It is probably the worst kept secret to anyone following the photography industry but many camera manufacturers have been experiencing declining sales for the last few years. The main reason is due to changing customer preference and the advancement in many smartphone cameras.
Canon may be a bright spot among its competitors and they have 93 reasons why not to fear smartphones but based on the most recent data published by CIPA, the Japan-based Camera and Imaging Products Association, sales have not improved much for the other manufacturers.
It seems mirrorless cameras offered the industry a bright spot for about two years but now sales are leveling off and the increase in sales may have been at the expense of the traditional DSLR market.
There is no question smartphones have taken away some sales from the low end point-and-shoot and DSLR camera segment, but the best way to keep a photographic company relevant is to come out with the state of the art product to convince serious photographers why it is still the traditional DSLR camera that takes the best photos. What is more important than the number of DSLR sold is the mix of the sales, since low end cameras like the Rebel and SL series bring considerably less profit than the higher end models like the EOS-5 and EOS-1 bodies.
My readers know, I am the Wildlife Ho-tographer using Canon equipment for almost 30 years. Through the decades, I have used almost all of Canon's cropped and full frame, film and digital cameras and lenses. You can see my equipment bag and works on MichaelDanielHo.com.
On my previous trips like the photo shoot in the Peruvian Amazon, I have used both my smartphone and DSLR cameras to take photos and find the two types of photography perfectly compatible with each other. More important than smart phones or cameras is a smart photographer, with the proper skill and experience to adapt and make the best of the situation at hand. I use the EOS-1D X Mk II and EOS-5Ds cameras as main bodies for my work.
Canon Inc. has announced their 2017 financial results. Despite all the hype in the last few years about mirrorless cameras and how smartphone photography may eventually replace the DSLR cameras, etc., one big takeaway is the following.
Canon is doing well and will continue to do so, staying heads and shoulders over its photographic competitors. Their overall market share in equipment sales reached a low of about 40% in 2012 and has steadily climbed since then to almost 50% in 2017.
Canon’s looking back to 2017
Looking back at the global economy in 2017, the U.S. economy continued to grow steadily as employment conditions and corporate earnings improved. In Europe, the economy remained stable as unemployment rates decreased and capital investment increased due to strong exports. The Chinese economy rallied due to public investments while the economies of emerging countries realized moderate recovery as the economies of Russia and Brazil bottomed out owing to the rising price of natural resources. In Japan, corporate earnings improved and consumer spending showed signs of recovery. As a result, the global economy overall continued to recover more robustly than was expected at the beginning of the year.
As for the markets in which Canon operates amid these conditions, demand for office multifunction devices (MFDs) and laser printers remained at around the same level as the previous year. While demand for cameras shrank moderately, demand for inkjet printers increased from the previous year with the economies recovering in emerging countries. Additionally, there was solid demand for medical equipment, mainly outside of Japan. Within the Industry and Others sector, demand for flat panel display (FPD) lithography equipment and manufacturing equipment for organic LED (OLED) panels enjoyed strong growth and the demand for network camera also enjoyed solid growth.
As for laser printers, sales of both hardware and consumables increased from the previous year, supported by steady sales of new models that achieve low power consumption and compact body designs. These factors resulted in total sales for the business unit of ¥1,865.9 billion, a year-on-year increase of 3.2%, while operating profit totaled ¥180.6 billion, a year-on-year increase of 6.6%. Adjusted operating profit, which excludes impairment losses on goodwill from operating profit, increased by 26.6% to ¥214.6 billion.
Within the Imaging System Business Unit, while the pace of decline in demand for interchangeable-lens digital cameras is gradually decelerating, the sales of the advanced-amateur-models —including the EOS 6D Mark II—enjoyed solid demand, allowing Canon to maintain the top share, mainly in the United States, Europe, and Japan. As for compact-system cameras, the advanced-amateur-model EOS M6 and the entry-level EOS M100 enjoyed strong demand. As for digital compact cameras, amid the shrinking market, unit sales remained at the same level as the previous year, supported by the increased sales of such high-value-added models as the newly launched G9 X Mark II—part of the high-image-quality PowerShot G-series lineup.
