Photographic Industry Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Photographic Industry - Assignment Example Previously a photograph taken in a camera could not be viewed unless developed through a process, but now in this world of digitization things have changed a lot. Now the screen within the digital cameras allows you to delete, edit and perform different operations on the spot. The result is that they need not be printed. They could easily be shown via camera, or uploaded through computer or sent through camera phones. The result is decline in prints. Prints was one of the major component in the success of photographic industry and hence its affecting the business. Though overall there has been increase in the number of overall pictures being taken but on the same side decrease in the printouts being taken out as there exist cheaper ways of showing those pictures to concerned people. Joh Larish (2006) in his article " The Analysts Speak Out: Is There a Future for the Photo Industry" states that PMA has been the largest photographic convention and trade show in the United States. This year's PMA was considerably smaller than last year because of the demise of major exhibitors such as Agfa, Konica Minolta, Bronica and others. In addition, many other companies greatly downsized their exhibits or didn't attend at all. The Kodak exhibit was less than half its normal size. There was vacant exhibit space all over the trade show floor. Nowadays people prefer... These advancements have surely made things easier but what about the photographic industry What measures do they take for their survival Most of the topped ranked companies have stopped producing the older versions of cameras, which required reels to catch the moments of life. Starting from Kodak, it is stated in Wikipedia Encyclopedia (2006), that on January 13, 2004, Kodak announced that they would stop producing traditional film cameras in the United States, Canada and Western Europe. By the end of 2004, Kodak ceased manufacturing cameras that used the Advanced Photo System and 35mm films. Production of film continued. These changes reflect Kodak's new focus on growth in digital markets. The Economist (2002) in one of its articles "Prints and the Revolution" states that 80% of digital camera owners still use film cameras more than half the time and fewer than 20% of the 30 billion digital photos taken each year are ever printed out. The industry is now trying to solve this problem since prints are what make money. From music and newspapers to travel and advertising, industries are trying desperately to forge a clear vision for themselves in a digital age that is still opaque. Amy Yee (2006) states in her article "Banishing the negative: how Kodak is developing its blueprint for a digital transformation" about Konica Minolta, which trails in third behind Fuji Photo in the film-making market, gave up the struggle, announcing that it was pulling out of its traditional camera and photo businesses to stem growing losses. This shows some companies just don't know what to do. Things were expected to improve, not change completely. She further writes that Nikon is also discontinuing single lens