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Future of Nikon?

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I apreciate everyones response to my posting...both those who actually had a logical and thoughout reponse that I found useful, and then to those who would rather just add something useless like apaflo did saying "YOU should sell all of you Nikon equipment, order a new Canon 1D-X, and spend your time in the Canon forums whining there rather than here". So for those of you who actually spend to giving me a reponse with some substance,, thank you. For the rest, well thanks for playing anyway.
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-KSQ
http://ksqphotography.wordpress.com/
http://ksqphotography.zenfolio.com/
 
I own a D300 and a 5D MKII and a lot of lenses for each. I find the opposite to be true, I much prefer my Nikon gear to the Canon gear, even though the Canon is supposedly "better" to gearheads. The 5D MKII makes nice images but the body and lenses feel really cheap to me, the menu and navigation is not nearly as intuitive and the CLS system on my D300 is far superior to me.

I can't afford a FF Nikon at this point, photography is just a hobby for me and even so, I have barely scratched the surface of what my D300 is capable of. I realized years ago that buying new digital bodies is essentially a long term rental. I used to "own" my film bodies and still do (F100, N75) while my digital bodies are just "leased" (at a big loss) for a few years before I sell them (D70, D80 and now D300). I feel as if you are buying into the new gear acquisition game, a game that I refuse to play. A D3 is more camera that 90% of photographers can ever even utilize. Who cares about new toys and useless digital gadgets? Who cares about shooting at ISO 125,000? It's called lighting, whether you are supplying it or nature is. I wish that cameras would all lean more toward better build quality, the quality of imager and most importantly, simplicity, cameras are way too cluttered with stupid features and toys these days that few photographers even use.

It's like we are back in the late 50s with cars, the features and extras are just cluttering up the bodies and taking away from what could be better build and imager quality as far as I am concerned. Hope you find whatever it is you are seeking if you bail on Nikon.

Best,

Dan
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I am all about the images not the gear.
 
DBCapybara said:
I own a D300 and a 5D MKII and a lot of lenses for each. I find the opposite to be true, I much prefer my Nikon gear to the Canon gear, even though the Canon is supposedly "better" to gearheads. The 5D MKII makes nice images but the body and lenses feel really cheap to me, the menu and navigation is not nearly as intuitive and the CLS system on my D300 is far superior to me.

I can't afford a FF Nikon at this point, photography is just a hobby for me and even so, I have barely scratched the surface of what my D300 is capable of. I realized years ago that buying new digital bodies is essentially a long term rental. I used to "own" my film bodies and still do (F100, N75) while my digital bodies are just "leased" (at a big loss) for a few years before I sell them (D70, D80 and now D300). I feel as if you are buying into the new gear acquisition game, a game that I refuse to play. A D3 is more camera that 90% of photographers can ever even utilize. Who cares about new toys and useless digital gadgets? Who cares about shooting at ISO 125,000? It's called lighting, whether you are supplying it or nature is. I wish that cameras would all lean more toward better build quality, the quality of imager and most importantly, simplicity, cameras are way too cluttered with stupid features and toys these days that few photographers even use.

It's like we are back in the late 50s with cars, the features and extras are just cluttering up the bodies and taking away from what could be better build and imager quality as far as I am concerned. Hope you find whatever it is you are seeking if you bail on Nikon.

Best,

Dan
--
I am all about the images not the gear.
Click to expand...
Very well said
 
Just out of interest I wondered how many serious Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Sony and Samsung users there were proportionally. To give an idea I looked at last years winners, runners up and featured photographers appeared in the "Landscape Photographer of the Year" book and what cameras they used. 96 were Canon users, 53 Nikon, 4 Sony, 2 Olympus, 1 Samsung.

There were 17 other make camera users and of the award winners there were 5 Canon users and 4 Nikon, no others.

It means nothing of course, but just thought it may be of interest when considering the "Future of Nikon" question. For me, it was Nikon in the past, is now and will be in the future.
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richardD700
http://www.pixels4u.co.uk
 
While I would not predict the demise of Nikon simply due to the spate of bad luck they have recently encountered, vis-a-vis natural disasters, you ask a fair question, regardless of how the fanboys have responded.

Any manufacturing company that cannot readily produce an adequate supply of its products stands to lose ground in the market place. And, once it starts to lose market share, the end could be in sight if market share cannot be recouped.

So, some of what we need to know to evaluate Nikon's potential future, is (1) has Nikon maintained, increased, or lost market share, (2) is there evidence that the professionals and serious hobbyists are moving from Nikon to other competitors, and are the purchasers of the highest profit margin cameras making a switch (3) what is the relative financial strength of the company (ratio of indebtedness to cash-on-hand, etc.) and its ability to weather the storm, (4) product pipeline...what's coming, when, and will it represent a major step forward and things consumers want to buy at a price they can afford, (5) capacity to manufacture products, especially those the greatest profit margin and/or largest volume and get them to market, and (6) does the Nikon name carry enough cachet that people will wait for it's products?

I'm sure economists and MBA types would add to the list and/or refine my statements.

In the end, I feel Nikon is a strong company well able to survive the setbacks they've faced this year, assuming no more are coming. I'd suggest going to any of the major stock investment sites and reading about the business end of Nikon. I suspect you'll be reassured about its future.
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Hunter
 
Canon's strenghts are that they touch a lot more consumer-level product types than Nikon does, at a slightly more favourable price point, and they tend to roll-out new technologies much faster and aren't shy about putting them into the low/mid range gear - they don't reserve it ONLY for the high-end stuff like Nikon typically has.

they both do similar non-consumer markets.

personally, i've been a Nikon fan since the early 90s mostly due to their infamour F-mount and its supposed longevity and unsurpassed compatibility.

but Canon was wise enough to look forward and roll out a new mount, which while it alienated some die-hards, it did give them the ability to make faster advances in the years since.

i doubt Nikon will totally die (heck, Leica is still around as is Kodak in some form or another), but i have serious doubts that they will surpass Canon solidly for any significant length of time (the odd blip ahead of one model for a few months isn't valid in the grand scheme of things)

in short, Nikon won't die but they sure as hell won't be #1.
 
Were there a high amount of 5DIIs? I could see how many landscape shooters would prefer the 5DII to the D700, and the D3x is out of reach for most.
richardD300 said:
Just out of interest I wondered how many serious Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Sony and Samsung users there were proportionally. To give an idea I looked at last years winners, runners up and featured photographers appeared in the "Landscape Photographer of the Year" book and what cameras they used. 96 were Canon users, 53 Nikon, 4 Sony, 2 Olympus, 1 Samsung.

There were 17 other make camera users and of the award winners there were 5 Canon users and 4 Nikon, no others.

It means nothing of course, but just thought it may be of interest when considering the "Future of Nikon" question. For me, it was Nikon in the past, is now and will be in the future.
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richardD700
http://www.pixels4u.co.uk
Click to expand...
 
Not thinking of switching to Canon. Made the Nikon/Canon choice in digital in 2004. But, definitely concerned that Nikon needs to have its manufacturing facilities located in generally temperate locales. Granted companies can succeed in producing their products in hurricane and tornado prone locations, but Nikon might want to reconsider where it is placing its factories. If they cannot get their products to market, it matters little if their designs are outstanding. I hope Nikon does not fall victim to a takeover by Sony. Remember, once upon a time there was Minolta, Konica, and Konica-Minolta.
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"Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."
(A.A. Milne)
 
The wonderful thing I find about digital photography is that your're able to constantly be learinng new skills for your craft.Switching to Canon will not make you a better photographer but a Canon owner.

When you look at what direction Canon is going with of their new flagship camera at 18mp, has not Nikon been doing that already 3yrs ago with the introduction with the D3,getting better image quality at higher ISO not more mp's.Can you imagine what Nikons new equipment is going to be able to do.Do you shoot with Nikon's pro lenses, if not that is a great way to improve your image quality, if that is what you are looking for.

I'm using a D300,and I just ordered a new D700 and can't waite to shoot with Nikons high end glass.

Can you let me know what Nikon gear you will be selling, Good Luck with your decission.
A.G.
 
I am confused how much many of you desperatly want "the next version"...all the time. How many assignments ($) have you missed or how many of your customers have complained about poor image quality...because you don't have "the next version"..

Regards from Sweden
http://www.photo2be.com

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Photo2be
 
Nikon will be fine. These questions have been raised since the start of the digital age. Can Nikon, a small company, keep up with Canon? They have showed that they can and then some. Personally, I've always liked Nikon's approach to not update their models every other month. I feel this approach shows in the superior ergonomics & design of their cameras (in my opinion). I'm sure had it not been for the disasters this year we would have already seen a couple new pro-level DSLRs, but we live on a fragile planet where everything we know could be gone in an instant. These things happen.
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Mike
 
When the D4 and D800 are released and placed into service it will be Canon playing catch up. Some folks just don't understand what the natural disasters have caused as regards delays. They are pretty idiotic. I have socked away the cash and am willing to wait. And while we're at it; both Nikon and Canon now have to play catch up with Fuji's X10 "Bridge Camera"!
 
I envy you that you have time to be concerned with such important things.
Make the switch to Canon.

And please, all who have posted threads including the word "D400", make the switch too.
 
I find it amazing that so many people are posting all these 'sky is falling' posts (even posting it in multiple forums). . . . 'seemingly' flipping out and 'threatening' to jump ship etc simply because Nikon has not released a camera in the time frame some people feel is appropriate. There is no competition . . . Personally, I have not come across anything my D3 cannot shoot . . . OR my D1X for that matter!! But I live by . . . . 'happiness is not about having what you want, but wanting what you have'.

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Knox
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http://www.avatarphotoart.com
Alley Cats . . . Urban Tails (the book)
http://www.urbantailsbook.com

http://www.pbase.com/streetkid/galleries
 
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