Nikon has officially stopped the development of new SLR cameras and they will now focus exclusively on mirrorless models. Nikon has officially marked the end of an era. Most observers had already expected this, as the Japanese company hasn’t really released any new DSLR cameras since the Nikon D6 came out in June of 2020.
Although the company isn’t really designing any new DSLR models, the company will still continue producing and distributing existing DSLRs like the D6 and D3500. The company released its first SLR film camera, the Nikon F, Back in 1959, and it was one of the most advanced cameras of its time. Thanks to features like a large bayonet mount and Depth of Field preview button, titanium focal plane shutter, modular design, and more. But even though it was very advanced for its time, it no longer is and mirrorless cameras have really outperformed DSLRs in terms of what they can do and that is why the economy is officially marking the end of an era here in 2022.
DSLR cameras basically use a mirror and a prism inside to give the user a direct optical view through the camera lens and with the mirror moving out of the way when the photo shutter is clicked. Mirrorless cameras, on the other hand, take light directly through the sensor and give the user a view through an electronic viewfinder or a rear display on the camera. Mirrorless cameras do have a much smaller body as it does not really have to house any mirrors or prisms inside of them.
Nikon also stepped out of The compact camera market some time ago as the business was essentially devoured by smartphone cameras that are in the hands of basically everyone in the entire globe, and the company also recently discontinued a large number of low frame and APS C DSLR camera lenses and bodies.
If you didn’t already know, overall camera shells have also dropped dramatically in just five years with interchangeable lens cameras falling from 11.67 million units sold in 2017 to 5.34 million by 2021. This kind of declining demand for the camera market has really forced companies like Nikon to concentrate their efforts on the most profitable models, like mirrorless cameras right now.
