Velocity Reviews - Minox boss tells it like it is, and is "corrected."

Robert Coe <bob@1776.COM> wrote:

>On Fri, 20 Jan 2012 06:12:52 -0800 (PST), RichA <rander3127@gmail.com> wrote:
>: Compact P&S cameras are DYING! Everyone knows it.
>:
>: http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk...ws_311127.html
>
>I can't make the link come up. What did he say, and what happened to him?

MINOX ISSUES STATEMENT ON COMPACT CAMERA FUTURE
Home » News » Minox issues statement on compact camera future
Tuesday 17th January 2012
Chris Cheesman

Minox has issued a statement on the future of its 'point-and-shoot'
compact cameras after the firm's managing director suggested they were
no longer worth investing in.

Last week Minox's managing director Thorsten Kortemeier hinted to
Amateur Photographer that the firm was pulling out of the digital
compact camera market in the face of increased competition from camera
phones.

Speaking at the PMA@CESshow in Las Vegas on 12 January, Kortemeier
said: 'We will not do any more compact cameras. I will not invest in
them any more.'

Five days later, Minox's PR unit swung into action, claiming his
comments have sparked a flood of enquiries to the company's HQ in
Germany with 'the number of Tweets (Twitter) and telephone enquiries
from the local press increasing by the hour'.

In a subsequent statement issued in a bid to clarify the matter this
afternoon, Minox apologised for any 'misunderstanding' and said its MD
had 'attempted to express the following':

'According to GfK (community for market research), the market for
digital cameras as a whole has gone markedly down, largely due to the
increased use of mobile phones as a camera.

'For this reason, Minox is concentrating on digital camera niche
products such as the Digital Camera Classic, Spy Camera, trail cameras
and sport optics products, making more than 60% of the gross turnover
for Minox.

'Despite this, Minox will continue to market a small assortment of
digital compact cameras, such as the new DC 1611 with 16MP to be
introduced in May.'

A Minox spokesperson conceded that the firm will not be launching as
many models in future, possibly as few as one or two per year.

It is unclear whether production of the new DC 1611 has already
started.