This post is part of our Battle of the Brands feature. Let us know which brand you prefer, and check out other Battle of the Brands posts.
Rochester, New York-based Eastman Kodak Co. (NYSE: EK) was founded in 1892, and is well known for its wide range of photographic film products; it remains to this day the largest supplier of photographic films in the world. The company played a vital role in the invention and development of the motion picture industry, setting the standard of 35 mm film.
But times change. In 1999, Kodak entered into the consumer inkjet photo printers market in a joint venture with manufacturer Lexmark (NYSE: LXK). In 2004, Kodak announced it would stop producing traditional film cameras, beginning a multiyear struggle to refocus on digital photography and printing. Some of the results of that effort include the Kodak Smart Picture Frame, into which digital files are downloadable via a network connection. The Kodak Gallery is a website where users can upload photos into albums, print them out, and create mouse pads, calendars, and the like. And in 2006 Kodak announced that Flextronics (NASDAQ: FLEX) would manufacture and help design its digital cameras. Kodak also has long-term plans to sell ink jet printers and flat-panel displays.
Tokyo-based Canon Inc. (NYSE: CAJ) also has a venerable history, founded in 1937 as a camera maker. These days, the company has a high profile in the consumer market for cameras and computer printers, but most of the company's revenue comes from the office products division, especially for analog and digital copiers, fax machines, and scanners. Canon has also entered the digital displays market a joint-venture with Toshiba to develop and manufacture flat panel televisions. The original camera business makes digital cameras, camcorders, liquid-crystal display projectors, lenses, and binoculars.
One significant difference between these two imaging giants: while Kodak has been called one of the worst corporate polluters in the United States, Canon once topped a list climate friendly companies.
Another difference is that in surveys by Thomson Financial, analysts recommend buying Canon, but holding Kodak (leaning toward sell). Canon reported $38.2 billion revenue last year and has a market cap of 67 billion. Though the share price as slipped 10.15% in the past year, it has also risen 9.71% year to date. Kodak, on the other hand, reported revenue of $10.3 billion and has a market cap of $5.6 billion. The share price has fallen 17.88% in the past year, 10.97% since the beginning of the year.
But what do consumers prefer? Well, in a recent list of the top ten most popular digital cameras, four of them were Canon PowerShot cameras, but just one was a Kodak EasyShare.
Which do you prefer?
Vote in our poll for Canon or Kodak as your preferred brand, and let us know in the comments why you love it.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-29-2008 @ 8:51PM
PandaBear said...
The biggest problem with Kodak, and many former giant of America, is that they only invest for short term profit.
Canon, Nikon, have their hands in many different industry like semiconductor lithography, photo copiers, printers, and have invested heavily in the latest R&D.
Kodak on the other hand, started late on the digital camera game because they don't want to reduce the film and photo development revenue. The same for Fuji and as a result, both of them are now at the bottom of digital camera technologies.
Having Flextronics design and build your camera is like buying a rebranded Taiwanese camera and slap your brand on it. You will for sure not get a lot of profit out of it in the long run because high end products have to be developed in house.
I suspect Kodak will either be bought out for the brand like Polaroid, or fade into the shadow like Xerox, RCA, and Zenith.
4-30-2008 @ 12:09AM
Mike I said...
I personally wouldn't invest in Kodak. And, as of now, I would rather invest in Nikon than Canon. Nikon makes professional lens-based products as well as cameras/lenses which are well regarded as the "best of the best." Nikon has begun mastering the "serious amateur" market (with their D40/D60) and with their newest product, the D3, they have mastered the professional market. I see a lot of hope in the D3, it is an underrated camera. Technology from that very pricey camera will begin to be incorporated into Nikon's other camera bodies. (Previously, Nikon was liked for their lenses and Canon for their camera bodies. It seems like Nikon will be known for their lenses as well as for their camera bodies in the near future.)
Those are just my thoughts...
4-30-2008 @ 2:27AM
Mike said...
I bought a Kodak camera less than two years ago and it died after taking less than 1000 pictures. It was a EasyShare c340. I took pictures at the NASCAR race including the burnout at the end, walked back to the car drove 4 miles home, plugged it in to the computer to download the pictures and the camera was DEAD!!!! Changed 3 sets of batteries to no avail. I have a Canon film camera that is 18 years old and takes wonderful pictures still. I will buy a Canon to replace this piece of junk Kodak.
4-30-2008 @ 4:50AM
Felix Deriva said...
This is the best thing I have ever seen! http://www.spymac.com/details/?2355207
4-30-2008 @ 6:03AM
Robert Jendra said...
Have been in the photography 40 years. The yellow box is dead. Cannon today makes the best glass. I have both systems Cannon & Nikon high end and all the toy's to go with then.