Canon Inc., Tokyo, Japan, reported consolidated net sales for the first half ended June 30, 2007 increased by 11 percent from the year-ago period to ¥2,166.7 billion (US$17,616 million), boosted by a solid rise in sales of digital cameras, color network MFDs, and laser beam printers, along with the positive effect of favorable currency exchange rates. Net income for the first half was ¥255.18 billion (US$2.07 billion), up 19 percent from ¥214.17 billion in the same last year.

Within the camera segment, demand for DSLR cameras and compact digital cameras continued to realize healthy growth during the term, says the company. Unit sales of digital cameras for the first half expanded nearly 20 percent compared with the year-ago period. As a result, overall camera sales for the first half increased by 12.9 percent from the year-ago period to ¥519.6 billion (US$4,224 million). The gross profit ratio for the camera segment also rose substantially, boosted by such factors as strong sales of newly introduced products, which served to suppress declines in prices, along with cost-reduction efforts realized through production-reform and procurement-reform activities. As a result, operating profit for the camera segment increased by 26.3 percent year-on-year to ¥137.3 billion (US$1,116 million).

Canon has revised upward its consolidated net sales forecast for the 2007 fiscal year to ¥4,580.0 billion (US$37,236 million), while revising downward its forecasts for consolidated income before income taxes and minority interests to ¥788.0 billion (US$6,407 million), and consolidated net income to ¥500.0 billion (US$4,065 million). These revisions assume an increase in depreciation expense of around ¥67.0 billion (US$545 million) as a result of the change in the accounting method used to estimate depreciation of fixed assets that was implemented from the second quarter of 2007.

Website :  Canon first-half unit sales of digital cameras expanded 20 percent

According to the analysis of user trend in Japan for the most popular camera sales ranking from 7/9 to 7/16. Ricoh “Caplio R6″ took the number one spot for a continuous of 4 weeks. This camera features a 7.1x zoom and Ricoh’s CCD-shift vibration correction, adding a larger 2.7-inch LCD and face-detection technology.The Fuji FinePix F31fd camera took the #2 spot from Panasonic LUMIX DMC-TZ3, it is first pocketable digital camera to feature hardware-based Face Detection technology. Face Detection has great impact on people photography, ensuring the camera automatically focuses on and exposes for faces, rather than details that can confuse other cameras. Coping with up to ten faces in a frame, it ensures photos of friends and family are crisp, clear and perfectly exposed no matter what the occasion.

Number three is Panasonic LUMIX DMC-TZ3, the latest members of the award-winning Lumix TZ family of digital cameras, which is renowned for packaging a remarkable 10x optical zoom in a compact, stylish body. To further add to their appeal, the TZ3 go one step further to feature a 28mm wide-angle Leica DC lens (equivalent to 28-280mm on a 35mm film camera) for wide-angle shooting.

Amazinging, the only DSLR camera that made it to the top 10 is Pentax K10D, at number 7 ranking. Here’s the top 10 ranking between 7/9 - 7/16 in Japan:

1. Ricoh R6 DIGITAL
2. Fuji FinePix F31fd
3. Panasonic LUMIX DMC-TZ3
4. Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FX100
5. Canon IXY DIGITAL 900IS
6. Casio EXILIM ZOOM EX-Z1200
7. Pentax K10D
8. Nikon COOLPIX P5000
9. Olympus μ770SW<
10. Canon Powershot G7

Website : Japan Most Popular Camera Ranking - July 9 to July 16

In the first half of 2007, Nikon sold more DSLRs than Canon in Japan. Nikon Corp., buoyed by the popularity of its D40 model, clinched a 47.5-percent share of the domestic market from January to June, surpassing Canon’s 36.5 percent, according to Tokyo-based market research firm BCN Inc.

It was the first time that Nikon has held the top spot over a half-year term, although it had done so on a monthly basis before. Nikon and Canon have long been the dominant players in the domestic SLR camera market, but Nikon appeared stuck in second place for digital SLR camera body sales.

Comparing that to the first half of 2006, Canon led at 46.4 percent to Nikon’s 31.9 percent, and at 42.9 percent to Nikon’s 35.5 percent in the second half.

Competition for third place has also been fierce. In the first half of this year, Pentax Corp. came in third at 6.7 percent, followed by Sony Corp. at 4.5 percent and Olympus Corp. at 4.3 percent. In May and June, however, Olympus moved up to third, led by its E-410 model, which it claims is the world’s “smallest, slimmest and lightest” digital SLR camera. The model, released in April, weighs 375 grams.

Website : Nikon tops Canon in DSLR sales in Japan

Canon has updated the firmware for its EOS-1D Mark III digital SLR. According to the company, version 1.0.9 enhances the look of images when enlarged on the camera’s LCD by applying a slightly stronger sharpness setting to the screen, and improves the consistency of AI Servo autofocus under certain conditions. It reduces the tendency of the camera to autofocus on high-contrast backgrounds in AI Servo AF mode when shooting in conditions where AF detection is difficult, such as when the main subject is not completely covered by the AF frames or when the main subject contrast is low.

The update also corrects errors in the Italian and Simplified Chinese menus, and fixes a rare error in the main dials that causes the controls not to respond or to travel several clicks when turned only one.

Firmware version 1.0.9 will be available for download from Canon’s Web site at the end of July 2007. Mark III owners who can’t wait that long and are willing to pay for shipping can send their cameras to a Canon Factory Service Center in Jamesburg, NJ or Irvine, CA. Canon says it will install the firmware and cover return shipping costs.

