Fujifilm Photography News and Rumors

Imaging Solutions
In the Imaging Solutions segment, consolidated revenue amounted to ¥113.9 billion (down 26.1% from the same period of the previous fiscal year). Sales of products and services in general decreased due to the impacts of stay-at-home orders, temporary closure of retailers, and a variety of events not being held, or being cancelled, in many cities worldwide due to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Consolidated operating loss amounted to ¥2.1 billion.

In the photo imaging business, revenue declined as a result of factors including the impact of events not being held, or being cancelled, due to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. For instant photo systems, which enable users to enjoy on-the-spot printing of photos, we are expanding online sales by using social media to promote a new way of enjoying instax at home. As a result, sales are now recovering, particularly in Europe and the U.S. Sales were strong for the instax mini Link smartphone printer, and in May 2020 we provided customers with added value and a new way to enjoy the printer by adding the new “Sketch, edit & print” feature to the printer’s dedicated app. The new feature enables users to export sketches and text from photos taken on a smartphone to merge them with other photos and print them. Meanwhile, the instax mini 11 instant camera, launched in March 2020, also achieved a solid increase in sales, resulting in higher revenue for instant cameras in the second quarter compared to that of the same period of the previous fiscal year. Also, in April 2020, new personalized features were added to the Year Album, a photo book service, enabling automatic selection and layout of photos according to individual interests and preferences through use of AI technology. We will continue communicating to the world the traditional photographic values of “shooting, preserving, displaying, and gifting,” as well as delivering innovative, user-friendly products and services, thereby meeting increasingly diversified customer needs.

In the electronic imaging field of the optical device and electronic imaging business, temporary closure of retailers and fewer opportunities to take photos due to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a decline in revenue. The digital camera market as a whole faced severe challenges and overall demand declined far below the previous year’s level. Nonetheless, sales increased steadily for FUJIFILM X100V, a high- end, compact digital camera launched in February 2020, and FUJIFILM X-T4, a mirrorless digital camera highly regarded for its high-speed AF and advanced video performance, launched in April 2020. In July 2020 we launched the FUJINON Lens GF30mmF3.5 R WR as a new interchangeable lens for the GFX Series, providing a compact wide-angle prime lens that delivers ultra-high resolution. Then, in September 2020, we launched a new addition to our lineup of interchangeable lenses for the X Series in the form of the FUJINON Lens XF50mmF1.0 R WR, a large-diameter mid-telephoto prime lens, thereby enhancing the appeal of our products as systems through a generous lineup of lenses. Going forward, we will continue providing value-added products and revitalizing the market, along with sharing the joy of taking photos.

In the optical device field, revenue decreased, reflecting reduced sales of broadcast and cinema lenses due to cancellation of sports events, and suspended filming of television dramas and movies, as well as reduced sales of vehicle-mounted lenses due to lower demand in the automotive industry worldwide. Demand for lenses for security purposes held firm, and revenue for the second quarter was higher than the same period of the previous fiscal year. Aiming to achieve business growth in this field, we are expanding our business domains and developing innovative products that satisfy the diverse needs of the market, including developing and launching ultra-short-throw projectors and long-throw security cameras, and developing new multispectral camera systems.