Big marketing fail: Panasonic has used Stock photos shot on other camera to promote the new Lumix S9

FukuiAsobiWeb spotted quite an incredible marketing mistake made by Panasonic. The company used stock photos shot on Canon/Nikon and other Panasonic cameras to promote the new Lumix S9 (see the example above shot on the Canon EOS 5DsR). While Panasonic disclosed that not all images were shot on the S9 this is a major fail. The good news is that Panasonic Japan was quick in responding and issued the following note (google translated at the bottom).

My take, other companies did this ins the past, so this is not an “exclusivity” from Panasonic. But my position on this is clear: Always use images shot on the camera fro two reasons:

  1. Rarely somebody reads the notes in a long press text and production page
  2. And it damn looks bad if you need images shot on other cameras to promote your new camera!

The Press text from Panasonic (google translated)

About the images on the LUMIX S9 product website
We have received a number of enquiries about the images used on the product website for the new LUMIX S9 full-size mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera.
We have received a number of inquiries regarding the images used on the LUMIX S9 full-size mirrorless camera website.
The images used on the product website to introduce functions and scenes were partially licensed images from a stock photo service.
In addition to insufficient consideration of whether the images were appropriate for the product pages of a camera that generates creativity
In addition, the annotations on the website were in a location and with content that was difficult for customers to understand, as they were not taken with the new product.
We take your comments seriously and have changed our mind,
We will make the content easier to understand and communicate with users in a user-friendly manner.
As a camera manufacturer, we will strive to meet your expectations,
We will discuss a review of the content of the LUMIX website so that we can meet your expectations as a camera manufacturer.
We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere condolences to our loyal customers and to all LUMIX fans and camera enthusiasts,
We are very sorry for the anxiety and concern this situation has caused to our loyal customers, LUMIX fans and camera enthusiasts,
We are very sorry for the anxiety this has caused to our loyal customers, LUMIX fans and camera fans.
All of us involved promise to face everyone more sincerely and make changes,
We will renew our commitment.

P.S.: If you ask yourself WHY such a mistake could happen, the answer is easy: the marketing budget is small and the use of stock photos is cheap.

 

 

The Samyang 24mm and 35mm f/2.8 pancakes are the perfect fit for the Lumix S9

The new Panasonic Lumix S9 is a nice camera but so far we lack in the availability of compact and still relatively fast autofocus pancake lenses. Our best hope ot get them quick is Samyang. They will soon launch a bunch of L-mount version of their current E-mount autofocus lenses. This will include the 24mm f/2.8 and 35mm f/2.8 pancake lenses. I have no rumored release date but I hope they are coming between summer and autumn.

World’s first f/1.8 AF FF zoom: First leak image of the new Sigma 28-45mm f/1.8 lens

Image shows the E-mount version

On June Sigma will announce the world’s first Full Frame Autofocus zoom lens veer made. It’s the Sigma 28-45mm f/1.8 DG DN ART. I don’t know the pricing of the lens but I got a first image and also the info about the weight: Just barely under 1kg. Filter size is 82mm.
This is a sort of Full Frame version of the epic 18-35mm f/1.8 APS-C lens that in FF terms was a 27-54mm f/2.75 lens. The new FF lens will be shorter at the tele end but also be truly much faster. What do you think about this lens?

How to share rumors:
If you happen to know more details about those cameras/lenses drop me a message at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com or use this anonymous contact box. Thanks!

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Panasonic considers transferring or withdrawing from businesses with low growth potential by fiscal 2026

The Japanese journal Asahi reports:

The company announced that it will take drastic measures to eliminate “challenging businesses” with poor growth potential by fiscal 2026, with consideration given to business transfers and withdrawals. While he did not reveal the specific names of “challenging businesses,” he cited home appliances, televisions, and some air conditioning businesses as examples of “challenging” businesses. *Asahi Shimbun Panasonic HD has not achieved its medium-term strategy; President Kusumi says, “Crisis situation”

More specifically:

Any business division that experiences negative growth or has an ROIC that is below WACC+3% will be classified as a “challenging business” and drastic measures will be taken, including improving the ROIC or “transferring the business” or “withdrawing.” *ROIC (return on invested capital)

The good news here is that Panasonic did not cite the camera business. But back in 2022 there were some worrying reports about the camera business. DClife writes:

There have been reports in the past that Panasonic’s camera business will be at a critical juncture in 2022 , so we can only hope that the camera business will not be affected in the future.

In 2022, the overall situation of the camera market was still negative. Now the decade-long decline has stopped and there is a return of interest from the younger generation. Cameras like the Lumix S9 should serve that target well.

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Lumix S9  at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, BestBuy, Panasonic US, FotoErhardt, FotoKoch, Calumet, WexUK, Panasonic UK.