Website :  Canon Upgrades EOS-1D Mark III Firmware

Canon has released a firmware update version 1.1.0 for the EOS Digital Rebel XTi known as EOS 400D, which is the Tokyo-based company’s well-known DSLR. This is the second firmware update issued by Canon for its XTi.

The latest Canon firmware update includes extra support for the Media Transfer Protocol (MTP), which according to Canon has greater expandability than the Picture Transfer Protocol (PTP) used for communication between the camera and computer up to now. Furthermore, the update rectifies errors in the Simplified Chinese menu screens.

The Version 1.1.0 firmware, which has been released this time, is for cameras with firmware up to Version 1.0.5. However, if your camera’s firmware is already Version 1.1.0, then you really do not need to update the firmware.

The first Canon camera firmware update issued by Canon for its XTi had some major enhancements. It firstly could fix the printing of lens names when using PictBridge and correct the printing of the lens name for shots taken with the EF 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro lens and Life-Size Converter EF. Furthermore, it enabled the selection of Redeye 1, when connecting with specific printers such as iP6310D / iP6320D / iP6700D Photo Inkjet Printer. And lastly it improved the reliability of communication with the Speedlite 380EX.

Website : Canon Digital Rebel XTi Camera Firmware Update Version 1.1.0

Canon unveils a 52 Megapixels CMOS prototype sensor at the size of 31.6 x 23.1 mm (APS-H). This sensor could be easily adapted into current DSLR cameras. However, according to Canon Q&A article we received, Canon says “We have still yet to determine how this sensor might be used”.

15 questions and answers about this sensor:

• Q1: What are the features of the new image sensor?
• A1: The image sensor features a newly developed pixel structure that is well suited to a smaller pixel size, realizing a signal-to-noise ratio equivalent to that of SLR cameras. It is our understanding that 50 megapixels is the largest number of pixels ever to be fit on a sensor with these surface dimensions (31.6mm x 23.1 mm). The sensor enables high-resolution images to be extracted from the total image captured, making it well suited for the creation of new markets, such as inspection equipment. The sensor hasa 5 x 5 random block readout mode for high-speed reading.
• Q2: What problems commonly arise when the pixel size is reduced? (Including such areas as circuit design, production, image quality, etc.)
• A2: Generally speaking, the following difficulties are encountered: sensitivity decreases, the dynamic range decreases, and blending of colors increases. Also, because of the increase in circuit size, there is a tendency toward media delays and slower reading times. Furthermore, due to the further demands in the area of microfabrication technology, there is also a tendency for yield rates to drop. To address these issues, we have carried out the efforts mentioned in A3 below.

[MORE]

According to the analysis of user trend in Japan for the most popular camera sales ranking from 6/25 to 7/1. Ricoh “Caplio R6″ took the number one spot from Panasonic LUMIX DMC-TZ3, which took the number one spot for a continuous of 7 weeks. This camera features a 7.1x zoom and Ricoh’s CCD-shift vibration correction, adding a larger 2.7-inch LCD and face-detection technology.

The #2 Panasonic LUMIX DMC-TZ3 is the latest members of the award-winning Lumix TZ family of digital cameras, which is renowned for packaging a remarkable 10x optical zoom in a compact, stylish body. To further add to their appeal, the TZ3 go one step further to feature a 28mm wide-angle Leica DC lens (equivalent to 28-280mm on a 35mm film camera) for wide-angle shooting.

Number 3 continued to be the Canon IXY Digital 900IS, US name of Canon PowerShot SD800 IS Digital ELPH. This camera offers a focal length range of 28 – 105mm (35mm equivalent), and a 3.8x optical zoom lens allows photographers to capture wider panoramas, architectural photos and group shots. The lens incorporates Canon’s optical Image Stabilizer to counteract the effects of camera shake for steadier performance in low light, at full zoom or when shooting from moving vehicles.

Special note that the newly released Casio “EXILIM ZOOM EX-Z1200” enters into rank #9. The new camera is Casio’s flagship Exilim Zoom, boasting a world-leading 12.1 effective megapixels to deliver both high resolution and premium performance. Here’s the top 10 ranking between 6/25 - 7/1 in Japan:

1. Ricoh R6 DIGITAL
2. Panasonic LUMIX DMC-TZ3
3. Canon IXY DIGITAL 900IS
4. Fuji FinePix F31fd
5. Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FX100
6. Nikon COOLPIX P5000
7. Olympus μ770SW
8. Olympus CAMEDIA SP-550UZ
9. Casio EXILIM ZOOM EX-Z1200
10. Ricoh R5 DIGITAL

Website : Japan Most Popular Camera Ranking - June 25 to July 1

The DSLR market continues to expand as new companies enter the ring and the established vendors release new models. But changes are coming more slowly now. Resolution isn’t nearly the crucial issue it has been. The emphasis now is on speed and quality. Ron Eggers done a quick write up of the latest High-end DSLR available in the market today and here are the DSLRs in the roundup:
“Maximum resolution for DSLRs has hit a plateau, crowned by the 16-megapixel Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II. The rumored 22-megapixel Canon DSLR remains a rumor; instead, Canon released the EOS-1D Mark III, with a 10.1-megapixel sensor, Integrated Cleaning System, 100 percent viewfinder, 45-point AF and support for Live View technology. 

At one point, Olympus was about the only company making DSLRs with live view, giving photographers the option to compose images on the LCD rather than in the viewfinder. Now Canon and Fujifilm also make live-view DSLRs.

Prices on all digital SLRs are dropping, with some entry-level DSLRs selling for as little as $500. The new Canon Mark III comes with a price tag of $4,495.”

Website : Roundup: High-end Digital SLRs