JOIN US Japanese electronics giant Panasonic Corporation has envisaged pushing its 4K camera range in India, with an aim to build on the niche category in India.
It was two years ago that Panasonic began rolling out its 4K range in India, which includes fixed lens cameras and consumer camcorders.
Talking to Deccan Herald on the sidelines of Photo Today 2016 in Bengaluru, Panasonic Head (Imaging Business Group) Yosuke Yamane said, “We are considered the pioneers of 4K technology, which has a sizeable market in the US, and our home country of Japan. While we did launch cameras with the said technology in India a couple of years ago, the segment here is still quite small. But there is newfound demand, and we want to tap it.”
It must be noted that across the world, 20% of all video cameras sold have 4K resolution. The definition of '4K resolution' simply refers to a display device or content having horizontal resolution on the order of 4,000 pixels, and vertical resolution on the order of 2,000 pixels. 4K has double the resolution and clarity of full HD.
In April this year, Panasonic Imaging merged its two divisions of professional and consumer for better management. The company’s India Imaging Business Division consists of the Lumix brand, consumer camcorder, professional camcorder and AVC cameras.
“A problem that arises in terms of 4K cameras in India is the lack of editing schools to coach users of the technology. We are trying to open such schools, largely to cater to videography,” Yamane said.
Talking about the company’s global plans in the realm of 4K resolution, he said, “By 2020, when the Olympics will be held in Tokyo, the government has already announced the need to upgrade cameras to 8K resolution, and we are working tirelessly to innovate in that direction, also since we are one of the sponsors of the mega event. The global trend in cameras is indicating a shift from 4K to 6K, and then 8K. We hope even India follows suit.”
Another area in the Indian market that Panasonic Imaging is involved in is wedding photography, launching a full-HD camera — HC-PV100, which is a new palm-type professional camera suited for social events such as weddings, parties, conferences, and amateur documentary film-making.