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FUJIFILM India Pvt. Ltd, the wholly-owned subsidiary of FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation, Japan, is planning to phase out some ultra low camera models priced below Rs 4,000.
Soon, the FUJIFILM range in India would start from Rs 4,999. The ultra low camera models that are being phased out are C-25 and L-30. At present, the company’s products range in Rs 3,000-99,000.
“Though the contribution from low cost model (below Rs. 4000) to total sales was high till last year, these are not profitable propositions anymore as the dollar has appreciated by leaps and the aspirations of Indian consumer have also grown,” says Mr Rohit Pandit, Executive Vice-President, FUJIFILM India.
The dollar appreciation seems to have hit the low-cost model the most. The company does not manufacture cameras in India but imports all the models from its facilities overseas.
The general slowdown in the economy seems to be hurting the camera-makers as well.
“Camera industry is projected to grow by 40 per cent this year. However, in the April-June quarter, FUJIFILM expects growth of 15 per cent only, despite the fact that these are holiday months,” says Mr Pandit.
The company’s camera division closed last fiscal with the turnover of Rs 100 crore and market share of 7 per cent.
On likely price hike Mr Pandit said, “So far there has not been any price hike since the rupee fall began last year, but next quarter most camera manufacturers would revisit their pricing. We are waiting and watching.”
The company would test-market three new high-end products in the Indian metros in the third quarter of the current fiscal year, namely 3D cameras, waterproof cameras and digital photo-frames. The company would be creating new categories with 3D cameras and waterproof cameras.
FUJIFILM Corporation on Tuesday launched a new line of FUJINON XF lenses, for interchangeable mirror-less camera category. Another line of five unique lenses will be added to the collection in early 2013, the company said in a release.
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