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.

 

Here’s how the new Lumix LUT works and why it’s better than Fuji film styles!

Cammackey and Micro Four Nerds have thoroughly analyzed the new LUTs and believe they are much better than Fuji’s Film Simulations/Receipes. In fact, the only major problem is the branding: ‘LUT’ sounds boring!

Lumix S9 preorder links:
US&CA at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, BestBuy, Panasonic US shop
EU at FotoErhardt, FotoKoch, Calumet, WexUK, Panasonic UK shop.

18-40mm and 26mm reorder links:
18-40mm f/4.5-6.3 at BHphoto, WexUK.
26mm f/8.0 at BHphoto, Adorama, Panasonic US, FotoErhardt, Fotokoch, Calumet, WexUK, Panasonic UK.

Samyang is recruiting “influencers” to “Be the first to experience and own Samyang’s First L-Mount Lens”

Samyang is recruiting influencers to test their first L-mount lens. They do not mention what lens this is but I am 100% sure it’s the 35-150mm f/2.0-2.8. This lens was already displayed at the CP+ show in late February:

The on thing that is interesting is that Samyang has some nice pancake prime lenses that would be a perfect fit for the new Lumix S9.

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Lumix S9 preorder links:
US&CA at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, BestBuy, Panasonic US shop
EU at FotoErhardt, FotoKoch, Calumet, WexUK, Panasonic UK shop.

18-40mm and 26mm reorder links:
18-40mm f/4.5-6.3 at BHphoto, WexUK.
26mm f/8.0 at BHphoto, Adorama, Panasonic US, FotoErhardt, Fotokoch, Calumet, WexUK, Panasonic UK.

Hilarious: Sigma 200-500mm lens mounted on the S9

I feel you guys, it is disappointing that Panasonic did not launch  truly pancake autofocus lens along the Lumix S9 (except for the 18-40mm pancake that is coming in autumn only).

So let’s have some fun with Tom Calton testing the monstrous Sigma 200-500mm lens on the Lumix S9:

And this is more “serious” Lumix S9 review 🙂

Lumix S9 preorder links:
US&CA at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, BestBuy, Panasonic US shop
EU at FotoErhardt, FotoKoch, Calumet, WexUK, Panasonic UK shop.

18-40mm and 26mm reorder links:
18-40mm f/4.5-6.3 at BHphoto, WexUK.
26mm f/8.0 at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, Panasonic US, FotoErhardt, Fotokoch, Calumet, WexUK, Panasonic UK.