mode dial in Auto.
DSLR camera likely isn’t the end of digital camera revolution. Jin Nakayama, head of Casio’s camera business, predicted that new technology will eventually make SLR camera disappear because “… digital camera will have an image sensor so precise and processing so powerful that optical zoom lenses and flash will become unnecessary.”
Posted in
News on December 22nd, 2009.
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The world wide financial crisis has hit Nikon. The latest data for the fiscal third quarter ended December 31, 2008 showed a projected 2.7% decline in imaging product revenue for the whole fiscal year (April 1, 2008 – March 31, 2009) compared to the previous fiscal year. The total estimated DSLR shipments still shows a projected growth, but there is a -5.7% adjustment from their November 6, 2008 estimate. The third quarter net income is only about 66% of the previous year’s. Based on the whole year estimate, Nikon is predicting a 4th quarter loss of 11 billions Yen for its imaging product division with total fiscal year net income decline by 58%.
It is ugly.
British Journal of Photography reported that Nikon has cut 800 temporary jobs but no specifications on where the cuts are.
Nikon does not expect a quick economy recovery and calm-down of Yen’s appreciation, and has promised to “propose new products and services exceeding the expectation of our customers”. Specifically for the imaging division, Nikon will:
- Establishment of business structure overcoming further appreciation of Yen.
- Development of next generation digital cameras and proposal of the new services.
Further reading: Nikon Financial Results
Posted in
News on February 15th, 2009.
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Bad news keep rolling in, this time from Nikon. According to Market Watch, Nikon cuts its full year net income outlook by 68%. It is difficult to tell how much decline will be in the photography equipment business, but we can probably predict safely that it will not be rosy. In another news, Japan’s electronics industry incurred a shocking $22 billion in losses. Perhaps this is part of the reason we see price hikes for Nikon gears around the world?
Posted in
Marketplace,
News on February 5th, 2009.
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Canon consumer imaging group has just launched a sweepstakes promotion event called “Win Maria’s Diamonds”. By entering (limit one entry per person per day) between August 20, 2008 to October 20, 2008, you could one one of five diamond-studded Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS Digital ELPH Cameras
, valued at $8,500 each.
Maria Sharapova, a well known women’s tennis star, has won the Wimbledon in 2004, U.S. Open in 2006, and Australian Open in 2008. She entered a contract as Canon’s global brand representative with Canon providing sponsorship through 2010. She has appeared in many Canon ads with the slogan “Make every shot a powershot”.
Posted in
Miscellaneous on August 21st, 2008.
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According to Nikon’s just released financial data, Nikon sold 820,000 units of digital SLR cameras in the first quarter of fiscal 2009 (April 1, 2008 – June 30, 2008), and expects to ship total of 3.3 million units in the Fiscal year 2009 ending March 2009. Read More…
Posted in
News on August 6th, 2008.
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Antonio Perez, CEO of Eastman Kodak, warned that Kodak is to raise its prices for digital cameras, printers and other consumer products by as much as 20% over the coming month because of soaring raw material costs. The entire industry would have to increase prices “without any doubt” as commodity costs would remain high for years owing to high demand in emerging economies. “Everyone has the same problem,” he said.
Without doubt, Kodak is in greater pressure than others since it is balance sheet is still in red. However this might still be happening. If so, the fancy digital camera that you have been drooling over may become suddenly more expensive soon. Another reason to convince yourself you need to buy it now? 
Posted in
News on June 2nd, 2008.
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