Canon maintains No.1 digital camera status in Europe
Who cares if Canon will stop developing film cameras?
Yesterday there was a minor hiatus on the newswires when Reuters reported that Canon was to stop development of film cameras, including high-end single lens reflex (SLR) models. The report was subsequently 'corrected' to say that Canon is 'considering' such a move. At DPNow we wonder what all the fuss is about. It's a matter of time and it's a decision that Konica Minolta, among others, took to an extreme at the beginning of this year by quitting the photo market altogether. Nikon has also previously indicated that the bulk of its film camera business is finished.
We asked Canon UK for clarification and the response was: "Canon will remain in the film camera business as long as the market needs exist. There is still demand for film cameras and we will continue to supply products in line with market needs.
The film camera market has been steadily contracting over the past several years. These circumstances make it increasingly difficult to develop new film cameras. We intend to closely watch future market demand and decide accordingly how we will proceed with regard to new product development."
Canon expects two-pronged attack on its camera business in Europe
Meanwhile, in a much more interesting Retures report, Canon Europe imaging business boss, Mogens Jensen, admitted that he was expecting intensifying competition from both ends of the digital camera market as camera phones improved and new players, like Sony, entered the DSLR camera market. Canon is, by some margin, the digital camera sales leader in Europe, but this market has seen tough times in recent months.
In the same story, Reuters reports that the digital camera market in Europe was less buoyant in 2005 than analysts had been expecting. IDC market research figures indicated that phenomenal 2004 58 percent increase unit sales growth slumped to just 8 percent in 2005, though that still amounted to 27 million digital cameras sold. Analysts had expected 2005 unit sales growth of at least 17 percent. On top of that, average camera prices are dropping by double-digit percentages, squeezing margins and forcing smaller players out.
Canon to halt development of film cameras
