year of the Nikon ?

[Paul_B]

Is it me, or is the market flooded with Nikon ads.

Do not take this some kind of flame war. I'm perfectly happy with my 20D, and just 2 weeks ago bought a used 1D Mk2N. I made an informed decision a few years back, and happy to stick with it.

Lately, I'm seeing so many ads for Nikon. I'm wondering is it what the consumer is shopping for, or Nikon spending extra on advertising.

I'm in Toronto, and I can tell you, for the past few months, every, Best Buy, Future Shop, Henry's,,.... flyer, has been, at best guess, 75% Nikon cameras.

Today, I pick up one of those free local papers, and it contains a 16pg full colour ad, every camera in it is Nikon. Only when you get to the last page, then you see it's paid for by nikon.ca

Either it's Nikon putting a lot of money in advertising, or it's the company's advertising what the current buying public wants.

I dunno, either Nikon put a extra couple of $100,000 into advertising this year, or all the sellers are betting everyone wants Nikon for this year.

[gjl711]

Nikon has four outstanding bodies, the D3, D700, D300, D90 all of which are giving Canon a serious run for the money. believe Nikon is making the push to overtake Canon in SLR sales. Seems that they have already done so in Japan and are looking at the rest of the world to do the same.

[Natural Imagez]

i seen a post on MM that Nikon is suppose to be announcing their d3x on monday. 24.5 mp full frame to compete with the 1dsmkiii. but nikon really semms to be doing alot of advertising. only canon ones i see are for the xsi during football games on sunday evenings.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/28/nikon-outs-d3x-in-own-pro-magazine/

[JeffreyG]

Nikon is certainly flooding my local camera store and the ads in my paper of late. I cannot recall seeing Canon flyers in a long time.

[SoundsGood]

year of the Nikon ?
Yes.

[gjl711]

I seem to remember Nikon doing the same thing about this time last year. It does seem that Canon uses print adds much more then TV though.

[austincabot]

Advertising tells the Consumer what they want. So you're right on both counts.

[Paul_B]

I understand Nikon have some good bodies this year.

Just wonder why Canon doesn't feel it necessary to also put some money out. Perhaps they aren't seeing any hit.

Nikon and/or the sellers are pouring dough into selling the Nikon brand.

[SoundsGood]

Maybe Nikon is selling a LOT of cameras... which means more revenue... which means more money available for marketing. Who knows.

[rehype]

It seems nikon overtook canon in the UK this past month. link (http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/news/Nikon_overtakes_Canon_in_camera_sales_Breaking_New s_news_272854.html)

[brianch]

This is a great thing for us as well... Having competition will make Canon realize that if they don't start listening to US, they are going to continue to loose business.

[K6AZ]

I don't make my buying decisions based on advertising, I buy what fits my needs the best. Right now that's Canon for outdoors. I still use a Nikon for copy work.

[madhatter04]

After this wave of Nikon, there will be a wave of Canon, then Nikon, then Canon, etc, etc. It's competiton. :)

[MLphoto]

Funny you mention this... i changed my Canon XTI with 17-85 too Nikon D300 with 18-200 recently.

[picturecrazy]

My local camera store currently has a life sized cardboard cutout of Avril Lavigne holding a rebel. I guess that is canon's answer to the flood of nikon ads.

[speedy_2]

I'm not biased one way or the other. But the Nikon Commercials with Ashton Kutcher are getting annoying. They're showing him with the DSLR's in a very annoying way. A lot of "chimping" and what feels like an amateur who just snaps a bunch of pics at anything. Or one who just buys a DSLR to get attention. That's pretty much all their commercials convey to me and it's annoying.

[jwcdds]

Well, the Ashton Kutcher - Nikon commercials seem to be aimed more towards the female population. Cuz I certainly don't pay attention to it, but I'm sure the ladies are now all aware of "Nikon".

It's pretty smart marketing, IMO. Because a woman is more likely to buy eletronic gifts for her husband, boyfriend, sons, etc... Nikon gets their name across to the "shopping majority" (women), and more than likely translates to higher sales this season.

[MLphoto]

I'm not biased one way or the other. But the Nikon Commercials with Ashton Kutcher are getting annoying.

Canon commercials with Avril lavigne are already annoying for me.

[ed rader]

Maybe Nikon is selling a LOT of cameras... which means more revenue... which means more money available for marketing. Who knows.


i'll bet both companies are getting hammered in this global recession :D.

ed rader

[dave kadolph]

I was in my local store this week and they were pushing the entry level Nikons.

