boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

All ways talk about Canon VS Nikon. But what would happen if one would acquire the other, or a 3rd party would buy both. Sony is a far bigger outfit than either. So maybe a Sonican is in the future. Big companies swallow up smaller outfits. It's not uncommon

Quixdraw Loc: x

Think about brand equity - both Nikon and Canon, (as well as many other camera brands) have enthusiasts who seek and reliably purchase their products. Also consider the Japanese culture - a brand can vanish, but not be turned into an insulting mishmash. Fortunately, I don't have to be concerned - I have a lifetime supply of my favorite brand in both film and digital - as do many.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

None of that matters, the only thing that matters is money. And the whole thing is just speculation.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

I pulled the most recent annual reports for Canon and Sony. If I read the top line numbers properly, Sony as a worldwide corporation with 8.3 trillion in sales (Yen) and Canon is 3.5 trillion, roughly 44% the size of Sony based on total revenue. Canon's cameras are part of a larger organization making up 22% of sales. Sony's cameras are part of Sony's electronics at 24% of sales. Whether there is any strategic benefit to taking over a competitor and consolidating the market of the declining industry of interchangeable-lens cameras is an open to question. Sony has built their camera business around the 2006 acquisition of Konica-Minolta.

TomKat Loc: Not here

I started with Nikon in 1972. Camera hoppers have things to say. I’ve not been disappointed anymore than Canonites, Sonyites, or any others.
It’s the familiarity and eye that allows memorable captures. I’m perfectly happy with D850/D7500 combo and lenses. ( I don’t work for a living in photography.) I’ll probably by flying with the birds before I discount my present gear. We all have personal preferences...

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

If Sony would buy anyone, it would be Nikon, who is in far worse financial condition (and I hope they don’t unless that’s what it takes to keep this great name alive)

Bill_de Loc: US

To reverse the shrinking demand for the cameras we like, the industry needs to come up with something really innovative. Many hoped it would be mirrorless, but that wasn't big enough.

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User ID

Sony bodies keep my Nikkor leneses alive.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

Split their camera division from the parent company and buy a cell phone company.

Blair Shaw Jr Loc: Dunnellon,Florida

I sure HOPE NOT......those acquisitions are destructive in short order and never amount to much generally and I suppose there are exceptions but I don't recall any....lately. Having been bought-out previously by another bigger & better company was not a well-thought-out decision and ended poorly for our company.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Nikon is a LARGE scientific company, the Nikon camera division is only one of several divisions that make up Nikon.
Nikon could well exist without the photography division

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Throughout my career, I worked for three different organizations in three different industries. Their history might be interesting to think about.

The first was a very large company that was in five different businesses. They were recognized as a great company and were the largest employer in the city where they were located. After the founders retired or died, they sold off four of the five businesses (three while I was there, one more after I left).
All of those businesses are still around somewhere, just no longer identifiable. The original company is still around, but no longer particularly visible, and certainly no longer the force it once was.

The second was never a particularly good company. I was part of a number of people who were hired to make it better. We couldn't do it, because the "Gang of Seven" who ran the company were unable to visualize the changes necessary. When they all got ready to retire at about the same time, they sold the company to another one in the same industry (with foreign ownership). That lasted about two years before the new owners just shut everything down. That industry is thriving...the market didn't go away, the leaders just squandered the opportunity away.

The last organization is faring somewhat better, but has had five different owners over the last 20 years. The business is consistently profitable and just seems to attract buyers. But the products are not as good now as they were when I started 21 years ago. The notion of what is right and what is best keeps changing. Customers are suffering, and volumes are slowly dropping.

I am afraid that this sort of thing will remain the norm as long as the focus is on the stock price and dividend level. It is almost impossible for companies to focus on their customers or even their products nowadays, given the misguided leadership from the top.

So be very careful what you wish for.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

That's always a possibility. There would be no need for a name change, though. One company would assimilate the technology of another - and fire a lot of people.

BebuLamar

So what? I wouldn't care either way.

FrumCA

Merging the companies is a possibility I suppose but I would hope the status quo remains. I think the competition this offers will guarantee continuing of some very fine products and the innovation that goes along with it.