Nikon Reportedly Exiting SLR Market, To Shift Focus To Mirrorless Cameras

Rumour has it that Nikon is planning to pull the plug on its single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras. The Japanese company will instead work on developing mirrorless cameras.

According to a report by Nikkei Asia, Nikon is shifting focus towards the digital segment owing to the increasing competition from smartphone cameras. The report says, “It now plans to focus resources on mirrorless cameras, which have become mainstream products on the back of more advanced digital technologies.” While Nikon will continue production and distribution of existing SLR models, it will not be developing any new SLR products.

Meanwhile, Nikon has published a statement regarding the report, labelling it as speculation. Interestingly, the company neither confirmed nor denied the claims. “There was a media article regarding Nikon’s withdrawal of SLR development. This media article is only speculation and Nikon has made no announcement in this regards (sic). Nikon is continuing the production, sales and service of digital SLR,” its statement reads.

However, going by previous reports, it appears that the company is preparing to wind down DSLR production. Just last month, the camera manufacturer announced that the D3500 and D5600 DSLRs will be discontinued. In fact, if we rewind back to May, Nikon itself had hinted that it will be winding down DSLR camera production by 2025. Going by its earnings plan for 2025, a shift towards mirrorless cameras can be clearly observed.

As per Nikon’s document, mirrorless cameras were responsible for around half of the company’s revenue in 2021. The company projects that its share will rise to 82 percent by 2025. On the other hand, while DSLRs contributed around 30 percent, its share is expected to tumble down to a measly four percent by 2025. BCN Awards reported that the company’s DSLR sales fell to a market share of 34 percent.

Nikon last released an SLR camera back in 2020—the flagship D6. There have been no new SLR cameras since then. The publication adds that the company has already stopped manufacturing compact digital cameras.