Canon is shutting down its factory in China: This came across my news this morning. Canon has already temporarily shut down other plants due to supply issues. Where is this going? I...

therwol Loc: USA

This came across my news this morning. Canon has already temporarily shut down other plants due to supply issues. Where is this going? I don't think we'll ever see camera sales rebound to pre-pandemic levels, not counting phones. To be fair, phones are a viable alternative to dedicated cameras for most people, but can camera manufacturers keep themselves going with high end, specialty cameras like the Nikon Z9? Will consumers continue to buy DSLRs and the new mirrorless offerings that are coming out when phones are closing the gap in terms of quality and features? At this point, I'd say that cameras have a pretty bleak future. My opinion. You can state yours.

https://ymcinema.com/2022/01/17/canon-shutdowns-its-major-camera-factory-in-china/

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Phone cameras, the "Instamatic" of the future?????

<D><M>SLR (big cameras) sales may revert back to what they were in the 60s and 70s?????
(Yea, I know there is no R in an M...)

kufengler Loc: Meridian, Idaho 83646

I think they will, it will be those most interested in being creative with photography. What I've experienced is most people just want some memories, vacations, family gatherings etc, that may have created the Point & Shoot cameras, which can take great pictured. With mobile phone being able to do all that that segment of the market may dry up.
There'll most always be professional and advanced amateurs that want to be more creative. Just my 2 cents worth.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

therwol wrote:

This came across my news this morning. Canon has... (show quote)

I am sure Canon overall will be fine. With all the pandemic increase in worldwide illness their medical products will probably increase in sales. Endoscopes, microscopes, etc. and the same for Nikon, Olympus, Zeiss, Leitz, etc. Nearly all optical companies have medical and science products as well as consumer products. Also compare the price of a DSLR or MILC to that of an Electron Microscope!

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

kufengler wrote:

I think they will, it will be those most interested in being creative with photography. What I've experienced is most people just want some memories, vacations, family gatherings etc, that may have created the Point & Shoot cameras, which can take great pictured. With mobile phone being able to do all that that segment of the market may dry up.
There'll most always be professional and advanced amateurs that want to be more creative. Just my 2 cents worth.

Ergo, the use of Instamatics...

Jerry G Loc: Waterford, Michigan and Florida

People will continue to buy interchangeable lens cameras for the same reason they bought them in the past instead of Kodak Instamatics, they want a camera capable of producing quality photos in a variety of situations.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Jerry G wrote:

People will continue to buy interchangeable lens cameras for the same reason they bought them in the past instead of Kodak Instamatics, they want a camera capable of producing quality photos in a variety of situations.

Yes, those that do.
The Instamatic people will simply use their phones.

therwol Loc: USA

Jerry G wrote:

People will continue to buy interchangeable lens cameras for the same reason they bought them in the past instead of Kodak Instamatics, they want a camera capable of producing quality photos in a variety of situations.

I'm sure this is true, but the choices may become more and more limited. It would be a shame if the entry level models become a casualty of diminished demand for new cameras of this type. I'm afraid that the only ones that will survive in the long run will be expensive.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

therwol wrote:

I'm sure this is true, but the choices may become more and more limited. It would be a shame if the entry level models become a casualty of diminished demand for new cameras of this type. I'm afraid that the only ones that will survive in the long run will be expensive.

Jerry G Loc: Waterford, Michigan and Florida

therwol wrote:

I'm sure this is true, but the choices may become more and more limited. It would be a shame if the entry level models become a casualty of diminished demand for new cameras of this type. I'm afraid that the only ones that will survive in the long run will be expensive.

Back when the Instamatic was popular quality cameras were expensive, quality always is. But there will be entry level cameras to introduce customers to the hobby. My entry level camera will out perform an iphone for wildlife or sports or any number of other types of photography.

As far as camera phones closing the gap, it's not like the camera companies have been sitting on there butts. Phone cameras have come a long way but so have camera companies. In the almost twenty years of camera phone advancement Nikon went from the D2H, a 4.1mp camera, to the Z9, lets not forget that the camera companies are also building better cameras. Besides who wants to hold a 600mm f4 lens to their ear to make a phone call.

Closing factories in China seems to be the new business trend. Many companies are finding it harder to live with the increasing restrictions in China, and are losing the financial gain of operating there.

It seems no matter what a camera company does, if it isn't full steam ahead, someone predicts the collapse of the camera industtry.

therwol Loc: USA

Jerry G wrote:

Back when the Instamatic was popular quality cameras were expensive, quality always is.

The body of my Nikon FTn cost $330 in 1969 dollars when Instamatics ruled. I watched my father buy it. The situation is different now. Phones rule. Demand for high quality consumer grade cameras is plummeting. Pros will always spend money for what they need, but in the absence of consumer grade cameras, it will come down to using a phone or spending a lot of money.

Nosaj Loc: Sarasota, Florida

When the big DSLRs and their large heavy lenses become scarce, what do the older photographers with “Gas” do with their fun money?

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

therwol wrote:

This came across my news this morning. Canon has... (show quote)

What you seem to be overlooking is the percentage of camera sales in comparison to Canon's overall income. The company is the world's largest imaging manufacturer. Retail camera sales pale in light of Canon's imagery sales. If the camera market does not support their effort the powers that be in Canon's hierarchy will jettison them. Simple case of "bidness" rules. Profit margins are hell to live with!

wrangler5 Loc: Missouri

I've been reading about camera companies moving factories out of China for years. All of my Olympus EM1 bodies (MkII and III, and I think the MkI also but I sold it) were made in Vietnam as was the TG6 and two of my M43 Olympus lenses. The other Olympus lenses, and all my Panasonic/Lumix lenses were made in China, but all have been bought used so I don't know how old they are. (I want to say Nikon moved at least some production out of China, too, but can't prove it.)

therwol Loc: USA

davidrb wrote:

What you seem to be overlooking is the percentage of camera sales in comparison to Canon's overall income. The company is the world's largest imaging manufacturer. Retail camera sales pale in light of Canon's imagery sales. If the camera market does not support their effort the powers that be in Canon's hierarchy will jettison them. Simple case of "bidness" rules. Profit margins are hell to live with!

I'm sure that Canon will survive as a corporation. It's well diversified. I'm looking at it from the standpoint of the camera market. I don't see them dumping cameras completely, but I see choices for consumers dwindling rapidly. Phones are just too good now. The pandemic and chip shortage are slowing down and halting production of some products. By the time this gets sorted out, there may be little interest in entry and mid-level cameras anymore as people turn even more to their phones to take pictures.