Short report about the current Nikon F6 production in Sendai

[Xmas]

They still have a F6 at 1749.00£?

 

[BMbikerider]

And my mint used model cost me less thn 1/3rd of that, about a year ago. And my wallet feels all the better for it too.

 

[MartinCrabtree]

Signaling the introduction of the F7??? One can hope.

 

[RattyMouse]

Signaling the introduction of the F7??? One can hope.

I doubt it. I think we just learned that Nikon has joined Canon in that they no longer make a pro level film shooting camera.

 

[MartinCrabtree]

Stranger things have happened.

 

[Henning Serger]

F6 availability (brand new off the shelf within the U.K. and full Nikon warranty) seems to be a little open for debate at the moment, haven't found one yet.

As already said above, only very few big shops have it in stock. For example the place I bought mine have not had it in stock for several months (from spring to late autumn).
When I bought my second new one recently, I just ordered one, the order was given to Nikon Japan, it was made for me, and 4 weeks later I've got it.
Then just after I had bought mine 10 new F6 have been in stock at my distributor again. They were all sold before Christmas. Not surprising.
Now you have to order and wait again.

Best regards,
Henning

 

[Henning Serger]

My F6 has a serial number midway between 8926 and 27401. I bought it about a year used but ago, fully boxed with all the bits and pieces, some still sealed. just how old would you recon the camera is?

With a serial number below 27400 most probably produced up to 2007.

Best regards,
Henning

 

[Henning Serger]

I had to speak to a company in London - Grays of Westminster - who deal in nothing but Nikon and what they don't know is probably not worth concerning yourself about. They also have direct links to Nikon in Japan. Whilst I was talking about my F6, without being asked during the conversation they stated:- The manufacture of the F6 has stopped no more are being made.

If you haven't hear of them have a look at:-


http://www.graysofwestminster.co.uk/index.php

With all respect to Grays of Westminster, but concerning the F6 and the production status I would not trust them anymore.
Because they have a bad tracking record concerning this topic:
In December 2008 they published that the F6 was discontinued. Which was completely wrong.

There is no official statement from Nikon that the F6 is discontinued.
The F6 is listed on the Nikon page of current products:
http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/filmcamera/index.htm
And the bigger distributors are offering it.

Best regards,
Henning

 

[nolanr66]

I have never even seen one.

 

[Xmas]

With all respect to Grays of Westminster, but concerning the F6 and the production status I would not trust them anymore.
Because they have a bad tracking record concerning this topic:
In December 2008 they published that the F6 was discontinued. Which was completely wrong.

There is no official statement from Nikon that the F6 is discontinued.
The F6 is listed on the Nikon page of current products:
http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/filmcamera/index.htm
And the bigger distributors are offering it.

Best regards,
Henning

Yea
Grays don't stock they have a price on web site, if you want one you order and wait a few months.
Email Nikon in Ja they will tell you to order via in country dealer...

Noel

 

[davedm]

So What if it's discontinued ? Nikon produced it far longer than anyone expected. Those who wanted it, bought it. Those who want one can buy used. They are cheaper than ever.

May be Nikon is planning another top of the line F. Current model is dated, No E aperture control, no RF flash support (or may be I am incorrect). No Bluetooth or NFC remote!! Just Kidding...

IMHO, it may be an inventory issue. They ran out of certain part and are waiting to make that part (or waiting to make decision to end production). May be they are waiting for order of at least 100 ( X) for a run of 200 (Y), although unlikely. At this point we don't know so no point speculating. If past history is any indication, Nikon will try their best to continue to produce. Failing that, there is nothing we can do. One thing is certain that at this point sales in used market must outnumber those of new ones. And the prices could make matters worse as used vs new gap widens.

 

[Pioneer]

I think also that there are certain facts that are being ignored.

Film use is still shrinking. Since film costs continue to climb I suspect that film use will continue to decline. Additionally, the great majority of current film users are older people. At this point Kodak's future film sales seem to be protected by the motion picture industry but that likely won't last forever.

Film will eventually settle into a new reality as a low volume boutique industry though it is not quite there yet. In the meantime I would imagine that demand for the F6 (and other film cameras as well) is quite low. Nikon is pretty certain they can continue to supply any remaining market by custom building them as needed.

 

[Xmas]

Hi Dan

They have been JIT building them for several years.

2-3 months delay on delivery.

JIT just in time...

The market here eg for FM seems lively.

Noel

 

[Pioneer]

I have to assume that the FM10 has inherited the K1000 student camera mantle. It seemed to be the Nikon lens mount version of the Vivitar V3800N. Since I am a Pentax aficionado I passed the FM10 on after a bit. I will say though that they seem to have jumped in price quite a bit over the last year or two.

 

[nolanr66]

I guess the new 35mm camera is close to being history. Who would have thought!

 

[chromacomaphoto]

I think also that there are certain facts that are being ignored.

Film use is still shrinking. Since film costs continue to climb I suspect that film use will continue to decline. Additionally, the great majority of current film users are older people. At this point Kodak's future film sales seem to be protected by the motion picture industry but that likely won't last forever.

Film will eventually settle into a new reality as a low volume boutique industry though it is not quite there yet. In the meantime I would imagine that demand for the F6 (and other film cameras as well) is quite low. Nikon is pretty certain they can continue to supply any remaining market by custom building them as needed.

Quite agree with you in general although it was very interesting that the recent Ilford survey done showed a far larger percentage of film users were young (35 and under I think it was) and also that a huge section of all their (again I would think younger) customers had only been shooting film for 5 years or less. There's a lot more young people shooting film than older film shooters might think. Film will settle into a niche thing over the long haul though as you say, I am sure.

I also note that the Reddit user group 'Analog' (or analogue as we Brits spell it) seems to be a really young and new to film sort of crowd.

 

[chromacomaphoto]

I guess the new 35mm camera is close to being history. Who would have thought!

That's why I was so pleased that Leica introduced a brand new one in 2014, good move. I don't need one but nice to know that I can still buy a brand new Leica 355mm camera in a box with a warranty If I need to. Also, there are still brand new MF film cameras made.

 

[nolanr66]

That's why I was so pleased that Leica introduced a brand new one in 2014, good move. I don't need one but nice to know that I can still buy a brand new Leica 355mm camera in a box with a warranty If I need to. Also, there are still brand new MF film cameras made.

Leica is hanging tough so far.

 

[Henning Serger]

Hello Dan,

Film use is still shrinking.

sorry, but that is simply wrong in such a generalisation. The market is currently very heterogeneous. Some parts of the market are still shrinking (e.g. amateur colour negative film), some are in a stabilising phase (e.g. sheet film), some are increasing (BW film, roll film), and some are in a real boom (instant film).

Since film costs continue to climb I suspect that film use will continue to decline.

The reality is contradicting you: One of the most expensive film types with a relative high cost per shot (much higher compared to 35mm and 120) is instant film.
And instant film is booming.

Additionally, the great majority of current film users are older people.

Wrong. All lately made market research concerning this topic had the same results: The majority of film shooters is younger than 55, and the average age is getting younger, because more and more younger photographers are starting with film.
The majority of instant film shooters is even younger than 30 years.

Best regards,
Henning

 

[Chris Livsey]

And Cine Still for another example: “Our most frequent challenge is multiplying production cycles to provide enough to fulfill demand.”

 

[Theo Sulphate]

... the great majority of current film users are older people. ...

I am only 11 years old ...

...and have been for 52 years. So there. Actually, though this is anecdotal, when I see someone shooting a film camera, it's most likely a young person. Hipster type, yes, but that's what I see.

 

[cmacd123]

there are a lot of used cameras around. that of course depresses the market for new ones.

 

[nolanr66]

there are a lot of used cameras around. that of course depresses the market for new ones.

If I was going to buy a F6 then I would look around for a used one.

 

[chromacomaphoto]

I think I heard somewhere recently that during the recent holiday season, the highest selling product in Amazon's photography dept was Fuji Instax film. Admittedly that is a niche within a niche but even so, I found it very surprising and kind of pleasing.

 

[Henning Serger]

I think I heard somewhere recently that during the recent holiday season, the highest selling product in Amazon's photography dept was Fuji Instax film.

That is correct (at least for Amazon USA).

Admittedly that is a niche within a niche but even so, I found it very surprising and kind of pleasing.

Instax instant film and cameras is definitely not "a niche within a niche". It is currently the best selling camera type. In 2014 Fujifilm sold 4,3 million units, for last year their target has been 5 million units (so far no information available whether they've hit that target). Instax film production is running in three shifts in 24h operation.
Anyway, the Instax cameras are currently the best selling camera models in general. There is no digital camera from any manufacturer with such a high sales volume.
And by the way, in 2015 digital camera sales have fallen significantly below the level of digital camera sales in 2003 (!). Lowest sales of the last 12 years.
In 2015 less digital cameras were sold than in 1998 and 1999 film cameras were sold.

Best regards,
Henning