Historic photography brand Nikon is to discontinue all but one of its film cameras to concentrate on making digital models.
Nikon has confirmed that it will also cease production of most interchangeable manual focus lenses and related accessories.
It will also stop production of all lenses for large format cameras and enlarging lenses.
However, Nikon will continue to make and sell its flagship F6 film-based SLR. While sales of the FM10 manual model will continue, but only outside Europe.
Cameras to be axed include the F55 and F65 SLR cameras.
The move comes as the company?s UK office reports that 95% of its UK business stems from digital kit.
?As the film camera market shrinks and the popularity of compact digital cameras increases, demand for products that offer advanced features and extra value is continuing to grow. High performance digital SLR cameras are performing well as users shift from film-based SLRs or upgrade from compact digital cameras to digital SLRs,?
reads a statement on the company?s UK website.
The first Nikon camera – the Nikon 1 rangefinder model – appeared in 1948, though Nikon?s association with photography dates back to 1917, the year when three of Japan?s leading optics manufacturers merged.
The following interchangeable manual lenses will survive: the Nikkor 20mm f/2.8; 24mm f/2.8; 28mm f/2.8; 35mm f/1.4; 50mm f/1.2; 50mm f/1.4, Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/2.8; Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 and PC Micro-Nikkor 85mm f/2.8D.
The company expects the discontinued kit to be available on the market until the summer.
No-one at Nikon UK was available for comment at the time of writing.
More details will appear in future issues of AP.
