Panasonic is too much distracted with FF when the overall camera market is shrinking:
Panasonic interview: 'If we stay united I think we will survive'
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Do you see more long-term opportunity in the full-frame market, compared to Micro Four Thirds?
We want to target different customers, and we will keep developing cameras for both categories - full-frame and Micro Four Thirds. We believe that the two categories can co-exist. That’s why we keep pursuing both [product lines].
So you don’t mind if an entry-level customer comes into the L-mount via a Sigma or Leica camera?
Initially, we really wanted to appeal to high-end users, to show that we could make those high-end cameras. To prove the quality of our cameras. In the future, we’re going to introduce mid-class, and different ranges of cameras.
What are the most important priorities for evolving the S1 lineup, in the future?
Overall, we’ve had a lot of appreciative comments from high-end users. What’s hindering us in the lower-end segment is size, weight and price. So we need to understand those obstacles, and we’re considering the development of new products in order to penetrate into a wider market.
Editor's note: Barnaby Britton
The S1 and S1R have been on the market for a while now: long enough for Panasonic to get an idea of how they've been received. Anecdotally, neither model seems to be selling in huge numbers (at least not in the US or UK: the two territories in which I've recently had the opportunity to speak to staff in specialist camera stores) but Mr. Yamane's claim of a 10% share of the €3,000+ market, globally, counts as strong performance from a new line."
Isn't there a slight chance Panasonic comes up with a "GX10" or something this summer?