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Now reading: Nikon reportedly eliminating 1000 jobs in Japan 518 comments

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Nikon reportedly eliminating 1000 jobs in Japan

Published Nov 7, 2016 | Allison Johnson

Senior Nikon Executives at CP+ 2016

Nikkei Asian Review reports that Nikon is cutting 1000 jobs, or 10% of its domestic workforce, over the next two to three years. The cuts are expected to have the highest impact on the under-performing semiconductor and digital camera business. Nikon's camera sales have dropped 30% in the last three years, and the company will miss its ¥30 billion ($287 million) net profit forecast when this fiscal year wraps up in March.

Nikon isn't alone in being affected by the declining camera industry: Canon's imaging division is expecting a 25% drop in get group profit for 2016. But while most camera companies have shouldered plenty of setbacks recently, earthquake-induced and otherwise, Nikon's consumer business seems to have had it particularly tough lately. Its enthusiast-friendly DL compacts have failed to materialize almost a year after their announcement, and the KeyMission series of rugged action cameras haven't been well received since their launch last month.

Will the workforce reduction help stabilize Nikon? Is it a sign of more bad news to come? Let us know what you think in the comments.

Source: Nikkei

Tags: industry-news, nikon

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sirhawkeye64

We also don't know what jobs those are, as well. It could be 10% of their marketing team, or 10% of their sales team. While 10% does seem like a large number, it big businesses, it's not really that much of a cut. Especially when you start adding up the total number of employees worldwide, this in reality may only be 1% of their total workforce (or something like that). Part of me says that if the company is losing profits or has seen a steep decline in net profits, actions such as dropping product lines that don't make money or that have failed to receive good reception in the industry, and layoffs are really the best options. One might argue to reduce R&D too to save on expenses, and you can do that, but in this industry where new technology is constantly being developed, reducing R&D could have a long-term negative effect as it could cause the company to be behind technologically, so I think Nikon is taking the right moves if it is in fact looking at a steep decline in profits.

Nov 16, 2016*permalink

sirhawkeye64

The KeyMission, in my opinion, came too late: GoPro has been out for several years now (maybe a decade even, I don't know), The DL series is late (and I think it more to be a crutch since Nikon's mirrorless line, the Nikon 1 series failed to catch on) and this is going to hurt Nikon if it hasn't already, because companies like Sony are selling mirrorless systems like hotcakes. I wish Nikon had kept plugging away and moving forward in the mirrorless cameras as those will become the norm and will eventually take over the aging DSLR... someday. I think either they need to focus on doing what they are good at doing (making DSLRs and lenses) or start to really diversify their product lines into other fields (not just cameras for the photography market). But, on the whole, this "decline" looks like it's an industry thing (not just Nikon) as Canon is also down in net profits in the consumer camera lines.

Nov 16, 2016*permalink

NCB

10% of workforce isn't a big deal; could be just a question of sensible streamlining. We just don't know. Nikon must be wondering what to do next with their lower end markets; the D3400/D5600 cameras are pretty good for what they do, but what do they do next? Better wi-fi, features like focus-stacking, and so on, might help. The DL compacts might have a future if they finally emerge, but not putting a viewfinder in two of them may not be too bright. Nikon's got a lot going for it in a number of areas, but it needs to do some repositioning.

Nov 15, 2016permalink

Gredgory

Many will opine that digital cameras have reached "sufficiency" with very little more to be gained by the introduction of additional features. The excellent results that can be obtained with the latest generation of cell phone cameras means that the declining sales of digital cameras will continue. Since many digital photographers have no intention of printing their images there is little to be gained by spending large sums of money for cameras with larger sensors, more pixels, etc., etc.

Sigma and others have shown that "third party" lenses can equal the quality of most lenses sold by the major manufacturers. Hence it appears that becoming a "lens making company" will not be a viable path for Nikon.

Nikon and Canon might consider merging.

Nov 15, 2016permalink

Digmen1

The drop in staff is just a reflection that they are manufacturing more of their stuff in China, so that they can remian profitable.
We all like metal lenses made in Japan, but do we still buy them?

I really think that Nikon need to redesign their ancient lens mount for todays modern electronic lens etc and make it bigger. That way they might be able to offer better auto focusing and better live view video. Then they might start to get some professionals come back to them. Then the domestic market will follow.

Nov 15, 2016permalink

M Chambers

Nikon needs to embrace the horror that it lost he DSLR race A LONG TIME AGO!

It's full frame DSLRs are horribly over priced. And its entry level DSLRs and lenses are junk.

They should have focused on quality lenses for third party mirrorless cameras.

Nov 14, 2016permalink

jrobbie3

You r absolutely correct. D3, D700 and Canon's EOS 5DMk III are the most reliable Pro, semi-Pro DSLR out there. Everything else is a gimmick or a mini-step forward, and grossly over priced.

Nov 15, 2016permalink

justmeMN

Judging by the "Senior Nikon Executives at CP+ 2016" photo, Nikon has a really diverse management team. :-)

Nov 12, 2016permalink

igzy

I don't remember the last time was any of my friends or family had bought a camera. The reality is that most videos and photos are now taken with smartphones and dedicated camera. Much like land-line phones, cameras have become a thing of the past.

For my pro work, I use a good "old" Nikon D800 and I won't be upgrading it any time soon. Most other photos and videos I take are with my smartphone.

Nikon, like any other business, is just adjusting to the market conditions, and let's be real here: they will not enter the smartphone market so to keep up with times. The likely outcome will be a company like Hasselblad, Leica, Zeiss who cater to a small(er) number of semi and prosumers who want a real camera...

Nov 10, 2016permalink

skyfutaba2

That is my experience too. I am a pro (commercial/product) and rose through the 'DSLR Ranks' starting with a Fuji S1 Pro in 2001 followed by a Nikon D100, 200, 300, 700 and finally a D800. At each 'upgrade' the improvements got slightly less ground breaking to the point where now, the 'old' and 'non-pro' kit I have is capable of providing images of a quality that is in excess of my clients needs and none of the upgrades since do anything to change that. I have a D7200 too so with a FF body a APSC body and a small set of lenses I can provide images that are used as thumbnails on websites up to exhibition and display prints.

The kit I have will now lose any pixel peeping contest on Preview forums but my clients needs and expectations change far more slowly than the kit updates happen and anyway, they don't give a jot if my camera has .5 stop less DR than this years model!

Nov 22, 2016*permalink

ET CAMERA

Nikon made a mistake to let other countries to made their high end cameras. Made in Japan is very important.

Nov 10, 2016*permalink

CanonM5fan

Nothing to worry about. Sales, staffing, stock price, market cap are settling back down to pre digital levels. We kept a camera for 4-8 years back then before upgrading. 8008 1988, N90 1992, F100 1998, F4 1988, F5 1996, so I expect that the same upgrade cycle will start to happen as the technology has matured. Canon 6D 2012 to 6Dii 2017. 5Div 2016, 5Diii 2012, 5Dii 2008, 5D 2005. Now that the crazy digital camera sales of the last 10+ years is starting to go back down to the film camera levels, layoffs are normal though I would expect them to hit the factories the hardest.

Nov 10, 2016permalink

pussycat2013

Nikon is dying...?

Nov 10, 2016permalink

justmeMN

Thom Hogan is highly critical of Nikon, but he recently concluded:

"Just a reminder: Nikon is still a profitable company, and according to the numbers, healthily so. They’re not going out of business. But as I predicted, they’re getting smaller."

http://www.dslrbodies.com/newsviews/nikons-first-half-financial.html

Nov 12, 2016permalink

Huck1953

This industry is going through a revamp similar to the audio industry that once catered to "Golden Ears" enthusiasts. They ignored mp3 and digital downloading and streaming. Same as the music industry. Both paid a price.

Nov 10, 2016permalink

Richard SLR

With Nikon's present inconsistent quality control I am reluctant to purchase any future products from them. I still use the Nikon FM2n and several Nikkor AI-S prime lenses. The camera and optics continue to function reliably to this day. Nikon's new Made in China lenses are overpriced and do not feel like they'll stand the test of time in terms of durability. I'm contemplating switching over to Canon and their 'L' series lenses. Hope you're listening Nikon!

Nov 10, 2016permalink

MShot

Having worked for DEC, HP, Siemens, Hitachi in good times and bad, my experience is in good times big corporations hire too many people, and in bad times they let too many go.

Nov 9, 2016permalink

lera ion

The shutter...

Nov 9, 2016permalink

Ansel Spear

It's no wonder they're having a regroup when you consider their eye-watering array of some 15 PAS cameras in assorted colours, 3 or 4 premium compact cameras, 12 or so consumer DX DSLRs, 4 prosumer FX DSLRs, 2 Pro FX DSLR's, retro and Nikon 1 ranges, Nikon's offerings appear so unstructured and scatter-gun. Surely it's time for them take a long hard look at their market and slash this lot down to a couple of choices in each group.

Nov 9, 2016permalink

jhinkey

Generally agree that their offerings are kind of unstructured.
No problem with their number of FX offerings, but what they do have doesn't necessarily seem logical at times
DX was/is a mess - it appears that their strategy was to just churn out models with slightly different, slightly incremental offerings hoping that people will drop what they have and upgrade for little to no meaningful difference other than it's "new".
Nikon 1 was technically a great achievement, but was still-born with their bland body and lens offerings.

Df, though very nice, was a waste of time and resources and could have been so much more

It all just seems to smack of company leadership that is disconnected from their customers and the market trends, afraid to make bold moves to stay relevant and profitable in the long term.

Nov 9, 2016permalink

jhinkey

To add, I was excited about their DL lineup, but:
- Came out too late for me - bought an LX100
- Seems they always make strange configuration option decisions which tend to make the low end body versions too expensive and the high end versions too crippled, thus it's a tough sell

Wonder if the DL lineup will ever come out . . .

Nov 9, 2016permalink

birdseed

Actually I agree with much of what you say Gatoraied but Pentax are not in trouble, in fact they are now about the only camera manufacturer posting increased sales! Pentax in fact are having a better run than they've had in years...

The truth is that for all specialist camera makers the enemy is no longer each other but Apple, Samsung etc with their phones. My daughter loves taking photographs - she shoots more than I do on an annual basis. When I upgraded to the full frame K1 I decided to keep my APSC K3 as a backup and offered her my Pentax K5 and access to my lens collection. She doesn't want it - it's too bulky, it isn't as intuitive as her iphone/ipad, she can't upload seamlessly to instagram with it and it doesn't facilitate easy panorama shooting without recourse to Lightroom.

The pro market will of course continue but neither Nikon or Canon are sized to survive just on that tiny bit of the market size is not a strength in this market - it's a weakness.

Birdseed

Nov 9, 2016permalink

mmcfine

Over saturated market of nonsense devices and marketing attempts to sell idiotic features under the umbrella called 'innovation'. We also have a very healthy second hand market to support young and new shooters. So yes, Nikon and the rest will have to shrink and become nimble and agile to survive nature, economic and trend tsunamis.

Nov 9, 2016*permalink

write2alan

The person who took this photograph should be let go. Look at the posing and white balance. Can't believe this shot is coming from Nikon.

Nov 9, 2016permalink

Err blinks

The shot has been taken using a full format mirrorless camera made by Sony, a product not yet made by Nikon. I would assume that if the shot has been made by Nikon they would have used one of their own cameras and lenses. Better look at the EXIF data of the image next time.

Nov 9, 2016*permalink

John Tannock

It was probably taken with a phone. (:>)

Nov 9, 2016permalink

Ben Stonewall

Pic was indeed taken with a Sony.
An elaborate practical joke by Sony?
Imagine the fuss if a Honda exec was seen driving a rival product

Nov 9, 2016permalink

write2alan

I don't think it matters which camera took the photo for the Nikon executives. My point is that it is a bad photograph coming from Nikon and not Nikon cameras.

Nov 11, 2016permalink

Ben Stonewall

You're right, of course, alan, it's a terrible picture.
However, surely it's a corporate 'no-brainer' to be seen to be using your own products?

Nov 11, 2016permalink

brownie314

Nikon seems to have a lack of vision and will power in the consumer market. They are focussed now more on the high end market. Maybe that is the future - longer refresh cycles, smaller companies, less r&d cash, higher prices, etc. I think Nikon is the canary in the coal mine.

Nov 9, 2016permalink

Abdallah II

Not only Camera businesses, the whole spectrum of jobs and Businesses will soon see a big shift and thanks to the AI (artificial intelligence) and the Mighty Internet.

Nov 9, 2016permalink

tommmee

I let go of my d800 and all gear in february this year for a Fujifilm mirrorless system that I had used for two years alongside my nikon setup. Month after month I reviewed raw file after raw file and found that side by side there was so little difference in quality and that in mirrorless I could preview all images before capture that the nikon system became inconvenient. And this was comparing crop sensor to full frame. The Fuji is so much easier to catch improptu moments as well as images with an hour of setup. I wish nikon would reconsider their reason for being and look at mirrorless full frame seriously as their future system.

