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| Category: | Industry News |
Slow holiday sales for Canon - Economic downturn is to blame for Canon's poor sales over the holiday season.
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Canon's chairman has said the company's year-end holiday sales were disappointing.
According to Reuters, Canon's chairman Fujio Mitarai who was attending a business meeting in Seoul said the economic situation has had a big influence on the company and that 2009 will be a difficult year.
This isn't the first time Canon have mentioned the economic crisis. Back in December the company reported that the construction of their new digital camera plant in Japan would be delayed due to the demand for digital cameras declining. With regards to the future construction Canon said they would watch the market developments and announce a revised schedule once the timing has been determined.
The stronger Yen also means prices overseas are not as competitive now which is also effecting Japanese camera makers.
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Nothing to do with the fact that Canon have had a series of disasters recently then? First the Canon 1D mark III focusing issue. Then hyping up the 5DII only to be hit with black dots (which had to be 'mitigated' not rectified in firmware), too many pixels (note to Canon we need better pixels not necessarily more) and the poor autofocus system from the old 5D. I'm a 5D Mark 1 owner who will not now be upgrading; so you've lost a sale there Canon. The 50D price has been falling like a stone (despite being recently released) because it ain't much better (some argue picture quality is worse) than the old 40D. Plus it is still impossible to buy a good Canon wide angle lens. Canon should have delivered a 'killer' prosumer camera with the 5D II; they didn't and will now struggle - especially with the recent price increases and a recession looming.
And they still put up their prices at the beginning of 2009! It makes you wonder what mentality these people have got. I have to laugh otherwise I'd cry into my beer. The way prices for pro and semi pro gear is going lately, I would sooner wait and see what Leica's R10 will be like before shelling out a buket load of money. At least Leica has the build quality and superb distortion free prime optic glass for the prices they charge. Whatever happens, Canon and the rest of the manufacturers need to come to terms with the fact that the party is well and truly over. If you are to spend thousands on new gear, QUALITY and product longevity has to be king.
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