Digital Cameras: Between Competition and Market Opportunities<\/p>\n
E.A. Joseph Renyut
\nContributor
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
Technology, particularly the technology of photography, has
\nundergone very rapid progress, especially recently, with the
\npresence of digital cameras in the market.<\/p>\n
In the past, a camera was the size of a sewing machine and the
\npictures produced were not very sharp. Today, a wallet-sized
\ndigital camera can take pictures with a very high resolution and
\nbe in a size as big as a newspaper.<\/p>\n
Following the era of computerization, the era of
\ndigitalization is here and will stay with us for some time into
\nfuture. As a result, cameras are also digitalized, a fact that
\nhas also transformed people's mindset. The way people keep
\nprinted photographs, film negatives and use expensive photography
\nequipment will soon be history.<\/p>\n
When digital cameras were first introduced, many professional
\nphotographers displayed some disdain. This was understandable
\ngiven the limitations of early digital camera technology. Today,
\nhowever, many of these professional photographers are warming to
\nsophisticated digital cameras. As you may be aware, digital
\ncameras are increasing sophisticated and popular, while prices
\nhave become increasingly more affordable as well.<\/p>\n
The development of the sales of digital cameras has shown a
\nfantastic jump all over the world, including Indonesia, of
\ncourse. The role of film negatives in a camera has been replaced
\nby mediums to store photo files like XD-cards, for example.
\nPictures recorded by the sensor of a digital camera can be
\ndirectly transferred to this medium and can be erased or stored
\nfor a certain period of time, depending on the material.<\/p>\n
Research conducted by Info Trends\/CAP Ventures shows that
\nsales of digital cameras worldwide in 2004 was worth around US$24
\nbillion, and are expected to rise to some $31 billion in 2009.
\nThe big three regions on the list of countries recording the
\nhighest sales volume were Europe, the United States and Japan. At
\npresent the market leaders in the digital camera business are
\nCanon, Sony, Olympus, Kodak and Fuji.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the digital camera market in Asia and the rest of
\nthe world has also shown outstanding growth. The market share of
\nthese regions was around 10 percent in 2004 and is expected to
\nrise to 33 percent in 2009.<\/p>\n
Sensor resolution, which is considered the yardstick for
\nadvances in digital camera technology, has developed even
\nfurther. Usually, the more megapixels a camera has, the higher
\nthe price, even though numbers of megapixels does not necessarily
\nguarantee good quality. In addition, the other things to consider
\nin a digital camera are its optical zooming function, an
\nauxiliary facility for low light, which is helpful when you take
\npictures in poor light conditions, and memory storage capacity. A
\nnumber of digital camera manufacturers are developing digital
\ncameras with 7 to 8 megapixels this year.<\/p>\n
Indeed, manufacturers of these and other brands of digital
\ncameras are now competing to develop their products. The
\ntechnology continues to be improved while the features just get
\nbetter. Also, these cameras are provided with various facilities
\nto expedite their operations. Take, Kodak, for example. After
\nsuccessfully marketing its cameras for beginners with resolutions
\nof between 2 and 6.1 megapixels, it is now eyeing the premium
\nmarket. Casio, a newcomer in the digital camera world, has also
\nlaunched new products, which are stylish and speedy. Olympus has
\nmarketed its SLR (Single Lens Reflection) Pro E-1 Series,
\nintended for professionals. Meanwhile, Sony boasts the
\nsuperiority of its DSC-HI series, which integrates high
\nresolution and ultra zooming.<\/p>\n
What about Fuji? This Japanese manufacturer has brought out
\nits FinePixF700 digital cameras produced with fourth-generation
\nCCD (charge couple device) technology, better known as 4th
\nGeneration Super CCD SR. Last year this type earned a citation
\nfrom the Digital Imaging Marketing Association in Germany as an
\ninnovative product. This Super CCD SR technology enables the
\nproduction of perfect pictures, the printing of which will show
\nevery detail of the object captured by the camera.<\/p>\n
When PT Modern Photo Tbk saw a market opportunity opening up
\nfor digital cameras, it, through its subsidiary, PT Honoris
\nIndustry, produced its own digital cameras, which are called MPix
\nKamera digital 3 megapixels and sell for Rp 670,000. Its initial
\nproduction run of 10,000 cameras, introduced in February 2005,
\nsold out right after they were launched.<\/p>\n
Some people believe that the quality of an object that you
\ncapture with your digital camera and that can be viewed on the
\nLCD screen of your digital camera or on your computer monitor
\nshows the quality of the end result of a photograph-taking
\nsession. In fact, many people - including me - are of the
\nopinion that the end result of a photograph-taking session cannot
\nbe judged until you have the pictures printed on photo paper,
\nusing the right photo printer, not just an ordinary computer
\nprinter.<\/p>\n
The quality of a photograph taken with a digital camera does
\nnot depend on the camera alone but also on the digital photo
\nprinter used, the photo paper on which the pictures are printed
\nand the chemicals used. As for photo printers of good quality,
\nthey are, among others, Fuji of frontier 340 or 350 type.<\/p>\n
Recognizing that the results of photo printing must be as good
\nin quality as the result of photo recording made with a digital
\ncamera, Fuji Photo Film has provided the best solution by
\nintroducing its \"total solution.\" This particular provider makes
\nand supplies digital cameras with all necessary equipment,
\nincluding photo printer, photo paper and chemicals for photo
\nprinting purposes. In this way, Fuji Photo Film believes that the
\nquality of the pictures printed will be the same as that of the
\nrecording of the objects made with a digital camera.<\/p>\n
The question worth posing now is whether digital cameras,
\nwhich are more sophisticated, more easily operated and cheaper
\nthan conventional or analog cameras, will replace these analog
\ncameras. The answer must obviously be in the affirmative. Slowly
\nbut surely, conventional cameras will give way to digital ones. I
\npersonally believe, however, that in the case of Indonesia,
\nconventional cameras will still be quite popular in the market
\nuntil the next decade.<\/p>\n
The purchasing power of most Indonesians is still low. Digital
\ncameras are still too expensive for them. At present, Modern
\nstill produces Fuji conventional cameras priced at Rp 120,000
\nalong with 2 rolls of ASA 400 36-expose film negatives and
\nbatteries. Meanwhile, for many Indonesians, digital cameras are
\nstill too complicated to operate. Another reason why conventional
\ncameras will still enjoy a good place in the market is that
\nconventional or analog photo printing services are found almost
\neverywhere across the country. Modern, for example, operates
\nabout 2,000 analog photo printing machines across the
\narchipelago.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, in their pursuit of good quality and an excellent
\nartistic aspect, many professional photographers stick to their
\nconventional cameras. It's true that technologically speaking,
\ndigital cameras still have their weaknesses, for example, in
\nterms of their resolution, \"their depth\" is not sufficient and
\nthe recording pause process is less slower than that of
\nconventional cameras.<\/p>\n
-The writer is chief of Modern Group Public Relations<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/digital-cameras-between-competition-and-market-opportunities-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }