Samsung to discontinue its camera sector and focus on appliances and smartphones

I keep reading users say it has ended its camera division. Prove it, give me legitimate sources that say they have really decided to end its camera business and not just rumors.

With the newly released NX500, NX 1,  and both premium S lenses . I am baffled at why Samsung decided to leave the camera market when they were doing so good.

I got both 16-50mm and 50-150mm premium S lenses and was waiting to see if they will release a NX2 in the near future. After reading what users have said, I feel like my has heart sunk down a black hole as I have been slowly waiting and collecting my camera gear to find out it may be "discontinued".

It would make sense if Samsung wanted to take a break and not release a new camera every year . Samsung can just release a new camera every 2-3 years when technology gets upgraded. We don't need a NX600 this year or a NX700 next year. Or a NX2 next year when it can be released 4 years later and supply current NX1 users with firmware updates to improve functionality and usefulness since aesthetics wise there is nothing wrong with it.

If it is true, I am quite disappointed. May as well just get the NX1 and not wait on something that will not come true.

You are right, the 2 cameras are still competitive, and NX1 i still the best crop-ed hybrid camera, so no need to rush it, but abandoning almost everymarket in the world is not a good sign.
I am not that optimistic any more, but I enjoy using my NX500/NX1 and lenses, so I am not worrying that much for the moment. In 2-4 yeara, I will examine my options again.
Maybe going full frame with Pentax or Panasonic, or waiting for a true great Canon mirrorless. For now NX is the best system for my needs, and a great modern experience.

The reason they are quitting is because they weren't making much money (if any - rumours say the camera division was basically worth nothing). NX products are slowly disappearing from stores and there's no sign that any cameras or lenses are still being produced.

The reason they haven't announced anything is that they're hoping to sell off the remaining stock slowly at retail prices, rather than having to dump it all at heavy discounts in a firesale. I don't see any reason to believe that there's more to the story than that. Yes, there have been discounts here and there, but certainly not very substantial ones with much stock.

The reason they are quitting is because they weren't making much money (if any - rumours say the camera division was basically worth nothing). NX products are slowly disappearing from stores and there's no sign that any cameras or lenses are still being produced.

The reason they haven't announced anything is that they're hoping to sell off the remaining stock slowly at retail prices, rather than having to dump it all at heavy discounts in a firesale. I don't see any reason to believe that there's more to the story than that. Yes, there have been discounts here and there, but certainly not very substantial ones with much stock.

To say that the "camera divison worths nothing" is a false statement. Camera R & D, sensors and lens departments must cost more than the whole of some small camera manufacturers.

Except Sony, and maybe Panasonic/Canon to a degree, all the rest would be willing to sell their souls for Samsumg resources, technology and innovation.

Most people underestimate the importance, and huge achievement of Samsung, producing almost everything, in-house.

Some sources leak that they already have a full frame sensor ready for mass production (old news of course, as they won't produce anything relative any time soon), but Samsung being Samsung, they prefer to absorb the retail loss than selling anything at all.

Kisaha wrote:

The reason they are quitting is because they weren't making much money (if any - rumours say the camera division was basically worth nothing). NX products are slowly disappearing from stores and there's no sign that any cameras or lenses are still being produced.

The reason they haven't announced anything is that they're hoping to sell off the remaining stock slowly at retail prices, rather than having to dump it all at heavy discounts in a firesale. I don't see any reason to believe that there's more to the story than that. Yes, there have been discounts here and there, but certainly not very substantial ones with much stock.

To say that the "camera divison worths nothing" is a false statement. Camera R & D, sensors and lens departments must cost more than the whole of some small camera manufacturers.

Except Sony, and maybe Panasonic/Canon to a degree, all the rest would be willing to sell their souls for Samsumg resources, technology and innovation.

Most people underestimate the importance, and huge achievement of Samsung, producing almost everything, in-house.

Some sources leak that they already have a full frame sensor ready for mass production (old news of course, as they won't produce anything relative any time soon), but Samsung being Samsung, they prefer to absorb the retail loss than selling anything at all.

The rumour was that the camera division (or subdivision of the cellphone division?) was listed as having zero value on Samsung's balance sheet. Shoot the messenger of that morsel of info if you want; I don't remember who it was. And frankly, if Samsung doesn't want to sell their sensor/lens tech to a competitor and can't find any way to make cameras using them, well then it is basically worthless to us and not much more than a whole lot of sunk costs to them.

I'll believe this fairy tale about a full frame sensor when it happens.

Yet another misleading, quasi-sensationalistic title. I thought I'd find a link to an article about Samsung's discontinuing its camera division. Instead, the OP is asking other for such links.

Ok, great. Samsung's mobile division must be in deep **** if they think they can benefit from adding a camera division that probably wasn't ever profitable and doesn't actually make any cameras or lenses anymore. This continues to change nothing for NX users.

Your thread title makes it seem that the a$$holes at Samsung finally decided to come clean and stop screwing with people, by making an official statement.... when in reality it's another a$$hole....

Johnny24 wrote:

Your thread title makes it seem that the a$$holes at Samsung finally decided to come clean and stop screwing with people, by making an official statement.... when in reality it's another a$$hole....

Yeah, I am sorry. I should have rephrased the statement in the title. I should have put a question mark at the end of the title or put it " Samsung discontinuing cameras?" Or something of similar meaning.

I made the thread 3 AM in the morning , so my common sense just went out the window.

link gaetz wrote:

The reason they are quitting is because they weren't making much money (if any - rumours say the camera division was basically worth nothing). NX products are slowly disappearing from stores and there's no sign that any cameras or lenses are still being produced.

The reason they haven't announced anything is that they're hoping to sell off the remaining stock slowly at retail prices, rather than having to dump it all at heavy discounts in a firesale. I don't see any reason to believe that there's more to the story than that. Yes, there have been discounts here and there, but certainly not very substantial ones with much stock.

You can find used cameras and lenses in excellent condition for very good prices.  B&H had several NX30+18-55mm for $349, about 1/3 of the original price for just the NX30. I got one of them several days ago. What surprised me was the excellent image quality in the corners, much better than Nikon's latest, much improved collapseable 18-55mm VR2.

I returned to B&H the other day and discovered that their Samsung camera Kiosk had been vacated, its space given to some other camera brand. So it goes. But the NX30 should be doing very well for me over the next several years, with or without Samsung's help. B&H seems to have a bunch of these kits as I see that the price has now jumped up to $399.

photoreddi wrote:

link gaetz wrote:

The reason they are quitting is because they weren't making much money (if any - rumours say the camera division was basically worth nothing). NX products are slowly disappearing from stores and there's no sign that any cameras or lenses are still being produced.

The reason they haven't announced anything is that they're hoping to sell off the remaining stock slowly at retail prices, rather than having to dump it all at heavy discounts in a firesale. I don't see any reason to believe that there's more to the story than that. Yes, there have been discounts here and there, but certainly not very substantial ones with much stock.

You can find used cameras and lenses in excellent condition for very good prices. B&H had several NX30+18-55mm for $349, about 1/3 of the original price for just the NX30. I got one of them several days ago. What surprised me was the excellent image quality in the corners, much better than Nikon's latest, much improved collapseable 18-55mm VR2.

I returned to B&H the other day and discovered that their Samsung camera Kiosk had been vacated, its space given to some other camera brand. So it goes. But the NX30 should be doing very well for me over the next several years, with or without Samsung's help. B&H seems to have a bunch of these kits as I see that the price has now jumped up to $399.

Yeah, I just hope it is temporary. Hopefully Samsung comes bouncing back strong in a few years and have even more growth with new lenses 300mm, NX2 , NX600 etc. I can wait.