TECHNOLOGY TAKES ITS TOLL AT NIKON
There is little or no doubt about the bloodbath at Kodak that occurred when consumers switched from film to digital cameras.
Unfortunately, we are starting to see consumers, with the exception of professional photographers and hardcore hobbyists, switch from the massive DSLRs to lightweight smartphone-based cameras or video-based camera systems. And, with the prospect of purchasing new lenses, consumers feel less constrained to attempt to salvage their lens collections and stay within the same brand framework.
So it should not come as a surprise that Nikon, one of the most reliable names in cameras (along with Leica, Canon, and Sony) is shutting down its Chinese operation and laying off all 2,200 employees.
In addition to consumer preferences, we also saw a majority of professional photographers switch to Canon cameras and lens systems.
I have several Nikon cameras and lenses. My Nikon F4S film camera sits on a shelve, worth less than $100 as compared with its original $1,600 price. Ditto, my D300 DSLR. I have a collection of smaller Nikon cameras but they are virtually worthless as I use my iPhone for most casual shots. My next camera is likely to be a high-resolution video camera suitable for small productions.