So I’m trying to be upbeat and positive, however, with Nikon’s continuing problems, I am concerned that my beloved Nikon will go the way of Olympus. I’ve been a Nikon fan ever since Canon went to the EOS system, requiring us to upgrade all of our lenses. Until then, I used many different camera platforms, including SpeedGraphics 4x5. Once I switched, Nikon has always served me well, and I never saw the need to switch to Canon or Sony. However, times are changing, and it remains to be seen whether Nikon gets it’s act together or not. An article explains why they might not survive the current transition (https://petapixel.com/2021/01/20/nikon-is-going-to-be-fine-probably/). While Japan’s industry usually makes reliable decisions, that is not always the case.

I love my Nikon equipment. I’ve owned, and still own, a number of Nikon bodies, but my main bodies are the D610 and D850. But, my biggest investment is in Nikon lenses. My opinion has always been that the lens is the heart of any camera system. Bodies change and improved, but lens are a long term investment. That is, unless the entire system fails, such as the case if Nikon is no longer a competitor in the market.

So, if there are any Nikon executives monitoring this forum, please do not allow my beloved Nikon to go the way of the dinosaurs. Make good financial decisions and get your engineers off their butts and continue to innovate and improve. I know I am just one person and my support of Nikon won’t be a difference in whether Nikon is successful or not, but understand that I once lived in Japan and I understand the Japanese Psyche better than most Gaijin. Please don’t disappoint me and the thousands of Nikon supporters who have faithfully stuck with you for many years. Kimi nara dekiru yo!

So I’m trying to be upbeat and positive, however, with Nikon’s continuing problems, I am concerned that my beloved Nikon will go the way of Olympus. I’ve been a Nikon fan ever since Canon went to the EOS system, requiring us to upgrade all of our lenses. Until then, I used many different camera platforms, including SpeedGraphics 4x5. Once I switched, Nikon has always served me well, and I never saw the need to switch to Canon or Sony. However, times are changing, and it remains to be seen whether Nikon gets it’s act together or not. An article explains why they might not survive the current transition (https://petapixel.com/2021/01/20/nikon-is-going-to-be-fine-probably/). While Japan’s industry usually makes reliable decisions, that is not always the case.

I love my Nikon equipment. I’ve owned, and still own, a number of Nikon bodies, but my main bodies are the D610 and D850. But, my biggest investment is in Nikon lenses. My opinion has always been that the lens is the heart of any camera system. Bodies change and improved, but lens are a long term investment. That is, unless the entire system fails, such as the case if Nikon is no longer a competitor in the market.

So, if there are any Nikon executives monitoring this forum, please do not allow my beloved Nikon to go the way of the dinosaurs. Make good financial decisions and get your engineers off their butts and continue to innovate and improve. I know I am just one person and my support of Nikon won’t be a difference in whether Nikon is successful or not, but understand that I once lived in Japan and I understand the Japanese Psyche better than most Gaijin. Please don’t disappoint me and the thousands of Nikon supporters who have faithfully stuck with you for many years. Kimi nara dekiru yo!

I am wondering as to why we're not happy with what we have? Why are we always have to see what's our favorite camera manufacturer going to make next? I am happy with what I have because if I don't I wouldn't own them. I don't buy any of my toys if I think I would want to replace it with something better in the future. I said toys because cameras are my toys. I don't need them to make a living. I don't have to settle for what's available now. I don't buy anything that I think I would get tired of in the future.

Hi Paul,

You make good points as always - I would add that Nikon has significantly down sized their operations cutting massive overhead costs out of the equation - overhead costs that its not clear actually did anything for them - not R&D costs, but mostly expensive Japanese production facilities etc.

Also, you point out that they only sold 1 mirrorless to Canon and Sony's 5 and yes this is not a good sign, but it is also true that the bulk of Nikon users are still DSLR users that have yet to switch - most of these will likely switch to Nikon once Nikon has produced a mirrorless that truly competes with a D850 etc. - like the person who started this chain - I sure they as a D850 user will go mirrorless if a rumored Z8 that surpasses the D850 in every way were to be offered.

A semblance of evidence for this is already emerging - although the Z6II and Z7II have gotten much better, they still lack a couple integral elements to make them D850 worthy - mainly in the area of autofocus and subject tracking. Even still, Nikon saw an uptick of sales percentage wise on the generation II cameras indicating that there is a market waiting in the permafrost (so to speak) that they have now tapped but have still not exploited.

If the Z9 delivers as promised (and I admit this is an IF - if it doesn't then I agree the game will be close to over) and it has state of the art AF including Eye AF equal to Canon and Sony and subject tracking also equal then the Z system will have arrived and there will no longer be that 'one thing' that is always pointed to as to why Sony and Canon are better - autofocus. Then, once this tech trickles down in the next generation to the Z6/7III or the fabled but hopefully real Z8, I think Nikon will have a renaissance of sales of their mirrorless cameras - even to rival that of Sony. We know that Nikon was the second highest seller of digital cameras (total sales) below Canon in 2019 but most of them were DSLR's - when all those (or most of them) folks switch to Nikon mirrorless then Nikon should have a solid position in the market competing with Sony for #2.

Obviously, they will never catch Canon and neither will Sony - unless Canon does something really stupid which is doubtful.