As for inkjet printers, the newly designed home-use TS-series, refillable ink tank models targeting emerging countries and the imagePROGRAF PRO series of large format inkjet printer targeting the professional photo and graphic art markets enjoyed strong demand, resulting in unit sales increasing from the previous year. As a result, sales for the business unit increased by 3.7% year on year to ¥1,136.2 billion, while operating profit totaled ¥175.9 billion, a year-on-year increase of 21.8%.
Canon’s outlook for 2018
As for the outlook for 2018, the U.S. economy is expected to recover stronger as corporate earnings and capital investments steadily improve thanks to tax reform. The European economy is expected to recover slowly due to increasing uncertainty surrounding the U.K.’s decision to leave the EU, although consumer spending is expected to remain stable due to solid employment conditions. Looking at China, the economy is expected to stabilize through public investments and solid consumer spending. Emerging economies, including Southeast Asia, are expected to continue to grow due to strong exports.
With regard to the Japanese economy, the outlook indicates a trend of gradual recovery supported by improved employment conditions and consumer spending. Overall, the global economy is expected to continue achieving moderate growth, despite such concerns as increasing geopolitical risks.
Fixes a phenomenon in which Dual Pixel RAW Optimizer may not be started.
Fixes a phenomenon in which Filter/Sort pane may have malfunctions in displaying when the high-resolution monitor is being used. [Windows version]
Frankly, I find this to be an 'ingenious' solution to a non existing problem. There are so many things camera manufacturers can improve and perfect on their equipment. Installing Biometrics is not high on my list and preference but I suppose Canon has to protect their intellectual property rights.
The CP+ Show is taking place in Yokohama, Japan on March 1. Canon is expected to announce the following Rebel and Mirrorless cameras and lenses just before the opening.
The following article from Nikkei Asian Review puts it well why Canon has nothing to worry about the onslaught of smartphone and mirrorless cameras at this time. TOKYO -- Quite a few photography buffs will tell you: The lens makes the camera. And for storied single-lens reflex camera manufacturers like Canon, lenses might be the secret to surviving the era of smartphone ubiquity, too. The market for digital cameras peaked in 2010 and has been shrinking ever since. As smartphone cameras improve, fewer and fewer consumers see a need to lug around an SLR, or even a compact point-and-shoot. Shipments of single-lens cameras fell 11.1% on the year in 2016, by volume. In response, camera companies are looking for a new niche, with features not found in smartphone cameras. Lenses -- from super telephoto models to ultrawide angles -- offer the manufacturers myriad ways to differentiate themselves. Over three decades, Canon has produced more than 130 million EF (Electro-Focus)-mount lenses for its SLRs, carving out a leading market share in Japan. The country's lens market has been shrinking since 2012, but this year it is expected to return to growth, and Canon is once again asserting itself with a wide variety of products. Even as the domestic lens market was declining, Canon continued to ramp up production by 10 million units a year, on average. Total output of EF lenses surpassed 50 million units in 2009 and 100 million in 2014. The EF catalog features 93 lenses -- the broadest range of any Japanese camera maker. It includes EF Cinema lenses, developed for video shooting. Professional models with advanced features bear a distinctive red line around the barrel. With an adapter, EF lenses can also be used on Canon's EOS M line of mirrorless cameras -- an increasingly popular type.
In 2015, Canon introduced an 11mm lens -- the widest angle in the world. All told, Canon controls 24% of the Japanese lens market, in terms of the number of products in use, according to statistics research company BCN released with its BCN Award 2017. That is nearly 10 percentage points higher than the 14.3% slice held by second-ranked Sigma. Sigma and Tamron do give Canon a run for its money, but so far it has managed to fend them off. Canon's reputation as an innovator keeps customers coming back to its lenses. In 1995, it became the first to introduce lenses equipped with image stabilization, which compensates for blur arising from shaky hands. In 2001, Canon introduced lenses that use laminated diffractive optical elements, leading to smaller, lighter models. And in 2015, the company wowed photographers with an 11mm ultrawide-angle lens that captures nearly the entire field of human vision in one shot. This is a technological edge Canon is likely to continue to sharpen, in this age where everyone has a camera in his or her pocket.
