camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

We are living in a world of changing technologies and none of us photographers when using film ever thought a camera company will bring a new model to the market ever 2 years or so. Even worst, photographers want the best and the latest and that is where all companies have made their money.

The market has been so saturated with cameras and lenses that there is no longer enough demand to justify the trend. Olympus, I am sure you all know, after 84 years in the camera business had to sell their camera division because there was not a profit any longer. As a matter of fact, Olympus had an increasing loss in business for the past 3 years. It is impossible to keep a company division while profits are non existent.

Nikon has been a strong competitor in the camera business for many years. Like others, they have also seen a reduction in sales that is also affecting other companies. Sony has been doing exceedingly well but only God knows how long that will last. I do not hear much about Pentax but it will not come as a surprise if they have to exit the camera business.

I cannot predict the future and I cannot predict what will happen to Nikon or Canon. I will not be on this planet forever so for as long as I live I will continue to use the cameras and lenses I have...and I do not have anything new nor intend to buy anything in the near future.
Like it has already been said enjoy the brand you prefer. Let others worry about the future.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

That has been my experience a couple of times (EMC bought Isilon and was in turn bought by Dell, and Oracle bought Sun). In both cases, the buyer kept the staff from the purchased company only long enough to gain an understanding of the technology (but not always the actual value) and ultimately disposed of both the personnel and those parts that weren’t useful to them (Oracle finally giving up on SPARC processors is an example). If you work for the acquired company, in general, you better hope there’s money to be made on the stock swap/options, because you’ll eventually be looking for a job.

As said above, the drive for quarterly numbers to satisfy Wall street investors now drives everything in publicly traded companies, often to the detriment of the majority of the employees, and the customers - only top management and (sometimes) stockholders profit. One notable exception is SAS, located locally, and I believe the largest privately held SW company. Some years ago, while SAS had been flirting with the idea of going public, the owner, Dr. Goodnight, declined not to go that direction, his stated reason being that he did not want the direction of the company and the welfare of his employees to be held hostage to the opinions of “25 year old stock analysists”. Good for him.

BBurns Loc: South Bay, California

Sony has always been a hi tech innovative company.
Like many others, they got bogged down in the late 80s putting their name on consumer products that did not meet the standards the name represented. And it cost them dearly.
I worked at Sony in the late 60s when they first started playing with the 'Mavica' idea. That was all analog then.
Sony made an extremely wise move by purchasing Minolta.
Their High end XBR series TV's are still top of the line.

What many people are not aware of with both Canon & Nikon, is the huge commercial side of their businesses, both in the industrial & medical world. Sony and Ericsson rule the broadcast industry.

Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio

I agree with you wholly. Our corparation was very large. Multinational with an excellent reputation. We were bought out by a larger competitor with a lousy reputation. Our customers are saying they are jumping ship because of our new owners procedures and rep. So very sad to watch it all slide away.

MrPhotog

In my opinion:

Monopolies are rarely good for the consumer on the long run. The competition between several companies shows where the consumers dollars go. This spurs innovation and technical progress.

Toment Loc: FL, IL

Perish the thought!

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Sony Cameras = Konica & Minolta cameras and lenses + Sony digital technologies — a pretty good mishmash if you ask me.

Dean L Loc: Memphis, TN

Well written and stated, I had an experience that was almost identical and not uncommon. Perhaps and hopefully it won't happen in the camera industry.