Nikon says it is getting out of DSLR camera market, looks towards new future
India Today
Nikon will focus on digital offerings after the sales of SLRs have dwindled owing to intense competition from smartphone manufacturers.
Nikon will reportedly stop developing single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras soon. A new report stated that the Japanese camera maker will focus on digital offerings after the sales of SLRs have dwindled owing to intense competition from smartphone manufacturers.
Nikon’s SLRs and mirrorless cameras are widely used by professional photographers. The company has been in the camera business for nearly 60 years. However, owing to the growth in smartphone camera tech, camera companies have witnessed a drop in sales. Nikkei Asia reported that Nikon, for the same reason, plans to focus resources on mirrorless cameras, which have become mainstream products on the back of more advanced digital technologies.
The camera maker has not launched a successor to its D6 DSLR, which has been its flagship camera since June 2020. However, the company has been aggressively launching mirrorless cameras in its Z-series at different price points. The Nikon Z30 was the most recent offering in India, which joins the likes of the Nikon Z 50, Z 70 and flagship mirrorless cameras like the Nikon Z 7II.
The Nikkei Asia report further stated that Nikon has already stopped the development of compact digital cameras. While the company aims to focus more on mirrorless cameras, it will continue to manufacture and distribute its existing range of SLRs.
The growth of mirrorless cameras, compared to SLRs, can be seen due to a compact form factor, lightweight design, a more responsive viewfinder and modern tech like the ability to use image sensors to convert light into electric signals instead of relying on a huge mirror inside. However, mirrorless cameras are typically pricier than SLRs of the same segment.
Despite the higher price, mirrorless cameras overtook SLRs in terms of sales in 2020. The report stated that over 2.93 million units of mirrorless cameras were sold in 2020, compared to 3.37 SLRs. There has been an overall decline, however. The combined market peaked at 11.67 million cameras in 2017 but had fallen to 5.34 million by 2021.
