JR69 Loc: Wolverine Michigan

In a DP review today (May 15) I saw this article

https://www.dpreview.com/news/3875106732/nikon-reports-its-imaging-business-revenue-dropped-nearly-18-year-over-year?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2019-may-15&ref_=pe_1822230_410986500_dpr_nl_372_31

What does this mean for Nikon users?

John

traderjohn Loc: New York City

Nothing.

jederick Loc: Northern Utah

Here are the first quarter sales results...all down!
Canon 23%
Sony 7%
Nikon 21%
Fuji 3%
Oly 24%

A grim 1st Qtr. for camera sales.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

It means they inspired a journalist to write an irrational dosage of Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt!

Your camera and lenses won't stop working because Nikon has a bad sales year. Your gear will keep depreciating as usual. Remember, most cameras are not "investments". They are SUNK COSTS. Only a handful of collectables you wouldn't want to use will appreciate in value. USE 'EM (Nikons) IF YA GOT 'EM.

It means Nikon wasted about ten years getting serious about high end mirrorless camera technology.

It means Sony, Fujifilm, Panasonic, and Olympus *have been* serious about mirrorless camera technology. Nikon (and Canon) are playing catch-up.

It means that smartphones have replaced MOST peoples' "need" or "want" to carry a dSLR, let alone a point-and-shoot camera. Let's see, a light weight, pocketable device that does any of two million different things, from anywhere, vs. a bulky camera that has to be carried in a separate case and worried about being stolen... Which does Joe or Jane Public generally want to carry?

For over 50 years, PMAI (the now defunct Photo Marketing Association International) held an annual convention. It was a mecca of all things photographic — buyers, sellers, wholesalers, retailers, and some users attended it. I went to one in the late 1990s as an industry insider, along with over 42,000 people from all over the world. I went to seven of them, my last one in 2010. Attendance was WAY off — down to about half its peak. Two years later, the event was co-located with the Consumer Electronics Show, and a few years later, the organization died. Paradigm shifts happen quickly!

Seriously, I wouldn't worry a lot about Nikon. Paralleling the death of PMAI, camera sales have gone to hell since 2005 or so. Yet there are more high quality/high end, full-featured camera models available now than then. The companies making them just aren't selling as many. They will "right-size" their operations to survive. Some may merge. Rumors will abound... Has it really ever been any different?

machia Loc: NJ

One word sums up the decline;
SMARTPHONES.
There will always be cameras but the smartphone is all that most people need.
And it confirms peoples love of taking photographs. People are clicking away like never before. Instant results and the ability to share those moments instantly.
It’s become a “Polaroid on steroids”.
There will always be a camera market. And we will see mergers and downsizing.
Higher costs is almost a certainty as its overall demand shrinks. Thus more people will turn to the “camera” in their SMARTPHONES.
But for me my Minolta SLR and Canon DSLR and a few thousand dollars worth of Rokkor and Canon glass will always be my choice when a photograph really matters.

xt2 Loc: British Columbia, Canada

Yikes, the Diesels are slipping away!

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

It is not news that camera manufacturers are loosing business. As has been said many persons are using their phone cell cameras and they are happy with them. Many people do not buy new cameras and I am in that group, none of my cameras are new and as a matter of fact none of my lenses either.
The tendency among consumers has been to buy mirrorless cameras with an increase in sales almost on a yearly basis. I am in agreement with the gentleman that cited that Canon and Nikon did not put much effort in building mirrorless bodies so they are late into the game. Look at Olympus, from near bankruptcy just a few years back they have now established a solid position in the mirrorless arena.
It has been said, we are not going to be affected because camera sales are down. Technology has come to a point where there is little to offer now to a consumer. Even old cameras can do a reasonable job with good optics and nobody needs tons of pixels to produce good work.
The low sale of cameras appears to me to be a leveling factor.

Ched49 Loc: Pittsburgh, Pa.

What does this mean for Nikon users?...it means they better hurry and buy all they need before they go into the T.V. business...what a moronic question.