Hoya announced financial results for the 2nd quarter

[istDeS]

Summary of financial results meeting for the three months ended 30 September 2008.
http://www.hoya.co.jp/english/invest...ng_summary.pdf


The Pentax digital camera segment performance in general quoted from the hoya summary memo.

Quote: Pentax：digital cameras ・ This segment features a very hard-fought struggle compared with the same term last year. The effects of exchange rates were relatively minor until the 2Q and POS demand varies from country to country. However, in France for example, it declined suddenly in August, while the same happened in Germany slightly earlier and likewise in the U.S., it declined in July and August. According to the monthly shipment statistics issued by the CIPA, until September they were riding on the crest of a wave and shipping of newly manufactured items continued relatively briskly one after the other, but around summer, in-store sales clearly started slowing down with lost momentum, as seen in the year-on-year increases of 15% or 20% they had enjoyed up to then. Our sales also decreased significantly on a year-on-year basis, with accumulated stocks and production and marketing carried out while keeping the market conditions in mind. Another factor was price; there was a significant drop in unit prices. The decline in the unit prices of compact digital cameras had a particularly grave impact, given the advent of a new low-end product at 79 dollars finally realized. This unit price decline was damaging to us, in terms of both sales and profits. ・ Essentially, the products we are now producing and selling were developed last summer or autumn, with a roadmap that lacked strategy in my view. As I said in the previous meeting, we remade a completely new roadmap for the next fiscal year in accordance with the "scrap & build" policy: creating unique cameras of a new and different field, and releasing and commencing the marketing of interchangeable lenses at the same time as new cameras. As for new products for this year, a new single-lens reflex camera K-m model (an entry level high-end model) was launched about two weeks ago, while new compact digital cameras have also been released on a quarterly basis. Next year, we are planning to launch some three types, including minor design change versions, of single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras. With a desire to offer cameras which will demonstrate our advantages, as announced in the Photokina held in Germany, we will relaunch ourselves next year as a manufacturer of all-weather cameras which are strong outdoors, highly water-resistnat, splash-proof, and dustproof, small and light, easily portable and tough (durable).

not surprising as we all know this segment faced tough competitions and good things to note they have remade a new roadmap. Next year, they are planning to launch some three types, including minor design change versions, of single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras.

[darrrrrrrrrr]

yeah man, new cameras next year!

maybe it'll be time to move up to K20D!

[fengwei]

It's good to know that Pentax is gonna release several new dSLR cameras. Don't know if I'd upgrade my K20D though, it's such a nice camera already

[kkleong]

Retail unit price hadn't really drop as had been the case as in US or Europe.

Due to these difficult times, I thought newer model of lenses and cameras would be slower in coming onto the market
Prices would then rise due to the Japanese Yen.
Not a good time for photographer

I think it's also affecting other camera manufacturers as well.
Just hope that Pentax policy is right & able to pull through these difficult times.