Nov 9, 2016permalink

inorogNL

thinking about doing the same ...

Nov 9, 2016permalink

speculatrix

I agree, the advances in sensor technology mean that there's no real-world gain in going for a 35mm sensor.

I have a friend with a high-end Nikon. For quite a while he was working in a very pictureque city. I asked him how often he took his camera to work, and he did so very rarely, it was just too heavy to lug around all the time.

Meanwhile I went m43rds mirrorless, and I really do take my camera with me nearly everywhere. So much so if I don't have my camera bag with me, I feel there's something missing.

Sure, if I compare my friend's photos with mine at the pixel level, they're better, but how often does every pixel matter?

Nov 14, 2016permalink

LJohnK2

.....on one hand being an ex Nikon DX user, it honestly felt like they didn't care about the enthuisiut market: mediocre or missing zooms, dumping Capture NX-2 with no working alternative, qc issues, jaming the service pipeline, diappointing enthusiast P7xxx series, the list goes on......however, in looking at my own spending there is no denying I am buying less gear as my preferences matured, I have no interest in ISO 6400 or 40 MP......but the people on the good side of 40 seem to be in love with cell phones, selfies and immediate gratification..... and don't seem interested in putting the cash or effort into this hobby......for those on the good side of 30 l think many just don't have the disposable income......so l think Nikon won't be the only firm in this sector that will downsize

Nov 9, 2016permalink

beavertown

Nikon to “re-assign” 1,550 employees in Japan, total headcount will be reduced by 1,000 *UPDATED*

http://nikonrumors.com/2016/11/08/nikon-to-re-assign-1350-employees-in-japan.aspx/

Nov 9, 2016permalink

plantdoc

All camera sales will continue to drop regardless of how much technology is advanced into the cameras. For a vast majority of people, smartphone cameras are plenty good enough. Also, many people have cameras that are also good enough for what they need while not usually the absolute state of the art. The latest and best technology cameras will continue to sell at high prices to rich enthusiasts and pros, but the overall numbers will be down. R&D will need to be cut to match the more limited market and profits. Is Sony making profits on anything these days?

Nov 9, 2016permalink

barrystet

Another sign the industry is returning to pre-digital sales levels. Pruning resources devoted to developing the low end cameras which fueled the insane growth. Even mirrorless can't halt the decline as the down market consumer has no interest in carrying a camera and a phone.

Nov 9, 2016permalink

DotCom Editor

Is it FX or DX jobs that are being cropped?

Nov 8, 2016permalink

Sonyshine

CX 😜

Nov 9, 2016*permalink

Err blinks

Look at the EXIF data of that pic, showing these senior executives at CP+ 2016.
That is a bit ironic as in 2012 or early 2013 I told the guys at Nikon HQ in Düsseldorf/Germany: "I would recommend Nikon to produce cameras like the Leica M9 (full frame mirrorless) with traditional F-Mount as small (or a bit smaller) like a Nikon FG (take a look at this really small analog full frame camera). Do not change the Mount so customers can reuse existing Nikon lenses... and forget Nikon 1".
Meanwhile my wife upgraded to a Sony Alpha 6000 while I am still an almost loyal Nikon customer - besides 3 zoom lenses made by Tamron.
Well... recently this shot above has been taken with something I recommended years ago, but made by Sony (ILCE-7RM2).
Btw., regarding 3rd party lenses Sigma and Tamron made a really good job during the last 3 years and I love my Tokina wide angle too.
The Nikon executives should think about that, if the camera or lens taking pictures of them should be a Nikon again one day.

Nov 8, 2016permalink

garyknrd

Look at a 10-15 year trend in Canon stock. To me this pretty much tells the story of the DSLR market. After the crash (2007-2008) they started going back up with all other stocks. Then the stock took a nose dive and never recovered. Smartphone, mirrorless has cleaned there plow IMO.
There has been a bull market since the last crash. And these companies have gone down? IMO the next recession will tell the real story. It ain't going to pretty for Canon or Nikon.

Nov 8, 2016permalink

justmeMN

One difference: Canon gets about 33% of their revenue from their Imaging division. Nikon gets about 63% of their revenue from their Imaging division.

