Canon, the most mocked photo-tech company has to cope with repayments, still expanding and doing good

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The most mocked photography company of the last 5 years has to cope with some repayments. Doesn’t look like it’s drawing them back.

Nikkei Asian Review reports:

TOKYO — Canon will pay back more interest-bearing debt this year to improve its financial standing following the 2016 acquisition of a medical equipment business from Toshiba.

Repayment will double from 2017 levels to around 200 billion yen ($1.79 billion) in light of strong earnings last year, with an aim of whittling down borrowings from parties including Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ.

Canon upgraded its annual earnings forecast three times in 2017. The final projection called for net profit to increase roughly 60% to 245 billion yen on sales of 4.08 trillion yen, up nearly 20%. Mainstay businesses like digital cameras and office equipment have been faring well, along with such newer operations as medical equipment.

The Tokyo-based manufacturer bought Toshiba Medical Systems for about 665.5 billion yen in 2016. Interest-bearing debt reached 613.1 billion yen as of the end of that year, ballooning from 1.5 billion yen a year earlier.

The faster pace of repayment may also be driven by credit rating considerations. Moody’s Japan downgraded Canon from Aa1 to Aa3 in June 2016, citing a material increase in leverage from the purchase of the Toshiba unit. Until then, Canon had been the sole Japanese company with a Moody’s rating higher than Aa2.

Canon is expanding in various directions. Research and development of security, robotics, and medical seem to be on top of Canon’s agenda. Let’s hope some exciting EOS M lenses are too.

Off Brand News: Hasselblad announce H6D-400c MS multi-shot camera with 400MP resolution

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Hasselblad press release via Dpreview:

Hasselblad Introduces the H6D-400c MS, a 400 Megapixel Multi-Shot Camera

Building on a vast experience of developing exceptional, high-quality single and multi-shot cameras, Hasselblad once again has raised the bar for image quality captured with medium format system.

Multi-Shot capture has become an industry standard in the field of art reproduction and cultural heritage for the documentation of paintings, sculptures, and artwork. As the only professional medium format system to feature multi-shot technology, Hasselblad continues to be the leading choice for institutions, organizations, and museums worldwide to record historic treasures in the highest image quality possible.

With over 10 years of digital imaging expertise, the latest Multi-Shot digital camera combines the H6D’s unrivalled ease of use with a completely new frontier of image quality and detail. This new camera encompasses all of the technological functions of Hasselblad’s H6D single shot camera, and adds to that the resolution and colour fidelity leaps that only Multi-Shot photography can bring to image capture.

With an effective resolution of 400MP via 6 shot image capture, or 100MP resolution in either 4 shot Multi-Shot capture or single shot mode, the Multi-Shot capture requires the sensor and its mount to be moved at a high-precision of 1 or ½ a pixel at a time via a piezo unit. To capture Multi-Shot images the camera must be tethered to a PC or MAC.

In 400MP Multi-Shot mode, 6 images are captured, the first 4 involve moving the sensor by one pixel at a time to achieve real colour data (GRGB- see 4 shot diagrams below), this cycle then returns the sensor to its starting point. A further two exposures are made moving the sensor by ½ a pixel horizontally and then ½ a pixel vertically (see 6 shot diagram on next page). These 6 captures are then merged to give the equivalent of a single 400MP image, delivered as a 2.3GB 16-bit TIFF (23200 x 17400 pixels), for those seeking the utmost in image quality and resolving power.

The H6D-400c MS encompasses all the features and functionality of Hasselblad’s standard single shot cameras:

  • USB 3.0 type c connection for tethered shooting, high speed data transfers & 30FPS live view
  • Dual media card slots: CFast 2.0 and SD card
  • 3.0-inch touch rear display
  • Smartphone style user interface
  • HD & UHD video
  • Modular system with improved back removal process
  • Technical camera connectivity (single shot)
  • Wi-Fi
  • HDMI & Audio I/O
  • True Focus II

The H6D-400c MS will begin shipping March 2018 with a MSRP of € 39,999 / $ 47,995 / £ 36,250 / RMB 319,999 / JPY 5,391,380 excl. VAT.
Pre-orders can start to be taken January 16th

The H6D-400c MS will also be available to rent through your local Hasselblad sales representative. The rental fee is approx. €399/day for short term loans, but you can save up to 50% of that cost if you rent for a longer period.