Therefore it is no surprise a completely new type of camera has been rumored to be in the testing phase. It is too early to have any definitive specifications of this experimental model but the purported shape shows it to be a radically different body and perhaps there are two separate versions, to accommodate EF and EF-S lens.
My readers will recall my post earlier this month on the interview with Canon Inc.'s CEO, Mr. Fujio Mitarai, in which he commented how his company must be more innovative in order to be competitive and stay on top.
I don't want to speculate on this new camera right now. Keep checking back for the latest information as I receive them.
TOKYO, January 10, 2018 - Canon Inc. ranked third for the number of U.S. patents awarded in 2017, becoming the only company in the world to have ranked in the top five for 32 years running, according to the latest ranking of preliminary patent results issued by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services. What's more, Canon once again ranked first among Japanese companies.
Canon actively promotes the globalization of its business and places great value on obtaining patents overseas, carefully adhering to a patent-filing strategy that pursues patents in essential countries and regions while taking into consideration the business strategies and technology and product trends unique to each location. Among these, the United States, with its many high-tech companies and large market scale, represents a particularly important region in terms of business expansion and technology alliances.
Canon prizes its corporate DNA of placing a high priority on technology. And with regard to research and development results, the Company actively promotes the acquisition of patent rights in accordance with the management direction of the Canon Group and technology trends while conducting thorough pre-application searches to raise the quality of applications. Through close cooperation between Canon's technology and intellectual property divisions, the Company aims to improve its technological capabilities while further enhancing its intellectual property rights.
I am back from my East Africa Wildlife Photo Tour. It was a great trip with many sightings and photo opportunities. Time to process my photos and return to writing this blog. While I was away, there were a few interesting pieces of photography news that caught my eye.
It seems Canon may be hesitating on annoucing the EOS-7D Mark III in 2018. I still think there is a slightly less than even chance they may release the camera this year, since the Nikon D500 is challenging the EOS-7D Mark II in a very serious way. If Canon decides not to release the Mark III in 2018, they will have to release a major firmware upgrade to the current model, like they did with the EOS-7D back in 2012.
The EOS-90D will appear before the EOS-7D Mark III if the decision is made to delay its introduction. Also expect Canon to announce more Rebel series cameras before the CP+ Show on March 1 in Yokohama, Japan.
Things are moving rapidly right now in Canon's labs and board room. They are planning to make big announcements in the next couple of years, from the full frame EF mount mirrorless camera to the Super Telephoto lens upgrade and more high end Diffractive Optics glass. All this is to culminate and capture the world's photographers attention leading up to the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Check back often to find out the latest development.
I am back from my East Africa Wildlife Photo Tour. It was a great trip with many sightings and photo opportunities. Time to process my photos and return to writing this blog. While I was away, there were a few interesting pieces of photography news that caught my eye.
Apparently, Canon has sent out a rather dramatic invitation to selected dealers and VIPs for a mirrorless camera announcement in February. It is rumored only owners and senior management are permitted to attend, no sales people.
Those who have toured extensively know how heavy an equipment bag can get once all the gear and accessories are accounted for and how tiresome hand holding an EOS-1 body with a proper lens for long period of time can get. I have been interested in buying a professional grade mirrorless camera ever since Sony introduced their A7 and now A9 series of full frame cameras but the current offerings do not meet my needs.
Canon has been experimenting with different versions of their full frame mirrorless camera for over two years now and is expected to announce one some time in either 2018 or early 2019 but in time for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. They may even announced two versions, a pro model first, followed by a prosumer one later. Not necessary, in my opinion. Do it right with just one top-of-the-line pro model.
In my opinion, any new Canon professional full frame mirrorless camera must have the following features :
Native EF mount
Any new mirrorless camera without an EF native mount is not going to attract serious photographers who have invested in their extensive EF lens inventory. I am NOT interested in using adapters.
Feel, Size and Weight
The current crop of high end mirrorless cameras do not feel right to me. Once a professional lens is mounted, the combo feels front heavy. The new Canon model must have the feel of an EOS-1 body, with built-in molded grip and a well balanced weight, albeit lighter, once the commensurate lens is attached.
Electronic Viewfinder
First in class Electronic Viewfinder is a must and the screen must come with the highest megapixel, replete with crisp and faithful colors reproduction.