Their Black Friday ad--a 6 page Nikon color spread--offers a D60 with 2 VR lenses and a case for $725. The equivalent XSI kit is $165.00 more

They mentioned that they were getting some $$$ on the backside to allow them to sell below cost--and buy market share--which equates to brand loyalty come upgrade time.

[MLphoto]

Anyone thinking of swiching because of this?

[FlyingPhotog]

Well, the Ashton Kutcher - Nikon commercials seem to be aimed more towards the female population. Cuz I certainly don't pay attention to it, but I'm sure the ladies are now all aware of "Nikon".

It's pretty smart marketing, IMO. Because a woman is more likely to buy eletronic gifts for her husband, boyfriend, sons, etc... Nikon gets their name across to the "shopping majority" (women), and more than likely translates to higher sales this season.

Very astute observation...

[FlyingPhotog]

i'll bet both companies are getting hammered in this global recession :D.

ed rader

With Canon having a more diversified total product line, are they weathering it better than Nikon do you think?

[ed rader]

With Canon having a more diversified total product line, are they weathering it better than Nikon do you think?

canon is off about 50% in the past year. i think nikon went deeper but has recovered some ground and is off less .... probably because of all the great cameras they've brought to market :D.

i know for a fact that semiconductor sales have gone off the cliff in the past quarter and except for a bump up to replenish stock there's no turnaround anywhere in sight.

so times are tough and they are expected to stay that way for quite awhile (imo).

ed rader

[radiohead]

I'm with ed - Nikon and Canon will be pushing to clean up this year and could well push smaller players to the wall. Now is not the time to be timid.

[DanY0]

Well, the Ashton Kutcher - Nikon commercials seem to be aimed more towards the female population. Cuz I certainly don't pay attention to it, but I'm sure the ladies are now all aware of "Nikon".

It's pretty smart marketing, IMO. Because a woman is more likely to buy eletronic gifts for her husband, boyfriend, sons, etc... Nikon gets their name across to the "shopping majority" (women), and more than likely translates to higher sales this season.

Time to bring back Andre Agassi?

[MikeCaine]

i changed my Canon XTI with 17-85 too Nikon D300 with 18-200 recently.

I love my Nikon D300, 18-200 and GPS receiver, It's a great travel kit. I'm off to Switzerland this Christmas and I don't know whether to take the Nik or my 5D MkII, assuming it arrives soon.

[coldcase]

I see Nikon in almost any TV shows that use a DSLR like all the CSI etc...Exactly like you can see that almost all TV shows use Apple or Dell computers.

You look at a program like Nature on PBS and Canon sponsors that program.

Nikon has Kutcher and Canon has Lavigne and Sharapova....

But yes Nikon has increased their marketing and visual presence to the general public this year.

[jdizzle]

NIkon has definitely upped the ante with their new bodies. I'm seriously interested in the D3X! :)

[gjl711]

Anyone thinking of swiching because of this?Nope. Not me at least.

NIkon has definitely upped the ante with their new bodies. ....Yes they have and it seems Canon hasn't really gotten the message yet. Nikon is very willing to put their por features into a pro-sumer body but Canon keeps resisting. Canon could have done that with the 50D, including a pro focus and some other toys thus differentiating the 50 and 40 and also with the 5DII.

[Jon_Doh]

Canon is on the ropes right now doing their imitation of Ali's rope a dope.

[dave kadolph]

Canon is on the ropes right now doing their imitation of Ali's rope a dope.

With Nikon aggressively pursuing the entry level market and gaining market share on the pro level--how long can we expect to wait?

[saristeguieta]

though competition is good for the consumer; companies and corporations sometims fail to realize the market's ups and downs. I hope Canon is wised enough to know what it takes to be a major player in the SRL digital World. Many companies larger than Canon have gone bankrupt in the past, and many will go under in the future. In my opinion Nikon is putting out better better products and letting the public know about it.

[thrash_273]

ashton is rocking the ads.

[shutterbugcrazy]

I want to upgrade from my 20d to a 40d and what better time than black friday.. I checked EVERY sale ad in my paper and all I see are Nikon dslr on sale and I only seen one canon (50d kit) on sale. Nikon should sell more this holiday season because of these sells and instant rebates, what's canon waiting for?

[Yohan Pamudji]

Canon is on the ropes right now doing their imitation of Ali's rope a dope.

That works on so many levels. Nikon's recent stuff has been more attack-minded (grab market share back from Canon with aggressive feature sets) while Canon's has been more defensive (protect pro camera market share by not releasing non 1-series cameras with pro features). Canon seem to be on the ropes, and I'm not sure they even realize it yet if their current product strategy is any indication.

