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Nikon reports 9% increase in profit
Action camera category market
research revealed
A
ccording to Twice Publication,
GoPro is the market leader. It
has captured nearly 80% of the
action camera category in 2014. Some
of the other brands include Activeon CX.
Priced at $119, this camera has built-in
Wi-Fi along with a 2-inch LCD display. It
can capture 1080p videos at 30 framesper second. The Polaroid Cube priced at
$149 features built-in Wi-Fi, an image
stabilisation system and an 8MP camera.
1440p videos can be recorded at 30
frames per second. EyeSee 360 is priced
at $399 and captures 360-degree videos.
It is also protected with a waterproof
casing. Other features include 32GBinternal storage and 2 hour battery life.
Panasonic HX-A1 is priced at $179 and
can take pictures in the dark through
an IR light source and its Night mode.
Kodak Pix Pro SP360 provides 1080p
video capture at 30 frames per second,
10MP stills, 1 inch LCD display, Wi-Fi
and NFC.Smartphone panel suppliers compete to
upgrade operations
Competition has intensified between
OLED smartphone display panel
manufacturers from Japan, South
Korea, Taiwan and China as they try
to improve operations. During the
latter half of November, South Korea’s
LG Display unveiled plans to open
a new plant for small and midsize
OLED panels used in smartphones andalready providing OLED panels in its
smartphones.The tilt towards OLED was a
result of the rise of Chinese LCD
panel manufacturers. Government
subsidies have aided China’s four
quasi-state panel makers like Tianma
Microelectronics and BOE Technology
build state-of-the-art LCD factories.
Investment up to 3 million yen is
expected over the next three years.
Yearly global smartphone panel
shipments stand at 1.5 billion units.
The smartphone market has hit a
plateau giving rise to the fear that
LCD panel prices may plummet. Japan
Display’s smartphone panel revenue
contributes nearly 80% to the whole
revenue. The company has installed
a manufacturing test line for OLED
panels endeavouring to begin mass
production in 2018.In the next generation OLED market,
Japanese makers have let South
Korean rivals surpass their pace. Japan
still has an edge when it comes to
panel manufacturing equipment and
materials. But the point to be noted is
whether Japanese manufacturers and
the government can join forces under
the national flag.televisions. The estimated investment
has come up to US$8.64 billion.
Operations at this plant are expected
to begin in the first half of 2018. The
company anticipates a spike in the
demand for these panels. Apple has
also taken the plunge and decided to
use OLED panels for iPhone models
due in 2018. Samsung Electronics isNikon Corp. announced a 9%
increase in its net profit year-on-
year to 11 billion yen. This is largely
because of favourable sales of the old
and new upgrades of semiconductor
manufacturing machines. The
profitability of digital cameras
improved due to the shift to mid-level
and higher products. But individual
unit sales did not meet the target.Sales increased by 5% to 392 billion
yen and operational profit by 11%
to 14.5 billion yen. Imaging business
sales dropped by 5% to 263.6 billion
yen and though the operational
profit was better than the previous
estimate, yet a decline of 11.9% to
24.2 billion yen was noted.A high-specification model like theD750 and a mid-range level product
such as the D7200 sold well. Compact
cameras such as Coolpix P900 with
ultra-telephoto lens and Coolpix
P610 with 60x zoom were well
accepted. However, the shrinking
market did affect the segment.The company added that 2 million
units of interchangeable lens
cameras, 2.82 million units of
interchangeable lenses and 3.12
million units of compact cameras
were sold.
The company revised its original
projection for the entire year. A 20%
increase in the net profit to 22 billion
yen. For sales, it was a 1.7% drop
to 855 billion yen. The operational
profit of 34 billion yen remains
unchanged.22
Smart PhotographyJanuary 2016http://www.smartphotography.in