BCN Awards are out, Canon still dominates DSLRs and compact camera rankings, sells more MILC than Sony (in Japan)

bcn awards

EDIT: sorry guys, I mixed up the rankings of DSLRs and compact cameras.

A huge thanks to EdinaMN Guy for always remembering me about the BCN Awards.

BCN posted their market reports (for Japan), and there is little surprise overall.

Canon leads the rankings for compact cameras and DSLRs, and is second ranked for mirrorless sales (so much to the “EOS M is a failure” myth). In Japan Canon sells more mirrorless cameras than Sony.

Rankings DSLRs:

  1. Canon 61.1%
  2. Nikon 34.4%
  3. Ricoh 4.2%

Rankings compact cameras:

  1. Canon 27.9%
  2. Nikon 25.5%
  3. Casio 17.2%

Rankings mirrorless cameras:

  1. Olympus 27.7%
  2. Canon 21.3%
  3. Sony 20.2%

No surprises here, and little changes compared to the past. Canon leads the sale rankings for lenses too, although with only 21.9% (thought it was more, and where is Nikon?):

  1. Canon 21.9%
  2. Sigma 16.2%
  3. Tamron 13.7%

bcn awards

Canon offers exclusive CPS membership discounts launching at Imaging USA Expo 2018

Canon press release:

Canon Professional Services and Professional Photographers of America Collaborate to Offer Exclusive CPS Membership Discounts Launching at Imaging USA Expo 2018

The Company Will Showcase Its Latest Digital Imaging Solutions for Professional Photographers and Feature Educational Presentations by Canon Explorers of Light

MELVILLE, N.Y., January 12, 2018 – Canon U.S.A. Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, is excited to announce that the company will launch a special pricing promotion for new and existing Canon Professional Service (CPS) members at the Imaging USA EXPO 2018 hosted by Professional Photographers of America (PPA). This exclusive promotion, offers 20 percent off new, renewed or upgraded CPS gold or platinum memberships for active PPA members. Imaging USA EXPO 2018 will take place through January 16th at theGaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, TN.

“CPS members are among the most loyal and dedicated customers of Canon. Their passion, experience and knowledge are invaluable assets to the photo and video imaging community,” Yuichi Ishizuka, president and COO, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “Offering this special promotion to both new and existing CPS members is an exciting initiative for us. We want these photographers to continue to grow and succeed with Canon’s world-class service and support right alongside them.”

Beginning at Imaging USA and effective throughout 2018, active PPA members will have the opportunity to renew or upgrade their current CPS membership, while non-CPS members can open a new membership – both at a 20 percent discount off current prices. Attendees who sign up for a CPS membership at the show will also qualify for a free gift. PPA members who do not sign up at Imaging USA can call 1-844-58-CANON to also receive the 20 percent exclusive offer.

“PPA is always looking to provide our members with savings on their essential needs,” says Kristen Hartman, PPA’s Director of Member Value & Experience. “We are excited that Canon is offering this exclusive discount to our members and we look forward to working with Canon in the future.”

Canon Professional Services will also host the CPS Lounge where Gold, Platinum, Enterprise and Cinema CPS members can have their Canon equipment (up-to-two current Professional DSLR bodies or lenses) cleaned and checked. CPS members can also enter the CPS member photo contest for a chance to win a PIXMA PRO-10 printer. Restrictions apply. Stop by the lounge for more information.

The hours of operation for the CPS Lounge are:

Saturday, Jan 13: 12:00pm – 5:00pm (Pre-show day)

Sunday, Jan. 14: 10:30am – 5:00 pm

Monday, Jan. 15: 10:30am – 5:00 pm

Tuesday, Jan. 16: 11:00am – 1:30pm (Equipment pickup only)

At the booth, Canon will also showcase its latest digital imaging solutions for professional photographers, including its full line of cameras and lenses.

The Canon Imaging USA Live Stage in the booth will feature presentations from several Canon Explorers of Light (schedule subject to change without notice), including Lindsay Adler, Peter Hurley and Michele Celentano. For the complete speaking schedule, please see below.

Click here to open the rest of the article

Oops, Canon Italy

So, you likely already know that Canon Italy did something weird.

I’m too bored to report. You can get the story at Fujirumors, no one better than Patrick to tell you what happened.

Enjoy life, snap pics, have a cool one, and don’t mingle too much with patents.