Nikon will reportedly join Canon in ending development on high-end DSLR cameras

[Old_Dick]

Nikon will reportedly join Canon in ending development on high-end DSLR cameras

Smaller, lighter mirrorless cameras have mostly caught up to DSLR image quality.

arstechnica.com

 

[BainDarret]

Nikkei Needs New Staff Writers | Cameras and Photography Explained | Thom Hogan

Nikkei writes terrible article on Nikon's mirrorless plans

bythom.com

 

[MattKing]

I'm moving this to the Digital Cameras sub-forum.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Does this mean that digital photographers will be buying up the rest of the SLR film cameras? That would push us back to glass plates for photography.

 

[Cholentpot]

Prices of high end gig cameras such as the 5D4 are staying steady and I expect them to move up. Many of my colleagues switched to mirrorless and then switched back to SLR.

I think they dumped SLRs a generation or two early. Mirrorless is not quite there yet.

 

[mshchem]

This is ancient history. D6 arrived only because it was years in the making, like F6.

 

[Paul Howell]

I was understanding that Canon is longer developing the EOS EF lens line up, continuing to work on DSLRs, the high end pro level, consumer grade will be all be mirrorless.

 

[Sirius Glass]

One must remember that Canon is part of a large diverse corporation with great financial support while Nikon has always been a small [still family owned??] company without the financial backing of a larger corporation.

 

[wiltw]

Nikon will reportedly join Canon in ending development on high-end DSLR cameras

Smaller, lighter mirrorless cameras have mostly caught up to DSLR image quality.

arstechnica.com

That byline missed the point, that previous 'mirrorless' all had smaller sensors (4/3 format Oly, APS-C format Sony) that could inherently not match the FF dSLR for high ISO low noise images. Low noice high ISO came along with Sony FF mirrorless; while Sony plateaued in mirrorless unit sales in 2012, they could not seem to break free from that level in spite of their best efforts.
Interesting (puzzling?!) that it seems that both the dominant dSLR companies are diminishing the importance of dSLR in favor of mirrorless development, in spite of Sony's continued inability to grow the mirrorless segment. Just maybe the logic is 'maybe we can stimulate business volume simply with buyer perception of 'something new' (mirrorless)...after all we all fell for the bait of new technology changes encouraging us to buy the newest dSLR body every few years...it stimulated business for about 20 years!

 

[Cholentpot]

That byline missed the point, that previous 'mirrorless' all had smaller sensors (4/3 format Oly, APS-C format Sony) that could inherently not match the FF dSLR for high ISO low noise images. Low noice high ISO came along with Sony FF mirrorless; while Sony plateaued in mirrorless unit sales in 2012, they could not seem to break free from that level in spite of their best efforts.
Interesting (puzzling?!) that it seems that both the dominant dSLR companies are diminishing the importance of dSLR in favor of mirrorless development, in spite of Sony's continued inability to grow the mirrorless segment. Just maybe the logic is 'maybe we can stimulate business volume simply with buyer perception of 'something new' (mirrorless)...after all we all fell for the bait of new technology changes encouraging us to buy the newest dSLR body every few years...it stimulated business for about 20 years!

Issue is it's mainly the professionals that are buying these things. They don't upgrade until the camera dies or get stolen. I was using a 6D for gig work until a few months ago. It works, I got paid and the clients were happy. They didn't care if it has 20.2 megapixles and only one useable AF spot. The photos looked nice and they still look nice.

 

[Sal Santamaura]

Does this mean that digital photographers will be buying up the rest of the SLR film cameras?...

I can only speak for this photographer (me). I bought one of the last brand new F6 film cameras that Nikon imported into the U.S., possibly the very last one. When Nikon introduced its D850 and an end of D810 production loomed, I evaluated the D850 against my D810. I concluded that the "sweet spot" had been reached with the D810, so bought a second one while they were still available.

I have no interest in any other SLR film cameras.

 

[nmp]

Official response from Nikon:

“There was a media article regarding Nikon’s withdrawal of SLR development. This media article is only speculation and Nikon has made no announcement in this regards. Nikon is continuing the production, sales and service of digital SLR. Nikon appreciate your continuous support.” (Nikon)

Read more: https://nikonrumors.com/2022/07/12/...after-60-years-of-history.aspx/#ixzz7YxRdLEAd

 

[wiltw]

One must remember that Canon is part of a large diverse corporation with great financial support while Nikon has always been a small [still family owned??] company without the financial backing of a larger corporation.

Nikon, 88,388 million yen in Revenue, year ending March 2022
Canon, 3,513,357 million yen in Revenue, year ending December 2021
So Canon is 40x larger, but Nikon is forecasting US$4.77 billion...not small change.
Nikon's error was in not diversifying itself more widely, and its major division is in the camera market slump.

 

[Paul Howell]

Nikon is the 8th or 7th largest chip maker in the world, has the second largest plant.

 

[mshchem]

Nikon is the 8th or 7th largest chip maker in the world, has the second largest plant.

Is it a chip maker, or a chip making machine, maker? I thought Nikon made ultra high end machines for making fancy chips???

 

[Paul Howell]

From what I read chip maker, which is somewhat odd, it does make it own chips for it's high end bodies, but has bought from other chip makers as well. I think Canon makes all of it own chips and sensors.

 

[Wallendo]

Official response from Nikon:

“There was a media article regarding Nikon’s withdrawal of SLR development. This media article is only speculation and Nikon has made no announcement in this regards. Nikon is continuing the production, sales and service of digital SLR. Nikon appreciate your continuous support.” (Nikon)

Read more: https://nikonrumors.com/2022/07/12/...after-60-years-of-history.aspx/#ixzz7YxRdLEAd

Nikon does not actually deny the reports in its carefully worded, but somewhat vague response. It sounds like they will continue to sell their current cameras, but are not likely to develop new cameras.

In 2022, is there actually any need for digital cameras with movable mirrors?

 

[Sal Santamaura]

...In 2022, is there actually any need for digital cameras with movable mirrors?

They seem like a really good way to greatly reduce sensor contamination as well as avoid PDAF banding/striping.

 

[Cholentpot]

Nikon does not actually deny the reports in its carefully worded, but somewhat vague response. It sounds like they will continue to sell their current cameras, but are not likely to develop new cameras.

In 2022, is there actually any need for digital cameras with movable mirrors?

Is there a need for film in 2022? There's no need, it's a preference.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Is there a need for film in 2022? There's no need, it's a preference.

No a life necessity. You are just stirring the pot, Cholent.

 

[grat]

I still prefer an SLR where I can see what the lens sees, rather than what the computer behind the sensor thinks it will see.

I think the industry has done a nice job of hoodwinking the public-- Mirrorless is cheaper and simpler to manufacture, and the lens designs can be... Not "simpler", but perhaps "less difficult" due to shorter flange lengths. Strangely, mirrorless equivalents are more expensive than their DSLR siblings, and it's only recently that Canon has brought out "non L" versions of some of their RF lenses.

 

[Cholentpot]

No a life necessity. You are just stirring the pot, Cholent.

Well, duh.

I still prefer an SLR where I can see what the lens sees, rather than what the computer behind the sensor thinks it will see.

I think the industry has done a nice job of hoodwinking the public-- Mirrorless is cheaper and simpler to manufacture, and the lens designs can be... Not "simpler", but perhaps "less difficult" due to shorter flange lengths. Strangely, mirrorless equivalents are more expensive than their DSLR siblings, and it's only recently that Canon has brought out "non L" versions of some of their RF lenses.

When they start cranking out true 1:1 Nikon F, F2, F3 clones with FF sensors then I might dive in.

 

[George Mann]

Not a life necessity.

It is for me!

 

[unwantedfocus]

I was reading the article 2-3 days ago and was thinking, does this mean all their previous lenses from Nikon/canon will be replaced with a new mount/generation with no backwards compatibility? Nikon released new lenses for the Nikon Z right? nikkor z? Will their bodies be compatible with older lenses?

 

[Chan Tran]

One must remember that Canon is part of a large diverse corporation with great financial support while Nikon has always been a small [still family owned??] company without the financial backing of a larger corporation.

Nikon was never a family owned company but Canon was founded by 1 man Goro Yoshida who was a religious man and named the company Kwanon which is the Buddha or Mercy. The name later changed to Canon. Nikon was a corporation before they even made their first camera. Nippon Kogaku, which is known as Nikon today, was found in 1917 by the merger of 3 optical companies. Today it's part of the Mitshubishi Group of companies.