So far, I have to say, I am quite impressed with the RF system - the innovations that Canon have produced in recent times combined with some awesome lenses has solidified their #1 position even further - and good for them - they deserve it.

I also have to admit, I do not understand this alleged Nikon retro DX camera that is rumored to be released in a week or so - this is NOT the direction that I think they should head in, and I am scratching my head about it - I hope they prove me wrong but I doubt it. Nevertheless, if the Z9 performs as promised and the next generation of mirrorless gets this new tech, I think Nikon will definitely survive and do fairly well between the increased sales and the significantly reduced costs they now enjoy.

In all cases, as I am sure you agree, it is in the best interest of all of us camera consumers for Nikon to survive - it helps to keep Sony and Canon innovating and helps to keep prices competitive, so for these reasons I know you are rooting for Nikon just as the rest of us are.

Thanks Paul for your insightful comments as always :)
-B

I have been a loyal Nikon supporter since 2000, when I purchased my first digital camera. I did buy a Canon at first, but after a number of months using it, I thought that it was the camera, not the person behind the camera, that was at fault, and therefore moved to Nikon. I have had many, many bodies, now have the D850 & D500, have 10 lenses, 2 flashes, and many accessories, and even became an NPS member. I have been looking to move to mirrorless for past year but was really never sold on the Z6 or Z7, as I felt it was not a step forward from their great D850 and I guess I have been waiting for what is being called by Nikon as their next HUGE announcement, their Z9! Recently, I even went to my local camera store where I was looking at a Conon R5 or the Sony A7R IV and they both interested me a lot, but I am a patient man, (not sure how much longer I can be patient) as I await the newest member of the Nikon family, yes, the Z9.

If it does not meet the specs that Nikon's rivals are developing at a very steady pace, I will be moving, and spending my $$$$ with either Canon or Sony, and will not spend any more of my hard earned dollars with a company that I used to say to all of my camera colleagues that I was a Nikon family member!

I'm not sure that Nikon is pushing Sony nor Canon any longer. The D850 is an August 2017 release. As recently as 2020, according to Nikon Rumors, they were still flirting with another DSLR release. For who? No one wants a DSLR, not a new one at a new body price. It seems that reality and time have overrun this outdated idea. But that it was under consideration hints at some problems in the leadership of the company.

As mentioned in my first response, limited support for the legacy F-mount lenses is another problem. Every Canon EF and EF-S lens ever made works as good as, if not better, on the EOS mirrorless bodies with Canon's adapter. That's a big fat on-ramp to the mirrorless super highway. Alas, the same doesn't exist for every F-mount lens.

Also as discussed, the shrinking camera market makes things harder for Nikon. Can Nikon or Sony displace Canon from all the all-Canon shops? Unlikely, as it would have happened already in the last 30 years if it was ever going to happen. Can Nikon at least convert all their existing customers? Well, that F-mount problem is a problem in that approach. As are the costs, as mentioned by our OP in a recent reply.

The Olympics should have been the showcase of all the new top-tier releases. I'm unsure if the uncertainty of the Olympics being held is holding back the camera announcements. Someday the releases will happen and then we'll see over probably 2 or 3 years if a great shakeout finally happens.

A retro DX camera, w/ or w/o a mirror, is another harbinger of failure. The APS-C sensor size has a place in pocket-sized models, but for interchangeable lens cameras, the writing is on the wall for this sensor format.

I am like MAD magazine, "What, me worry". I worked for Nikon, the Nikon camera division is only about 8% of the total company, do not worry, Nikon is first and foremost a LENS company, they mold their own glass from dust particles. Currently their are only two companies in the world that do this and Nikon is one of them.
Nikon camera division is not going anywhere. Trust me. Your lenses are the finest made in the world, use them proudly. I own and still use my D3s with many "D" Nikon AF lenses. They outperform any lens out there.
Nikon will still be here 100 years from today.
This said I am also using Sony camera's and lenses for now, as soon as Nikon catches up, I will switch back.
It was Nikon camera's and glass that went to the Moon, it is Nikon rangefinders and glass that still accompany the Shuttles to the international space station, and yes, Nikon camera's are still used there, everyday of the week. Only Nikon. I wonder why, but not really, Nikon optics are used in most of the best scientific instruments used today around the world.
I am not knocking Canon, Sony, and other companies, they all produce fine instruments. And Nikon will be right there with them producing relevant products.
Nikon, at first when mirrorless camera's out, did not appropriate much R&R toward it, but over the past couple of years they have been throwing more resources toward them. That is starting to pay off. Just watch and see.

I am the person who started this chain. I have to tell you, the multitude of responses I’ve received warms the cockles of my heart. Especially from the gentleman who works(ed) at Nikon and brought to us a totally different perspective that Nikon is by no means dead. It may be having growing pains in it camera division, but people are actively working behind the scenes to keep Nikon viable and current. At least that’s the plan.

I do wish to thank the multitude of responders, no matter what your perspective, for providing your point of view. We as a community of photographers may not always agree on the details, but for the most part we recognize we are a community with many things in common.

Contrary to my somewhat gloom and doom posting that began this thread, I am a positive person and fully intend to continue learning during my photographic journey. One day I’ll be able to afford the Nikkor 800mm F/5.6 lens, and then I’ll feel my photographic life is complete (LOL).

Thank you everyone for pulling me out of the ruts and placing me back on the paved road.