EU common charger directive kills the DSLR?

From 28 December 2024, the EU’s common charger directive will come into effect, meaning that electronic devices that cannot be charged via USB-C won’t be sold in the EU. This includes phones and digital cameras, including cameras in Nikon’s DSLR lineup.

The directive was first made in 2022 and manufacturers have already been taking this into account. With the release of the iPhone 15 series, Apple notably swapped its previously used Lightning cable for a USB-C one to comply with the EU’s directive.

While older mirrorless cameras are also affected, an article by DSLR bodies explains why this might finally kill off DSLRs in Europe, noting that this, given that Europe accounts for 20-25% of recent shipments, might give camera manufacturers a ‘reason’ to drop their DSLR lineups and cause them to mostly or completely disappear in Europe in 2025.

A European Commission spokesperson said regarding existing products, ‘This will not prevent existing stock of equipment that have been placed on the market before the entry into application of the new rules to be sold legally after the entry into application of the new rules. You can find further and detailed guidance on that matter in the ‘Blue Guide’.’

We’ve contacted Nikon, Canon, OM-Systems, and Ricoh Imaging for comment.

Sources: DSLR bodies.