Profile
7
INTERVIEW
John Walshe Do you think that the infamous D600 oil spots on the sensor issue harmed Nikon’s reputation? I know therewas a lot of discussion on the forums but in reality we received very few customer complaints in the UK. Due to the structure of DSLR cameras, dust is often created internally – and dust can find its way into the camera. We responded to concerned customers by publishing a service advisory with advice and information for them about sending their cameras in to our service department for assessment. I fundamentally believe that customer satisfaction is a key part of the Nikon brand and we want D600 owners to have a positive experience. Nikon has always done well in the SLR market but in recent times the D3 sparked a revival in the company’s fortunes. Has this revival been maintained among pro photographers? Our top-end line-up goes from strength to strength. From its launch, the Nikon D3 was considered to be a groundbreaking camera, interesting professionals with its low-light and imaging performance. Since then, Nikon has continued to introduce innovative products, including the D4 and D800. Both cameras have been a great success and have contributed to Nikon’s growing share – particularly visible at major sporting events. Much to my family’s annoyance, I’m forever counting black lenses at events, and more often than not, Nikon has the lion’s share. The Nikon 1 range is arguably not going to appeal to more experienced photographers using full-frame and APS-C users, are there any regrets that Nikon didn’t adopt the Micro Four Thirds standard or take on the APS-C format for its CSC system? The UK saw rapid growth in the CSC sector but it is now in decline. UK consumers seem to view the category as an ‘advanced compact camera’, as reflected by market trends. The Nikon 1 range was introduced to appeal to compact users looking to upgrade to a more advanced system with more flexibility, convenience and speed. In terms of the sensor choice, the CX format sensor was selected to maximise features like 60fps, movie functionality, silent shooting and creative features such as Motion Snap Shot. Earlier this year I saw a number of pros at The Open using a Nikon 1 with long NIKKOR lenses – the silent shooting and video mode go down well with pros. The Nikon D800/800E has 36.3 megapixels. Do you feel that is the limit in terms of resolution on a 35mm full-frame camera? That is a question that has been asked many times over the years! As consumers, we all want maximum
AGE: 48 YEARS IN THE PHOTO INDUSTRY: Just over two CURRENT LOCATION: West London LAST PICTURE TAKEN: Waves crashing at Lulworth Cove HOBBIES? Squash, piano, guitar WHEN YOUWERE YOUNGER, WHAT DID YOUWANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREWUP? Astronaut! DOGS OR CATS? Dogs TOAST OR CEREAL? Both WHICH NIKON CAMERA DO YOU USE THE MOST? Nikon D7100 with 18-300mm lens BIOGRAPHY flexibility and the highest quality images. So whether it’s more megapixels, faster processing or smaller design, we’ll always want more. However, we all know that it’s not just about the megapixels; the new Nikon Df and Nikon’s flagship D4, for instance, feature a 16.2-megapixel sensor. Whenever there have been advances that we thought had reached the limit, we’ve always broken through the barrier and taken technology to the next level. If it’s not more megapixels, Nikon will bring other groundbreaking technology to the market. Any thoughts on the reaction to the Nikon Df? From my perspective, the Nikon Df is in a class of its own – dedicated to pure photography and a retro design inspired by Nikon’s iconic 35mm SLR film cameras. It has been crafted for photographers who are as passionate about their camera as they are about their art. We are delighted with the reaction, the online teaser campaign generated a lot of interest in the run-up to the launch, and consumer and media interest has been fantastic. I only wish I could supply all the demand that has been created. How is the Nikon School going? The Nikon School opened in May 2013 and is going from strength to strength. Over 1300 photographers have attended courses ranging from introductory beginner courses to one-to-one sessions for professionals. All courses are designed to inspire photographers to learn, explore and maximise their creative potential. The central London location and the fact that we now offer courses on Saturdays make Nikon training more accessible than ever. What is the one feature photographers want but no one has come up with yet? There is no one specific feature that stands out, however from my own perspective, we all want to take better photos. The more features a camera has to make capturing the moment that bit easier or for added creativity, the better. What are your future ambitions for Nikon UK? To be the number one imaging brand and I hope Nikon UK can inspire photographers to learn, explore and maximise their creative potential. The I AM campaign seems to be doing well. Is it? It has been fantastic and has done everything it set out to do in terms of engaging customers and increasing brand share. It has also won awards. I think it’s safe to say that qualifies as success.
Nikon UK’s general manager answers PN’s questions, including what the rise of the smartphone means for the serious camera, and howNikon has enabled photographers to shoot in the dark…
What’s your role at Nikon? Nikon UK is a sales, marketing and service organisation so essentially it’s my job to ensure that we have the right products at the right place, at the right time. How is Nikon UK doing in these difficult times? There is no doubt it’s a challenging market but Nikon UK had a record performance last year. By the end of the year, Nikon was the leading imaging brand in the UK and Europe. For DSLRs, our position remains strong and we recently achieved our highest ever market share. Whilst we are pleased with Nikon 1 performance, the overall CSC market has not performed in line with industry expectations and year to date the market has actually been in decline. Sharing pictures on social networking sites seems to be the current trend. Is this something Nikon is keen to join in? Social media plays a big part in all our lives. People are taking more pictures and sharing them immediately as part of the experience of being connected. Many of our cameras feature built-in Wi- Fi, including selected COOLPIX models and the new Nikon D5300, so customers can take high-quality pictures and share them online, via a smart device. What in your view has been Nikon’s most successful technology of the past few years? There are so many things to choose from but if I had to pick my top two I’d pick advancements in our sensor and processing technology. The introduction of the Nikon D3 was a landmark change and the advances we made allowed photographers to pretty much shoot in the dark! With the latest generation of processing engines we’ve created products that can shoot at 60fps and 1080p video. Are compacts doomed with the camera phone playing such a big part in people’s photography? Sales of compact cameras are slowing but we believe there is definitely a place and purpose for both types of imaging devices. It can only be positive that more people are taking more pictures than ever before – highlighting the significance of photography and also providing us an opportunity to embrace new customers. Smartphones are convenient for capturing unplanned moments, but are limited compared with compact cameras, which boast larger sensors for higher quality images. With over 20 cameras in our COOLPIX range, there is something for everyone. Active people, for example, will enjoy the Nikon COOLPIX AW110, thanks to its durable design and features –waterproof to 18m, freeze proof to -10°C and shockproof to 2m.
It can only be positive that more people are taking more pictures than ever before
π To find out more about Nikon, go to www.nikon.co.uk.
www.photography-news.co.uk
Issue 3 | Photography News
Powered by FlippingBook