At the same time, Canon might be well aware of Nikon's ascendancy and simply haven't had time to adapt. After all, Nikon's revolutionary releases have only come within the last year or so, which is too short a time for Canon to design an "answer" to that. The next wave of Canons will be telling.

The saying "competition is good" is generally true, but only if the parties involved know that they're in a competition. Canon act like they don't know they're getting punched, but we'll see how they're really thinking in a year or two. Is it rope-a-dope, or have they been blindsided? We'll see.

[beepclick]

Companies advertise for one reason: to persuade people to buy their product who would not buy the product without being told repeatedly how good and desirable it is. If Nikon had the sales volume they desired, they would not need to advertise.

I, too, am getting deluged with Nikon full-color glossy ads. I use them as shelf-liners in my Canon gear closet.

[SoundsGood]

...the Nikon Commercials with Ashton Kutcher are getting annoying. They're showing him with the DSLR's in a very annoying way. A lot of "chimping" and what feels like an amateur who just snaps a bunch of pics at anything.
That's exactly the target market for most of their products.

[Croasdail]

That's exactly the target market for most of their products.

D3x, D3, D700, and D300 are for the chimping crowd? Dang! I must admit, if I were starting over from scratch and looking for a sub $1,000 camera body... the D90 is pretty dang compelling. But yes, that is a camera aimed squarely at the mid level person who loves to say at the party - " hey, look at this... awsome!"

[SoundsGood]

D3x, D3, D700, and D300 are for the chimping crowd? Dang!
Not what I said. Those ads are promoting "Nikon"... all Nikon... not just a particular body. And most Nikon products are sold to the masses, not just to photographers. THAT's who the Kutcher ads are aimed at.

[jfinke]

Not what I said. Those ads are promoting "Nikon"... all Nikon... not just a particular body. And most Nikon products are sold to the masses, not just to photographers. THAT's who the Kutcher ads are aimed at.

How is that different than Maria Sharapova for Canon?

Don't get me wrong, I would rather look at Maria than Ashton being an idiot all day long.

But, I have got to think that the majority of equipment from both companies is sold to the general public. I certainly cannot afford to go out and purchase a 1DsMIII.

[HappySnapper90]

At the same time, Canon might be well aware of Nikon's ascendancy and simply haven't had time to adapt. After all, Nikon's revolutionary releases have only come within the last year or so, which is too short a time for Canon to design an "answer" to that. The next wave of Canons will be telling.


Canon has had enough time. They took 1 year to put the 50D out because the d300 was announced just after the 40D was announced and then the 50D came out a year later with higher iso settings (with more noise), 5MP more and AF adjustments and a better LCD screen. I hardly call that to be anything to grab new buyers' attention. Though adding video capture in the 50D too instead of just into the 5D2 would have been a lot better. Buyers migrate to the d90 instead of Canon because it has video.

[DStanic]

I like the fact that Avril is an "artist", so hopefully she'd take better pictures than that goofy Ashton Kutcher. lol

Canon had a good year, but Nikon had a GREAT year. Although I still haven't seen many 50Ds in stores yet, and IMO the 5Dii is not part of 2008. The 50D while a nice camera, did not improve IQ enough. Therefore my next camera will likely be a used 40D ($700 hellz ya!).

Hopefully Canon will release some killer pro cameras for 2009. :)

[jdizzle]

Yes they have and it seems Canon hasn't really gotten the message yet. Nikon is very willing to put their por features into a pro-sumer body but Canon keeps resisting. Canon could have done that with the 50D, including a pro focus and some other toys thus differentiating the 50 and 40 and also with the 5DII.
I agree. I wanted the 5D MK II but, after really thinking about it, I'm really turned off by it. IQ is def. on par with the 5D MK II but, it doesn't have the extra features I want like pro AF. Nikon has answered peoples needs in mind and Canon doesn't listen to their customers. I'm just stating my opinion so let's not get into a Canon vs. Nikon flame debate. :) Thanks!

[static808]

sharapova is for the powershot cameras. bring back agassi!!!

[jfinke]

sharapova is for the powershot cameras. bring back agassi!!!

Yeah, but Kutcher has been advertising that stupid P&S with a touchscreen LCD. I haven't seen that dumb wedding commercial in a while.

I did just see the D90 (I think) commercial where he is packing for some trip or something.

[austincabot]

Nikon is for Women, Canon is for Men :lol: