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Posts Tagged ‘expects’

Canon CEO expects ILC market to shrink 50% by 2020 to just 5-6M units

29 Jan

Since 2010, the interchangeable lens camera (ILC) market has been decreasing at an alarming and steady rate. Now, it seems Canon is projecting this trend will not only continue on, but expects it to increase exponentially with claims the ILC market will be cut in half within the next two years.

In an interview with Nikkei [translated, paywall], Canon CEO Fujio Mitarai shared a few insights into where Canon sees both its future and the market going.

As summarized by CanonRumors, Mr. Fujio says its camera sales have decreased approximately 10% year over year since ILC sales hit their peak in 2010.

A not-quite-accurate Canon analogy for decreasing ILC sales.

Currently, the global market for interchangeable lens cameras is estimated at 10 million units per year, according to both Mr. Fujio and CIPA data [PDF, page 2], but Canon expects that number to drop down to and plateau at roughly 5-6 million prosumer and professional cameras by the end of 2020.

Mr. Fujio also noted mirrorless camera sales aren’t adding to its bottom line, but are instead eating into the sales of DSLRs. This may very well have played into the reason Canon opted to release only one mirrorless camera in 2018 and doesn’t appear to be in a rush to get many more out by the end of 2019. It may have also been a factor in both Canon and Nikon taking so long to get into the full-frame mirrorless market; if all the capital put towards research and development (R&D) is only going to cannibalize your money makers, there’s not much need to rush the new technology.

To combat the declining revenue from ILC sales, Mr. Fujio says Canon plans to shift its focus to corporate sales rather than consumer sales over the coming years. As a result, Canon will be putting more emphasis — read: R&D — on industrial, surveillance, and medical imaging going forward.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Fashion magazine expects photographers to PAY to be on the cover

24 Mar

An American fashion magazine has created a storm by expecting photographers to pay $ 860 if their image is chosen for its cover. In a ‘the world’s gone crazy’ role-reversal, Sheeba magazine’s submission guidelines specify that photographers lucky enough to have an image selected for the cover will have to pay for the privilege of having it used.

In the magazine’s defense, it does style itself as a place where photographers, designers and models have an “opportunity to show-case and promote their contemporary masterpieces worldwide through print, digital and social media exposure” and presumably getting the cover position allows that photographer the most exposure.

Work placed inside the magazine is published for free, and at the moment there’s a special 50% off deal for cover placement.

In return, the photographer gets a copy of the print edition, a high-resolution tear sheet, and possibly an interview inside the magazine. Although billed as a monthly magazine, there seem to be three ‘volumes’ some months. The 74-page latest issue costs $ 26 for the print edition.

It isn’t clear what the magazine’s reach is, or exactly how much exposure gracing the front cover will gain the chosen photographer. The magazine’s Instagram page has fewer than 2,500 followers and its Twitter posts appear in the feed of just 75 people. The magazine is a little more successful on Facebook where it has 6,703 followers, but its most recent post is rather soiled by a lengthy comment thread about the morality of its cover policy.

If you don’t feel up to applying for a place on the cover, the magazine is looking for a number of interns to help put the publication together. The job ads offer the “opportunity to gain valuable editorial experience in media publishing and further develop a professional portfolio in return for work efforts” and a promise that you might be considered for a permanent position in the future. There’s no mention of payment, but the magazine expects considerable skills and dedication, and someone to layout 100 pages of content—perhaps three times a month.

For more information see the Sheeba website.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Sony expects to restart image sensor production by end of month

17 May

Sony, one of the biggest image sensor manufacturers for the photographic industry, has announced its sensor plant in the earthquake-hit Kumamoto region will be ready to begin production again by the end of this month.

The company says it has been able to resume back-end processes like testing sensors and camera modules, and that assembly lines for new units should begin working again any day now. Wafer manufacture, it says, should begin on 21st May, though not all lines will start on that date. 

Damage caused by the earthquake forced the Sony Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation to halt production at the Kumamoto Technology Center where it produces imaging sensors for digital cameras. According to a report from the Nikkei Asian Review, the damage and lost business caused by the series of earthquakes and aftershocks has cost the Japanese economy $ 4.6 billion. Sony itself says it is still evaluating the cost of the disaster, and it is due to publish forecast figures for the current financial year on 24 May.

For reports on Sony’s recovery process see the company’s investor relations website.

Press release:

Status of Sony Group Business Operations Affected by 2016 Kumamoto Earthquakes
(Fourth Update)

The status of Sony Group business operations affected by the earthquake of April 14, 2016 and subsequent earthquakes in the Kumamoto region, as of today, is as follows:

Operations at Sony Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation’s Kumamoto Technology Center (located in Kikuchi Gun, Kumamoto Prefecture), which is the primary manufacturing site of image sensors for digital cameras and security cameras as well as micro-display devices, had been suspended due to the impact of the earthquakes. However, as of May 9, 2016, testing operations, which are one of the back-end processes carried out on the upper layer of the building, have resumed and other back-end processes, such as assembly, are also expected to restart sequentially beginning May 17, 2016.

Wafer processing operations located on the lower layer of the building are expected to restart sequentially beginning May 21, 2016.

Although there was a delay in the supply of components to Sony from certain third-party suppliers that also have manufacturing facilities in the Kumamoto region, inventory adjustments have been made and a timeframe for regaining supply levels is now in place, so no material impact is anticipated on Sony’s business operations.

Based on the above, the effect of the Kumamoto earthquakes on business operations within the Mobile Communications, Game & Network Services and Home Entertainment & Sound segments is not anticipated to have a material impact on Sony’s consolidated results.

On the other hand, regarding the Devices and Imaging Products & Solutions segments, the impact on Sony’s consolidated results due to the effect of the earthquakes, including from opportunity losses, as well as expenses for recovery and reinforcement work, continues to be evaluated. Sony is scheduled to announce on May 24, 2016 its consolidated results forecast for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2017, as well as its forecasts for the Mobile Communications, Game & Network Services, Imaging Products & Solutions, Home Entertainment & Sound and Devices segments for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2017.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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After layoffs, Sun-Times expects reporters to become mobile photographers

01 Jun

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It seems the Chicago Sun-Times is counting on its remaining employees to become mobile photographers. After laying off its entire 28-person photography staff yesterday, the newspaper has announced mandatory training for remaining employees on ‘iPhone photography basics’. That’s according to media writer Robert Feder. Feder quotes a memo from managing editor Craig Newman: ‘In the coming days and weeks, we’ll be working with all editorial employees to train and outfit you as much as possible to produce the content we need’. Click through for the full story on connect.dpreview.com. 

News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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