Sony has good things lined up for India in 2010, as evidenced by their goal to garner a 45% market by the end of the 2010 financial year. Today they have launched 22 different Digital Camera models in India which span a wide range of choices starting from an affordable Rs. 6,990 to a maximum of Rs. 29,990.
With the newly launched camera models, Sony has brought some it its premium features to its lower and middle range cameras, making them more accessible to the Indian consumer.
Their “Sweep Panorama” feature which allows one to capture a panoramic image in one sweeping motions (instead of consecutive shots) has now penetrated their lower range of cameras, and is available in their W-Series models above W350 starting at Rs. 12,990.
In their most affordable range, they have launched the S-Series models DSC-S2000 and S2100 which feature a sensor of 10.1- and 12.1-effective megapixel resolution respectively. The cameras both feature 3x zoom, and retail at Rs. 6,990 and Rs. 7,990 for the S2000 and S2100 respectively.
Their W series of cameras starting with the W310 for Rs. 8,990 up to the W X1 for Rs. 19,990 adds some premium features such as the sweep panorama, and are capable of HD video recording. The camera feature sensors with a high effective resolution of 14.1 MP for the W320, W350, W 360, W 370, and W380. The cameras can record videos with up to 720p resolution.
Their new T-Series models DSC TX7, and DSC TX1 feature HD capability with the TX7 supporting recording video at a full HD 1080i resolution (1920×1080 @ 60 fps interlaced). These cameras too feature sweep panorama, and have a 10.2 MP sensor. The TX1 and TX7 will retail for Rs. 17,900 and Rs. 22,990 respectively.
The Cyber Shot HX1, is the highest end model launched, and once again comes with the sweep panorama feature, and such premium features as filtering your images based on faces. The HX1 will retail at Rs. 29,990.
Sony is increasing its investment in marketing its products in India by 25% to 50 crores for this financial year. They also plan to increase the number of retail outlets and service centers for their products. Although Sony will be focusing on compact cameras, as they believe nearly 98% of India’s market for digital cameras is in that category.
Going by the excitement about 3D products at CES 2010 it is quite likely that the next Indian launch from Sony (expected in a couple of months), will be of 3D cameras.