Sony, Fuji boost share of digital-camera market

       Digital-camera makers Sony and Fuji have both been able to boost market share this year despite the slowing economy.
       Sony Thai yesterday said its share of the digital-camera market had increased by 5 percentage points from last year to 30 per cent.
       Fuji's share has risen slightly to 12 per cent.
       Sony is the market leader in Thailand, while Fuji is ranked fourth.
       Both companies claim their unit sales in the first eight months of the year were better than the market. Sony's sales dropped by less than the market's decline, while Fuji maintained sales from a year earlier.
       Taisuke Nakanishi, managing director of Sony Thai, said Sony had maintained its market leadership in the compact digital-camera market with a share of 30 per cent. This, he said, was because Sony is still recognised by consumers as the strong brand for innovative and hi-tech products.
       "Amid the economic slowdown, consumers have to keep more of their money in their pockets. If they want to spend, they have to look for value-for-money products and a strong brand they can trust. Our market share during the first eight months increased from last year, while those of smaller brands shrank," he said.
       According to Gfk Retail and Technology (Thailand)'s electrical-appliance market report revealed last week, unit sales in the digital-camera market from January to July dropped by about 10 per cent from the same period last year.
       Nakanishi said Sony's unit sales were expected to pick up in the second half of the year.
       Sittiwech Sawedpat, manager for electronic imaging products, Fujifilm (Thailand), said the company had been able to maintain its unit sales from last year because most of its digital compact cameras are priced below Bt10,000.
       Sony and Fuji yesterday launched new cameras in order to boost sales in the final quarter. Both companies have focused on innovative products so that they can tap tech-loving shoppers that are willing to spend on new-technology products.
       Sony has launched two new Cyber-shot cameras - the DSC-TX1 and DSC-WX - while Fuji has introduced the FinePix S200EXR, FinePix F70EXR and the world's first 3-D digital camera.
       Cherdpong Tantipoontam, Sony marketing manager, digital imaging II section, consumer marketing division, said the company expected the new models to boost sales this quarter and maintain unit sales from last year.
       The new cameras represent Sony's strategic policy of expanding its customer base in the tech-lovers' segment, as this target group has been less impacted by the global economic crisis.
       He said the largest portion of clients using Sony's products were tech-lovers, followed by image-conscious shoppers.
       Manus Kanokpaipipat, Fujifilm director and general manager, forecast overall Thai camera sales this year at about 900,000, against the 1 million devices estimated by several manufacturers.
       Fuji expects to sell 135,000 digital compact cameras this year, 13-14 per cent higher than last year's 110,000 units.