Battery Life
The current EOS-1D X Mark II camera's battery can comfortably lasts a full day's shooting on an average trip unless it is in extremely cold climate. The new mirrorless camera must be able to come close to this performance. I know short battery life is the Achilles' Heel of many high end models, like the Sony A7 and A9 but I am confident Canon engineers can and will overcome this limitation.
Burst Rate
As a wildlife photographer, I do need fast shooting speed in my equipment but a burst rate of around 12 - 14 fps is adequate for my needs. Anything faster than that is marketing hype.
The other bells and whistles like 4K video, GPS, WiFi, etc. are nice to have but they add weight, complication and cost to the final product and are not a deal breaker for me. There must a healthy compromise between features, price and weight.
Let me hear your thoughts about what you feel are important in Canon's upcoming high end, full frame, mirrorless camera. Keep checking back for the latest news for any future announcements.
January 23, 2018 – DJI, the world’s leader in civilian drones and aerial imaging technology, today introduced Mavic Air, an ultra-portable, foldable camera drone that delivers higher performance, more intelligent features and greater creative possibilities than any other consumer drone. Developed with the traveler and outdoor enthusiast in mind, Mavic Air inherits the best features of DJI’s iconic Mavic series with a 4K camera for superior image quality, new QuickShot modes and SmartCapture for easier, more intelligent photo and video capturing, and FlightAutonomy 2.0 with Advanced Pilot Assistance Systems for smarter, safer flight. A marvel of engineering and design, Mavic Air enables limitless exploration wherever adventure takes you.
“When DJI introduced the Mavic Pro, it reinvented what a consumer drone could be: powerful, yet portable, accessible, but advanced,” said Roger Luo, President at DJI. “Today, with the introduction of Mavic Air, we have pushed these attributes to the next level to create our best consumer drone yet.”
Designed for Portability and Power
Weighing just 430 grams, Mavic Air is the most portable DJI drone ever created. Its folding arms and propellers sit flush against its slender aerodynamic frame, making it so compact that its footprint is nearly the size of a modern smartphone when folded.
Every aspect of Mavic Air’s camera has been designed for maximum performance. Its recessed three-axis mechanical gimbal is suspended from dampeners to further reduce vibration providing superior protection and steadier shots. A powerful camera housing a 1/2.3” CMOS sensor and the equivalent of a 24mm F2.8 lens (on a 35mm full frame sensor) captures high-quality photos and videos.
Mavic Air photographs crisp 12-megapixel still images utilizing new HDR algorithms that preserve more highlight and low light details, allowing you to capture stunning aerial pictures from sunrise to sunset. It also shoots smooth stabilized 4K video at 30 fps, capturing the highest quality video of any DJI consumer drone with a maximum bitrate of 100 Mbps. Preserving the action in dramatic fast-paced scenes is now possible through its ability to shoot 1080p slow-motion video at 120 fps.
Mavic Air is DJI’s first drone with 8 GB of onboard storage letting you save photos and videos directly to the aircraft on the go, plus a microSD card slot for additional storage capacity. The newly added USB-C port makes exporting captured footage easy and fast.
Expand Your Creativity
Mavic Air’s intelligent camera system creates new possibilities for anyone regardless of their photography and drone piloting experience. Photo enthusiasts who want to capture their surroundings in complete detail can use the new Sphere panorama feature to automatically shoot and stitch together 25 photos, creating a crystal-clear 32-megapixel panoramic image within one minute. Mavic Air also supports multiple panorama modes, creating horizontal, vertical, and 180-degree images.
QuickShot intelligent video modes make creating professional videos fun and easy with predefined flight paths that automatically keep your subject in the frame. Use Rocket, Dronie, Circle, or Helix plus two new modes Asteroid and Boomerang, to effortlessly create videos that once required significant piloting skills and sophisticated editing software. Asteroid starts with a spherical image that zooms in as it descends toward the subject on the ground, while Boomerang circles the subject in an oval-shaped flight path with the video finishing at the start point.
Mavic Air’s ActiveTrack intelligent flight mode has been improved to automatically sense multiple subjects, following your subject and keeping it in the frame with more precision, especially during high motion activities like running and cycling.
