Nikon Corp is set to end the production of camera bodies in Japan by the end of this year, as per officials. The news arrives as the company is seeing a decline in sales caused by the improving capabilities of smartphones in photography.
The camera making giant will be transferring production from its plant in Miyagi Prefecture, which is a part of its new structural reform. Its camera body production will then shift from its sole domestic camera production site to a major factory in Thailand. As per a company official, “The quality level of our products can be sustained even if they are made overseas.”
For those unaware, Nikon has been leading the camera industry since the launch of its first camera back in 1948. But since then, the company has been struggling due to intensifying competition in recent years. Especially with the entry of smartphones that have played a major role in the decline of the digital camera market, with improvements in smartphone camera technology shortening the gap in performance with digital cameras.
The company added that it will maintain employment at the factory by continuing the production of certain camera components and distributing the works to growth sectors such as health care and sensors. Similarly, the camera maker is also planning on shutting down two factories in Yamagata and Fukushima prefectures as well, which are responsible for the processing of removable lens parts for digital cameras.
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