Nikon is primarily known as a camera manufacturer, and while the company does produce some pretty impressive high-end cameras, their low-end devices might be suffering as a result of our smartphones getting better at taking photos with every revision. Nikon’s president, Makoto Kimura has expressed a similar concern as well, and has raised the issue on how smartphone market share is increasing and how the compact camera market is shrinking at the same time. Speaking at a recent Q&A session, Kimura had this to say:
For the Imaging Company, it is crucial that we determine how best to adapt our strategies in response to market changes, particularly in terms of new products and product lineups. The rapid penetration of smartphones is causing the compact digital camera market to shrink. Previously, cameras and smart devices were not direct competitors. However, in the current market structure in which these products are competing, we must examine closely the concepts on which our compact digital camera offerings should be based. Thus, when it comes to interchangeable lens-type digital cameras, we need to question our ability to offer truly innovative functions and performance.
This reply is hot on the heels of a statement made in an interview a couple of weeks ago where Kimura revealed that Nikon was working on secret products, some of which might not necessarily be camera-related which gave rise to speculation that perhaps Nikon was exploring the smartphone market as well.
Filed in . Read more about Nikon.