Powered by machine learning technology, SmartCapture[1] is an ultra-responsive control mode that makes shooting photos and videos effortless. With a maximum range of up to 20 ft (6 meters), you can give hand gesture commands to launch, follow, photograph, record, push, pull and land, letting you capture the moment from any angle without the need for a remote controller.
Smarter, Safer Flight
More powerful computing capabilities and optimized algorithms help Mavic Air fly smarter and safer through obstacles and terrain. FlightAutonomy 2.0 processes data gathered from seven onboard cameras and infrared sensors to construct a 3D map of its environment for more precise hovering and better flight performance. The improved forward and backward dual camera vision systems can sense obstacles up to 66 feet (20 meters) away. To help navigate through more complex outdoor environments, Mavic Air has newly developed Advanced Pilot Assistance Systems that helps pilots avoid and bypass obstacles automatically, providing an extra layer of reassurance during flight.
Mavic Air has a maximum flight time of up to 21 minutes. It can fly stably in windy conditions of up to 22 mph (36 kph) and at high elevations of up to 16,404 ft (5,000 m) above sea level[2]. Mavic Air’s remote is the first to feature detachable control sticks that can be stored inside the remote controller for added portability. Its omnidirectional antennas placed on the foldable landing gear help increase signal coverage to deliver a maximum range of up to 2.5 miles (4km)[3] with 1080p real-time video transmission when flying with the remote controller. When in Sport mode, Mavic Air flies at exhilarating speeds of up to 42 mph (68 kph) and is compatible with DJI Goggles for an immersive FPV flight experience.
Price and Availability
Mavic Air will be available in three colors: Onyx Black, Arctic White and Flame Red. The US retail price including the drone, battery, remote controller, carrying case, two pairs of propeller guards and four pairs of propellers, is $799 USD. The Mavic Air Fly More Combo includes the drone, three batteries, a remote controller, a travel bag, two pairs of propeller guards, six pairs of propellers, a battery to power bank adapter and battery charging hub, for $999 USD.
Starting today, Mavic Air will be available for pre-order at store.dji.com, the four DJI Flagship Stores and authorized dealers. Pre-orders will start shipping on January 28. For more information on all the new features and capabilities of Mavic Air, please visit www.dji.com/mavic-air.
I am back from my East Africa Wildlife Photo Tour. It was a great trip with many sightings and photo opportunities. Time to process my photos and return to writing this blog. You can follow my travels on Facebook and Twitter , see my equipment bag and works on MichaelDanielHo.com. MELVILLE, N.Y., January 19, 2018 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, is proud to announce that Canon Inc., its parent company, has been named to FORTUNE Magazine’s “World’s Most Admired Companies” list for 2018, demonstrating its strong standing within the global business community. Called the “definitive report card on corporate reputations” by FORTUNE, Canon received positive marks for financial soundness, long-term investment value, social responsibility, global competitiveness and quality of products and services to earn this distinction, resulting in a rank of fourth in the Computer category.
“To be named as one of the ‘World’s Most Admired Companies’ is a true testament to Canon’s forward-thinking vision, solidifying the strength of our brand and speaking to our continued commitment to innovation,” said Christine Sedlack, senior director and general manager, Corporate Communications, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “Canon prides itself in developing leading-edge technology to help meet the needs of our customers while still staying true to our strong philosophy of corporate social responsibility. Receiving this honor is the result of the hard work and dedication of all Canon employees, as well as the devotion of the company’s loyal customers, for which we are incredibly grateful.”
Executive, directors and analysts from 680 companies in 29 countries around the world were asked to rate these companies based off of nine criteria categories: financial soundness, long-term investment value, people management, social responsibility, use of corporate assets, quality of management, quality of products/services, innovation and global competitiveness.
I am currently on a Wildlife Photo Tour in East Africa. I have owned the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II for about 2 years and have taken it all over the world on photo trips. It has gone to both ends of our planet and many places in between. It has performed flawlessly and admirably.
Year to date CIPA figures have been released, and there is a slight decline in shipments when compared to 2015 and 2016 for the same period.
Mirrorless cameras account for about 35% of total sales. This percentage has been hovering around the same number for the last few years, despite all the buzz and interest generated by the high end Sony mirrorless cameras like the A7 and A9 models.