Nov 9, 2016permalink

jhinkey

As a long time Nikon user I've seen them be terribly non-creative and non-adaptive.
My recent $$ have all gone to Sony and the A7 series. If Nikon had made a full frame mirrorless, even still the size of the D8XXX series I would have bought that.
But they seem to be a slow lumbering dinosaur unfortunately.

Adapt or die, and they don't seem to be adapting too well . . .

Nov 8, 2016permalink

William Krusche

I can only totally agree with what you say.

Nov 8, 2016permalink

jhinkey

I also bought m43 gear for a compact system - the Nikon 1 system came out too late and too limited in lens selection for me. Another instance of Nikon not getting my $$ . Late to the game and not innovative.

Nov 8, 2016permalink

jhinkey

I'll modify my previous comment - the Nikon 1 system WAS innovative in many ways, it's just that it should have been and APS-C sensor system.

Nov 8, 2016permalink

Sonyshine

I disagree. The Nikon 1 system is really very very good indeed and far better than many people realise - BUT - Nikon stuffed up by silly pricing, constant stupid design flaws and endless different batteries. Lenses are excellent but there are still massive gaps in the lens range that 1 enthusiasts have been crying out for. People have been screaming for a V4 with the J5 sensor and the V1 battery for ages - almost as long as people screamed at Nikon for the D500 .....

Nov 9, 2016*permalink

Nikon2011

@Sonyshine, i agree, but think-see how great potential it had (Nikon 1)
if they kept developing the V3(4,5,6) and they put an adapter FT-1 with more than a central focus spot, masses would pick up THIS SETUP instead than DX+long tele, for the reach matter = it would cut their revenues on many Dslrs

they limited and apparently assassinated it because it's one or the other (of course if money is no issue one buys a D5 and a D810 with a 800 5.6e, but in most of cases, money is an issue)

imho, they should wipe out most of the DX line (i'd keep the D7xxx serie, D500)
not sure about the entry level FF, and go ALL IN on the N1 models

Fuji decided to skip the FF, so to have significant distance inbetween formats (Fuji Crop to MediumFormat, skipping FF)

Nikon is doing everything (coolpix, dl's, n1, videocrap, dx, fx, watermelons and bananas)

Nov 10, 2016*permalink

Nikon2011

so i would do :

Nikon 1 J Serie (basic-entry)
D7xxx (better than the above, not of the below))
N1 V Serie (pro-reach in smaller package, expensive)
D5xx (state of the art DX)

then 2 or 3 FF, and that's it

D750 (if really they want a FF entry level, im not sure)
D8xx (a super machine not costing as much as the D5)

* and dont make 1000 N1 lenses, just a set (4-5-6), the rest will just have to buy FF lenses with adaptor (* new revised one, with all focus points and no limitations)

anyone else can use a smartphone

Nov 10, 2016*permalink

Thomas Hoven

Also agree. Add poor QC to the mix, and it's a recipe for disaster. A pity, because I always thought Nikon SLRs had the best handling. After 20 years of great film Nikons, followed by 3 digital Nikons, where only the D3 was working well, my latest camera purchase, the little Sony RX100 has performed remarkably well, even in harsh conditions. Sony A7s are likely choices for a main camera upgrade. Nikon needs to start listening to the market if they want to remain a major camera brand. D810 looks great on paper, but do I dare?

Nov 13, 2016permalink

Mariano Pacifico

Here is my free advise to Nikon. Take their 1917 Nippon Kogaku vintage camera. Make it into a digital point&shoot attach a 20mm 1.4 retro-looking lens. Price it at $500.00. Fashionistas wiould grab it regardless of lens performance. Follow these fashionistas around. Post VLog in YouTube and you have a Nikon comeback from the brink of suicide.

Nov 8, 2016*permalink

BillyBobSenna

It's all about company leadership. The is no reason a company like Nikon should not thrive. Know your customers and innovate. I am happy with my Nikon equipment however I know there are many other photographer types.

Nov 8, 2016permalink

cdembrey

Who survives? Canon and Ricoh sell business solutions, and Nikon does not. Canon and Ricoh, can both take their profits to run a camera company as a hobby, Nikon can not.

Nov 8, 2016*permalink

Jos van Eekelen

I don't think either of these companies will run a camera company as a hobby. In the end there must be a profit for each subsidiary. In that respect there is no difference between Canon, Nikon, Sony, Pentax and the rest. Perhaps Nikon have not made the best/most profitable decisions lately. And a short supply of sensors by Sony....

Nov 8, 2016permalink

String

Samsung ran their photo division like a hobby as well...

Nov 8, 2016permalink

cdembrey

@Jos van Eekelen, thats pretty much what Ricoh is doing now. From Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricoh In the late 1990s through early 2000s, the company grew to become the largest copier manufacturer in the world.

Revenue ¥2.231 trillion (2015)
Net income
¥68.562 billion (2015)

Nov 8, 2016permalink

Erik1967

Been waiting since June to get my hands on a DL. Going to have to go with something else as my trip is approaching. Been a Nikon shooter for 25 years. Might have to look elsewhere...

Nov 8, 2016permalink

Mariano Pacifico

Don't wait for Nikon DL. It is not going to happen.

Nov 8, 2016permalink

Hawkeye334

Have been waiting patiently for the DL 24-500, on order since February - will it ever come? In the meantime I am using the Sony RX10 m3 - I love it and it looks as if I will settle down with this - but for me (and my interests), 600mm is just too much to handle, 400mm would be my ideal for a bridge.

Nov 9, 2016permalink

elementare

3)
- Lenses as the f1.8 series that are produced in china and have worst performance and aperture capability of higher grade lenses as Sigma produced in Japan but cost the same. The recent Dpreview review of Nikkor 24mm f1.8 in opposition of the Sigma 24mm f1.4 points just on this aspect.

- Snapbridge? It has born yet old as the new frontier is not jpeg to smartphone but raw. They are not able to implement via software a change of this kind, so with a professional camera like d750 or d810 you can shot raw but you cannot share them with you professional smartphone or tablet.

Nov 8, 2016*permalink

elementare

2) They took bad decisions in last times or worse they still have not taken any decision at all.

- Lack of any serious mirrorless long term project. I don't speak about mirrorless -yes or not- production because they could have decided to not produce any mirrorless camera at all. I am speaking about they incapacity of understand what to do at all with mirrorless. They started with Nikon One, investing money in the project just to abandon it after a while. After they start with Nikon DL but it rests just a on paper. This behavior is inexcusable from a business strategy point of view. And they continue to don't have any bigger sensor mirrorless as opposed to all the competition.

- They waited too much time to produce what market requested at high voice for so long, such as the D500 in sostitution of d300 while they produced so much useless and senseless D3…, D5… every year.

Nov 8, 2016*permalink

elementare

1)It would be so easy if it would not be for all those MBA geniuses. This is a contemporary issue of industry. There are people that create and have ideas that generally stay at lower floors taking orders and great bosses with all those business school diplomas with theoretical knowledge finance and great economy and zero knowledge of what real economy is.

Recent Nikon decisions such as camera and lenses prices increase or cut off "black" market availability in EU are the example of this way of handle things. If you add to this the lack of ability to understand what the average customer wants the omelet is done.

Nov 8, 2016permalink

predanu

It's actually the long term effect of what Nikon is doing for years now. Think about their "strategy" to kill the much expected d300 successor and push the entusiasts towards their full frame line. By the time they woke up (it took two camera generations!) it was too late. Lots of their clients migrated actually towards other sollutios (with or without mirror). And what did Nikon do? They rised the prices. A lot. The poor dx line of their lens is another proof of their policy to force their clients to switch to fx. Now, 1k people will pay the bill.

Nov 8, 2016permalink

digitallollygag

I knew Nikon miscalculated the market when, while their D300 was growing stale, they were peddling five full-frame options on us at once.

Nov 8, 2016permalink

HP1999

I thought I saw Nikon rumors retract this story

Nov 8, 2016permalink

Ben Stonewall

That's just a rumor.

Nov 8, 2016permalink

Michigan Sandman

Nikon has been headed in the wrong direction for a while now. Photographers that buy pro and prosumer cameras and lenses don't like paying more money for goods that are no longer made in Japan, but are made in third world countries, and the sweat shops in China.

Look at all the cameras that have had problems in the last four years. Are they being rushed to market? What happened to quality control? Nikon better wake up before they become the Packard, Studebaker, Nash, etc. of the photography world.
I've been shooting mostly Nikon since 1980, and would hate to see them fail, but something has to change.

Nov 8, 2016permalink

Thomas Hoven

Extremely well said. I wish Nikon top execs would read this and comment. I know this is just wishful thinking, as they are extremely mute towards customers and customer preferences.

Nov 13, 2016permalink

Sannaborjeson

Oh, that's quite sad (

Nov 8, 2016permalink

Paul Rumohr

Nikon, pull yourself together and release the DLs.

Nov 8, 2016permalink

My 995 euros are waiting since feb this year for a 24-500DL
It would be my first Nikon as a Canon shooter since 1979 ;-)

Nov 8, 2016permalink

Nikon2011

imagine if it has a technical problem (of any kind as nikon history shows) and you will be fighting with it for another 6-12 months

Nov 10, 2016permalink

davidodd

This thread appears to have migrated onto "camera are doomed because everyone has a smartphone". To bring a (little) bit of science into this perhaps this page (http://petapixel.com/2015/04/09/this-is-what-the-history-of-camera-sales-looks-like-with-smartphones-included/) is worth a look? From a quick gander it looks like there was a massive spike in camera sales in the 2000's, but while that's dropping off the PRODUCTION of cameras still appears to be higher than the 1990's....

Nov 8, 2016permalink

Sonyshine

The world population has exploded since the 1990's so standing still is not that great.

Electronic goods have short shelf life too unlike analogue ( film) cameras so if you are not leading the way you are probably falling behind.

Nov 8, 2016permalink

Stanchung

Expectations on the phone cameras are higher than ever now.
Enthusiasts are asking for phones that can freeze action.

When this happens you can be sure the DSLR market will shrink further.

Nov 9, 2016permalink

Tonkotsu Ramen

http://www.nikon.com/about/ir/ir_library/result/pdf/2017/17_2qf_c_e.pdf

"Based on the initiatives above to optimize headcount, Nikon will be announcing a voluntary retirement
program of approximately 1,000 employees"

Nov 8, 2016permalink

eazizisaid

Camera companies will still be around albeit not all of them. Some will disappear sooner than you might think and here I am thinking of Pentax/Ricoh. Others will follow and I think Olympus fits the bill just right. Pricing the EM1 Mark II at 2000$ clearly indicates that they are desperate for cash and I cannot blame them... and that pricing strategy clearly will not help. It is a bad move unless they will produce hundreds of those because we are talking about professional aps-c/full frame category at that price range... in addition, the competition from Panasonic is intense due to the pricing and the recent entrance of Xiaomi definitely will be hard to manage.
Canon and Nikon really need to wake up. The mid to low price range market is definitely shrinking and even though the pro market will still exist, the highest pricing that will be reflected on high end cameras and lenses -a phenomenon that just started recently- will make users reluctant about updating their gears frequently...

Nov 8, 2016permalink

eazizisaid

Sony has enough cash... Hasselblad, Phaseone and Leica won't be affected and Samsung just did the right thing withdrawing from the camera industry.

Nov 8, 2016permalink

rrccad

if Sony has enough Cash and then so does Canon.. not sure they ... "need to wake up" .. lol

Nov 8, 2016permalink

eazizisaid

Sony has enough cash from other vaiable business units... but this us just my analysis, you can disagree without the "lol"

Nov 8, 2016permalink

Twong

Pentax/Ricoh is likely in a much better position.Looking at their pricing strategy on new cameras, the trends are looking very healthy because the price points are much lower than competition but packed with advanced features. They don't need huge volume to stay profitable, unlike the Big 2 that have big advertising budget and deep discount on low-end products.

Nov 8, 2016permalink

MacroBokeh

Another "Pentax is doom!" geezzz.

Nov 10, 2016permalink

Adam Sharp

Just have a more realistic price adjustment and prosper again . Nikon got a little bit greedy and now paying the price . Pride before price drop ..Nikon are amazing and also stubborn and it will be there undoing

Nov 8, 2016permalink

Twong

Competition is forcing the Big 2 to drop prices on FF bodies, cutting into their most profitable segment.

Nov 8, 2016permalink

pieranti

Nikon is getting of Brazil ...

Nov 8, 2016permalink

Mariano Pacifico

Nikon is going the way of Kodak.

Nov 8, 2016permalink

SteveCooper

you may be right, but I hope you're wrong :)

Nov 8, 2016permalink

Mariano Pacifico

That is right, Nikon should eliminate 1,000 jobs. They are so behind the curve. They lost their race in digital format with Canon. They even blame Fukushima earthquake for failing to produce Nikon DL premium cameras. What is funny it is still in their website.

Nov 8, 2016permalink

mgblack74

Whatever you're smoking must be really potent.

Nov 8, 2016permalink

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