Phone cameras both opportunity and challenge: Canon chief

Singapore

KENSAKU Konishi, president and chief executive of Canon Singapore, feels that the dramatic quality improvement seen in smartphone cameras is both a boon as well as a challenge for the world's largest camera maker.

On the one hand, the dramatic quality improvement of the cameras in smartphones has become a major challenge to worldwide camera sales, particularly in the entry-level compact camera segment which is shrinking, he notes. "However, on the bright side, smartphone cameras have gotten more people than ever before taking pictures and developing an interest in photography. Many of these people are willing to upgrade to a higher-specs cameras to get more control over their photography."

Canon sees great potential for zoom and high-end compact and DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) segments which can deliver on increasing demands for high-quality digital photography in a way that even the best smartphone cameras cannot, says Mr Konishi. "We will continue to focus on DSLRs and our Cinema EOS series of video cameras as we see that customers really want the advanced capabilities that these devices have."

He, however, notes that Canon's relatively lower-priced PowerShot and IXUS compact models still have a place in the company's camera line-up - they serve as a starting point for customers who want to try their hand at photography.

"Our premium compact models like the G1X Mark II are aimed at photographers who want more control in their photography but don't want to carry multiple lenses. For example, our high-zoom compact camera can even capture craters on the moon without changing lenses.

"We also continue to innovate in the entry-level camera space with the PowerShot N Series which suit specific niche audiences with their small form factor and redesigned controls which are built for the social media aficionados."

As president and CEO of Canon Singapore, which is the regional headquarters for South and South-east Asia, Mr Konishi is responsible for a fast-growing region which spans 18 countries.

On the company's DSLR range, Mr Konishi notes that the company takes customer feedback seriously. "All our models are built based on customer feedback - both at the consumer as well as professional level. We have learnt that customers value different things, so we build our cameras according to what we believe customers demand and will use."

In this context he notes that the company's recently launched EOS 750D DSLR is aimed at the consumers who want to take high-quality photos but want the camera to do all the work. On the other hand, its sibling, the EOS 760D, is aimed at customers who want the ability to have more manual control over the pictures that they take.

"In other words, the EOS 760D caters to photographers who are embarking on their photography journey and are interested in having a fuller control and more information shooting information at their disposal. That is why the EOS 760D comes with AF servo in Live View, an electronic level, a top plate LCD and rear thumb wheel - features which were previously available only at our mid range models."

Mr Konishi is confident that despite the proliferation of smartphones, there will be a place for cameras - for both hobbyists and prosumers. "Photography has always been as much a social activity as it is a means of immortalising a precious moment in time. Imbued with superior image quality and low light sensitivity, the camera will continue to be an important tool that people use to capture their point of view. We see continued sales across the region but no one market stands out."

He notes that the company's enterprise business is doing very well in the region under his jurisdiction. Canon's enterprise business includes, among others, managed document and print services. "Asia continues to be the engine of growth for the global economy despite several challenges (for example, currency headwinds and political uncertainty)."

Due to a growing economy, the greatest opportunities come from the emerging middle class across the Asian markets. With increasing disposable income, consumers are looking to purchase products which enhance their lives, and to take up hobbies which add to their general enjoyment and appreciation of their surroundings, he adds. He notes that, at the same time, businesses in the region are looking to invest to increase productivity. "Our challenge will be to invest and grow along with our customers."

Here are some highlights of the firm's plans:

Mr Konishi observes that since the integration of Oce into Canon was completed, the company has seen gains coming from the production print space. Oce was a Dutch enterprise and production printer maker which Canon bought in 2012.

"The combined entity is able to provide collective technology strength, enhanced scale and a larger product portfolio in the print solutions sphere to enterprise customers," says Mr Konishi.