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Does the U.S. bore consumer camera companies?
LAS VEGAS--This was an odd CES for cameras.
We usually only get point-and-shoots, and some generally uninteresting ones at that. This year we were greeted with three models targeted at enthusiasts and pros, though: the Fujifilm X-Pro1, the Nikon D4, and the Canon PowerShot G1 X. Consequently, they were each nominated for a CNET Best of CES award in the digital imaging category.
The overall number of point-and-shoot announcements was down (no thanks to Fujifilm's deluge of 19 models), but it looks like that's just a CES phenomenon; we expect a lot of the entry-level and mainstream models not announced here to pop up at CP+ in Japan in early February.
Is it a sign of the U.S. market's decreasing relevance to the camera companies? With Kodak having flushed itself, every major camera company is based in Asia. We still buy a lot of cameras in the U.S., but we're not growing as fast as other regions, and are a mature, price-conscious market, which can be unappealing to companies looking for high volume and high margins.
It's also possible that the timing of CP+, in PMA's old spot, simply matches camera makers' habitual announcement cycle.
Despite all that, we still got plenty of point-and-shoot camera announcements, and with them, a closer look at what you can expect this year as manufacturers build out their 2012 lineups.… Read more
