In an exclusive interaction with Mobility India , Mr Andrew Koh, Senior Director, Image Communication Products Group, Canon India talks about how they are planning and focused on new target audience and what all expansion plans they have for India in the coming years. With smartphones impacting sales of point-and-shoot cameras, it is extremely critical for Canon to be confident and win the battle with its push on sales of mid to high-end interchangeable lens cameras and DSLR cameras.
How you are planning for 2014-15? Have you made any strategic changes from last year?
Last year its was very challenging for us as with the Indian market slowing down and the depreciating value of the rupee to the change in government, etc. But on the positive side our “Double Zoom” concept was real hit last year . This DSLR camera with 2 kit lenses, as a single box pack concept has been introduced first time in the Indian market and its really very successful for us. Overall, Canon’s business witnessed significant growth from 10,000 units in 2007 to 3 lakh units in 2013 and revenue of INR 1,910 crore. DSLR camera market is touching new heights in India. The Digital-SLR category is becoming more aspirational for people, more than last year. Considering the growing interest and demand for DSLR’s, Canon plans to expand its DSLR camera business in 2014 by introducing and promoting ground-breaking technologies in DSLR camera range.
In 2014 we are focusing more on enthusiasts and first time users of DSLRs in India. The company is offering EOS 1200D, targeting towards first time buyers. Also to further attract potential buyers, the product is available with an exciting double zoom lens under 40k. Considering the growing interest and demand for DSLR’s, Canon plans to expand its DSLR camera business in 2014 by introducing and promoting ground-breaking technologies in DSLR camera range. We are also focusing and re-working our compact camera portfolio. A better zoom and image quality; focus on HD video recording and low light photography are some highlights.
How are you looking at the Indian market.
Few years back in India most of the people preferred to buying compact cameras ,as the feel DSLRs are only for professionals or for Weddings and Wildlife photography. But now the trend has changed in last few years and they started to carrying DSLRs more often. And India is no doubt is an emerging photography market and we feel more and more youngsters would be willing to take up photography as a career option. With the evolution of photography in India, people have started experimenting by using various camera products available in the market.
What kind of promotions are you doing for Photography?
Canon has always been passionate about promoting the spirit of photography and is delighted to see how changing trends have interested customers to experiment with their photography skills using a DSLR or a high-end compact camera and make it their hobby or career.
Canon regularly organizes and supports various photography platforms to give an opportunity to photography enthusiasts to showcase their work.
We launched the Canon EOS Academy under which Canon conducts free and paid workshops; and seminars on various aspects of Photography. These workshops are conducted by a panel of Photography experts and we plan to conduct more than 100 workshops in 2014. Canon is also conducting workshops in schools to promote photography culture amongst youth. We are targeting schools which are running photography clubs. These are majorly for the students who want to start and explore their career in photography.
What are your expansion plans for India?
Canon has 111 own retail stores called the Canon Image Square across 58 cities in the country. Canon Image Squares are a great motivator to enhance Canon’s commitment in terms of new product launches, distribution networks, and product zones and services centres. We target to launch 300 Canon Image Square stores in India by the end of 2015. . We have a strong focus on channel expansion and in-store promotions. As part of the plan, we recently launched our stores in Ranchi, Jamshedpur and Jaipur.
Tell us more about Canon and Microsoft agreement
Microsoft and Canon have a long history of collaborating to bring high-quality, cutting-edge products to consumers, including color technology. With this latest agreement, Microsoft and Canon gain licenses to each other’s highly valued and growing patent portfolios. This agreement covers a broad range of products and services each company offers, including certain digital imaging and mobile consumer products.
New line of lenses from Canon
1. EF-S10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM
INR 20,995.00
• Filter size: 67mm
• Max aperture: f/4.5 – 5.6
• With STM
2.EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM
INR 77,995.00
• Filter size: 77mm
• Max aperture: f/4
• With Ring-type USM
3. EF-M55-200mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM – 24995/-
EOS-M series compatible lens.
Canon plans to expand its DSLR camera business in 2014 by introducing and promoting ground-breaking technologies in DSLR camera range. With much more improved video capabilities like faster auto focus while recording videos, a crop sensor camera that enables auto focus in dark and faster autofocus for Canon DSLR’s Live View mode are some of the breakthrough technologies that tend to dominate the DSLR market in 2014 – 15.
Canon has already taken a step ahead with its Dual Pixel CMOS AF technology for the EOS 70D camera. Dual Pixel CMOS AF, a phase-detection AF technology conducted directly on the image sensor plane, employs a CMOS sensor on which all of the effective pixels are able to perform both imaging and phase-detection AF simultaneously to achieve dramatically improved AF performance over prior EOS cameras during Live View and video shooting.