Tamron is the lesser known third party lens manufacturer in addition to Sigma. They are trying to enter the Super Telephoto lens market by coming out with their version of the big white Canon 'L' lens.
Three different optical formulas have been uncovered in the same patent application from Tamron. I have never been enamored of Tamron lenses but am willing to take a look at these glasses when they come to market.
TOKYO -- Canon aims to look beyond cameras and copiers to tap such new areas as factory equipment and health care for growth, Chairman and CEO Fujio Mitarai told The Nikkei on Friday.
Excerpts from the interview follow.
Q: How do you see earnings performing for the current fiscal year ending December 2018?
A: 2017 was a strong year for cameras, office equipment and other existing businesses. With the addition of new business segments like health care and industrial equipment, we have evidently boosted both sales and profit.
The business climate will improve further in 2018, and we aim to lift sales and profit for a second consecutive year.
Q: How far is Canon in fulfilling its medium-term plan to 2020?
A: We aim to make at least 5 trillion yen ($44.1 billion) in consolidated sales. It is definitely not impossible if we maintain the current economic situation and stable exchange rates. I see cameras contributing over 30% and office equipment another 40%, while new business segments, with health care at the center, will account for the rest.
Q: Tell us about upcoming mergers and acquisitions.
A: In particular, we will implement M&As that will further strengthen areas where we've already made acquisitions. Future purchases will supplement the health care, security camera and industrial equipment segments, with no bias toward either hardware or software.
We will set aside 300 billion yen to 400 billion yen for this purpose through 2020.
Q: What is the biggest issue currently facing Canon?
A: Our primary management goal this year is to raise our antennas high toward cutting-edge technology. It is on this point where we lag behind other companies. We will open up a research and development center in the U.S.'s Silicon Valley, where we will actively adopt new technology.
Q: What do you believe is imperative for today's corporation?
A: To read the trends of an era. Innovation is steadily advancing, and it has become difficult to put out products that are ahead of the competition, even if by just a little. This is now an era when latecomer manufacturers stand to gain. Compared with the past, even I feel mounting tensions.
To stay on top of and not lose against generational innovations, it is important to strengthen the financial structure. I believe that, as a manufacturer, it is essential to always maintain a strong financial house, creating conditions where you can invest in new things.
My readers know me as The Wildlife Ho-tographer. I have been using Canon equipment for almost three decades. Through the years, I have owned and used almost all of Canon professional and consumer grade gear and have tested many of them on global wildlife photo tours.
As you know, I have picked the EOS-7D as the best APS-C camera on the market for action and wildlife photography fours years in a row after it was announced in 2009. The Mark II model came out in 2014 followed by the Nikon D500 in January, 2016.
Although the Mark II camera is a dramatic improvement over the earlier model, the Nikon D500 gave the Canon camera a real challenge and of course, the EOS-7D Mark III is just 'around the corner'. The test cameras are already out of the labs and into the wild for beta testing.
There are crazy rumors flying around saying the new camera will have a 30MP sensor and burst rate of 12+ fps, etc. Frankly, that is a lot of photography noise so early in the guessing game. The trend in the past few years has been to speed up the replacement cycle of higher end cameras.
Since the EOS-7D has always been the leader in Canon's APS-C camera lineup, it is very logical the Mark III will again come with a new generation of APS-C sensor. Many photographers are clamoring for everything under the sun and a list price of $1,499. One has to be more realistic about the business of manufacturing photography equipment.
Canon is a conservative and deliberative company. They rarely try to be the first in new features but there are some tried and true features like illuminated buttons that have appeared on other manufacturers' cameras for years. A recent patent from Canon shows they have finally made that 'leap'. My personal opinion is the Mark II is already a very good camera but a few improvements will make it an even better prosumer DSLR body. I expect the Mark III model to arrive some time by the middle of 2018. Keep checking back for the latest information as I get them.
Possible specs of the EOS-7D Mark III :
A slight increase in megapixels, low to mid 20s for the sensor.
10 fps (12 fps possible but unlikely)
4K video @ 30fps and 1080p @ 60fps
GPS and WiFi will probably be included
2 memory slots, one CF and one CFast likely
Additional AF points to below 100 with more cross-type points
Increase in high ISO and Dynamic Range performance
