Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/05/02
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]> Date: Sat, 01 May 1999 20:05:35 +0000 > From: D Khong <dkhong@pacific.net.sg> > > >Not sure if Nikon is such a loaded company. As far as I know, from its > >annual reports in the recent years, Nikon has been in the red for many > >years. The camera division has been losing money for many years, and the > >stepper division, which used to be profitable, is a big money-loser now, > >due to the Asian economic crisis of the 1997, and increased competition. > > Well, I am surprised that Nikon is in the red. Every other serious > photographer I meet in my part of town totes a Nikon. - - The money is in consumer type products - Canon has always understood this and so it has always been a much bigger company. > If Nikon is losing money, then I can only speculate that it is due to some of > these reasons: > > 1. Overconfidence. <snip> > Yes, too many good years, rest on your laurels, count your blessings, sip > more sake, and soon without you knowing your competitor has overtaken you. > So... exit Nikon, and welcome....Canon! <snip> > 4. APS system > This has been around for at least 4-5 years. Hardly a success. The > people involved do not know whether to laugh or to cry. My camera dealer > tells me that hardly any are now buying APS system cameras. It's a bad > dream that won't go away. Nikon put its foot into it and is now sweating > it out. - - it made sense for them (still does) to try improve their position in consumer type cameras - the problem is that their line of P/S cameras (APS or other- wise) is so lacklustre. All the best! Raimo Photos at: http://personal.inet.fi/private/raimo.korhonen