The best shot captured

Nikon forayed into India in the year 2007 and we have grown at a good pace over the years. Today we have a leading market share of over 50 per cent, clocking a revenue of ₹1150 crore in FY17. While we have a strong revenue growth which we aim to further increase, in India we have undertaken a customer-centric approach.

Until last year, Nikon India had 130 Nikon Experience Zones across the country. This year, the company is planning to open more ‘Experience Zones’ and our focus is on expanding our base in smaller towns as well as D-SLR users are growing in these areas as well.

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From being seen as the brand for professionals to receiving around 55 per cent of our sales from professional, photo-enthusiasts and amateur photographers, Nikon has carved an exceptional journey in the photography genre in India.

How Nikon is banking on the big fat Indian wedding market? Where do you see the market going, and more precisely, where do you see Nikon India in the next few years?

India is a vibrant nation in every sense, especially with the festivities and the confluence of many cultures here. The market for Indian weddings offers immense opportunity for us; many couples tie knots in the country each year and the events comprises valuable moments which are worth capturing.

We launched the much-awaited Nikon D850 which provides high end specifications best suited for wedding photography. In the past, we had launched the Nikon D750 and D810 which had gained much appreciation and was hailed as one of the best cameras for wedding photography.

In 2016-17, India contributed 3 per cent to the Nikon Corporation's global imaging business revenue and we want to raise it to 4-5 per cent in two-three years.

Do you think smartphones can replace digital single-reflex (D-SLR) cameras? What would you identify as the biggest challenges facing the industry?

Undeniably, we live in the age of smartphones. However, contrary to what most people believe, Nikon sees the growth of smartphones as a further boost to the D-SLR market. Once a photographer develops appetite for photography they will encounter many situations where an advanced photographic device is required to take those images. Hence D-SLR is the device which is one stop solution for all the photography needs.

Nikon cameras are powered with Snapbridge application. With Snapbridge, the image gets automatically transferred to the user’s smartphone allowing them to easily share images whenever and wherever.

However, we accept that one of the challenges the industry is facing today is the decreasing growth of compact cameras. To combat this challenge, we focus on innovating our compact camera range with unique features such as waterproofing, weather-resistance, high zoom range and more.

Any new product launches we can see in the near future?

Nikon recently made the successful launch of the Nikon D850 which comes with an impressive array of features that our consumers had been eagerly waiting for. It is the world’s first camera to provide 8K time lapse with 45.7-megapixel sensor and the built-in Interval Timer. We would request consumers to stay connected with us and any upcoming product details will be shared with them at appropriate time.

How does Nikon fare against industry competitors? How do you plan to maintain advantages amid growing competition?

At Nikon, we lay core emphasis on customer satisfaction. To this end we focus on expanding the network of Experience Zones across the length and breadth of the country. Additionally, with Nikon school, we aim to provide the best learning opportunities to both amateurs to skilled photographers with passion for photography and would like to scale ahead in this field. We aim to build an abundant and rich photography set up for our consumers here with such unique consumer engagement strategies and enhance the photography culture in the country.

How did the last financial year fare? What kind of demand you have witnessed this year so far? What is your outlook for FY 18 and beyond?

Nikon witnessed a sales revenue of ₹1,150 crore in the FY17, the highest in the past 10 years. Our aim is to create a new sales record this year with an increase of 5-10 per cent to hit ₹1,200 crore in FY18.

If you could live anywhere on this awesome planet, where would you build your dream home?

If I could live anywhere I would definitely choose a home with an attic on a hill, facing the serene sea side.

Is there anybody or anything you would love to photograph?

I am an ardent follower of Sebastian Salgado, Ansel Adams, Robert Frank and of course Raghu Rai’s work. Personally, I love bird photography as they are very interesting creatures, but it is not so easy to photograph them. Bird photography teaches you the value of patience. Sometimes it's just a matter of waiting for that perfect picture.

If you could be invisible for one day with a camera...

I am fantasised by the mighty cats, Tigers. Though I have seen them at zoos, if given a chance I would definitely like to get close to them. While they are in their natural habitat, I would like to do what I love the most, click their pictures.

With Snapbridge, the image gets automatically transferred to the user’s smartphone allowing them to easily share images whenever and wherever.

From the October 2017 issue of FHM India.