Why are Canon's lower-end DSLRs re-branded for the US/Japan?

8utters

8utters

Suspended / Banned
Messages
1,449
Edit My Images
Yes
I don't get it, it just makes it MORE confusing.

I personally have no problem working out which camera is which and what does what, but I just don't get the point of naming the 400D the Digital Rebel XTi and the 450D the Digital Rebel XSi...why? The rest of the Canon range (40D, 5D, 1D) are all named the same in the US and Japan, so why rebrand the lower-spec ones?

Seems daft to me...:gag:
 
I would hazard a guess that it's simply a marketing ploy/gimmick. Because they are consumer models, and so aimed at the mass market, "jazzy" names probably sell better in those countries.
 
Yep, probably due to marketing and consistent to the type of society that those countries have...

Maybe those countries consider the lower-end cameras as a kinda fun to use point and shoot but with replaceable lens..
 
It may also be a "grey" thing, where it's the European models that are the rebranded ones (more likely), meaning that parallel imports from outwith the EU are easily identifiable and (in theory) worth less because of the different name.

Car manufacturers/importers in the UK have been using that trick for years in an attempt to prevent personal imports....
 
Flash In The Pan said:
It may also be a "grey" thing, where it's the European models that are the rebranded ones (more likely), meaning that parallel imports from outwith the EU are easily identifiable and (in theory) worth less because of the different name.

Car manufacturers/importers in the UK have been using that trick for years in an attempt to prevent personal imports....
Click to expand...

Maybe...the Japanese and Americans certainly seem to be more excitable when using new gadgets like cameras. You just need to look on the worldwide news....
 
Remember also that the Japanese like names that confer a sense of American or British culture, "Rebel" with it's James Dean connection may be such a word, just a theory....
 
Flash In The Pan said:
Remember also that the Japanese like names that confer a sense of American or British culture, "Rebel" with it's James Dean connection may be such a word, just a theory....
Click to expand...


That would be right except, I think that particular camera is called a Kiss Digital F in Japan, "Rebel" is the American version, both utter rubbish names, but absolutely what I'd expect for both countries.
They wouldn't sell here, who wants a camera named after a Pokemon character or....well...Rebel....thats a bike, and XTi is a 3 door sporty chavback...:lol:
 
joxby said:
That would be right except, I think that particular camera is called a Kiss Digital F in Japan, "Rebel" is the American version, both utter rubbish names, but absolutely what I'd expect for both countries.
They wouldn't sell here, who wants a camera named after a Pokemon character or....well...Rebel....thats a bike, and XTi is a 3 door sporty chavback...:lol:
Click to expand...


Ah, you're right, it is the Kiss :lol::shake:


The Americans love all that James Dean "Rebel without a clue" nonsense too :naughty:
 
Yeah thought it was due to marketing, from that perspective it's I spose a good idea, but it just confuses so many people. I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who think that the 400D and XTi are different cameras.
 
Americans generally prefer to see recognisable names on products, they don't go for plain model numbers like we do.
 
i think the daft price the camera cost outside of US/JP has something to do with it, 450D and so on sounds like a pro camera and certainly costs like a pro camera in the UK.
 
8utters said:
I don't get it, it just makes it MORE confusing.

I personally have no problem working out which camera is which and what does what, but I just don't get the point of naming the 400D the Digital Rebel XTi and the 450D the Digital Rebel XSi...why? The rest of the Canon range (40D, 5D, 1D) are all named the same in the US and Japan, so why rebrand the lower-spec ones?

Seems daft to me...:gag:
Click to expand...

I say the Lower end sir :) i would prefer to call it the starter range, of the tight Ar*e end, there is very little differance 40D 15 MGP till you get to 5D F/F, i always believe it's the glass in front and the person behind the camera that takes the picture the bit in the middle is just for capturing it.

Regards Mark (the lower end of the range owner) cropped and proud.:);)
 
Steep said:
Americans generally prefer to see recognisable names on products, they don't go for plain model numbers like we do.
Click to expand...


Ahhh, similar to the way that "The Madness of King George III", had to be changed to The Madness of King George for the US market, because the Americans distributors felt people wouldn't go to see the film, having missed parts 1 +2 :shake::lol:
 
Flash In The Pan said:
Ahhh, similar to the way that "The Madness of King George III", had to be changed to The Madness of King George for the US market, because the Americans distributors felt people wouldn't go to see the film, having missed parts 1 +2 :shake::lol:
Click to expand...

They were taking a big gamble with Oceans 11 then (and Apollo 13)
 
8utters said:
Yeah thought it was due to marketing, from that perspective it's I spose a good idea, but it just confuses so many people. I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who think that the 400D and XTi are different cameras.
Click to expand...

They aren't different camera? Oh man, I just ordered both from Ebay :(

;)

Steep said:
Americans generally prefer to see recognisable names on products, they don't go for plain model numbers like we do.
Click to expand...

Being Canadian, I agree. If the D300 was really called 'the Monster' or 'Hooligan' I'd be on it like flies on poo! :)
 
8utters said:
Yeah thought it was due to marketing, from that perspective it's I spose a good idea, but it just confuses so many people. I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who think that the 400D and XTi are different cameras.
Click to expand...

But who does it confuse? I'd suggest only people that try to import products from abroad to avoid paying tax/duty etc. And manufacturers, quite rightly, don't give a damn about those people.

Pete
 
It's odd though that only Canon do this; Nikon et al use the same nomenclature even on the entry level/consumer cameras.
 
social_lurker said:
It's odd though that only Canon do this; Nikon et al use the same nomenclature even on the entry level/consumer cameras.
Click to expand...

Maybe Nikons aren't cool enough to be Rebels :p

:exit:
 
Surely the rebranding has been done for the European market if they are sold under these names in Japan.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top