Japanese camera major Canon has launched six new models, including the LEGRIA camcorder HFR series, which will have wi-fi connectivity. This is its latest offer to camera enthusiasts who are keen to link their pictures speedily and painlessly onto social media sites such as Facebook or You Tube.
These models were launched at the CP+2012 (Camera and Photo Imaging Show) organised by the Camera and Imaging Products Association held at Yokohama on Sunday.
Camera makers such as Canon have been facing serious competition with mobile phone cameras getting better and smarter by the day. The ease of linkage and connectivity these phone cameras offer to users with 3G connections makes them the imaging equipment of choice for photo buffs who want to quickly upload their pictures or video footage on social networking sites.
Addressing a group of Indian journalists invited by Canon to Japan for the CP+2012, Canon India Senior Vice-President, Mr Alok Bharadwaj, said that the newly launched Canon models offer such a linkage. The models with wi-fi features include Ixus 510HS, 240 HS, and in the LEGRIA camcorder series HFR 38, R 36, M52 and M56.
He said the camcorder series offer full high-definition recording in a compact and lightweight body, and the new models come with advanced features including wi-fi. “So you can shoot high quality pictures or video footage and quickly share it with your friends or family members and on Facebook, You Tube or any other social networking sites.”
Mr Baharadwaj added that at the moment the wi-fi connectivity will be available through iPhones, iPads and iPods touch. “The objective is to complement and not compete with your smart phones”.
Canon India, which sold equipment worth Rs 1,525 crore last year, sees robust growth in the digital SLR category in the coming years. While its compact cameras sell more than SLRs in India, the higher priced SLRs (average price of an SLR is Rs 33,000 compared with Rs 6,700 of a compact) offer higher growth opportunities to Canon business in India.