• Nikonreseñas
  • Nikonreview
  • Fotoschool
  • Ode to Ugliness
  • Portfolio
  • Contact
  • Log in

Nikon's numbers are dropping. Why?

by gerard.prins on Sep 15, 2013 in Current Events
Nikon's numbers are dropping. Why?

Nikon are a hallmark of engineering prowess. In terms of IQ they have been beating the competition for the last half decade, or so.
There are 9 Nikon cameras in the DXO top-20 and Nikkor lenses typically get raging reviews.
So, why the company has been scrambling around new product strategies, recently, and why have the shares dropped off so dramatically?
The answer is as simple as complicated.
The Japanese adagio says that the importance of the project shines through in the details, and it’s in the details where Nikon are failing.
Nikon is engineering over customer experience, perfection over usability.
So rather than wondering why compact sales are dropping off, why the Nikon One is not the success they envisioned it to be, or why the market is concentrating elsewhere, they ought to ask themselves why the customer experience is not as expected.

It’s just plain, silly details
The D600 puking oil blobs all over the sensor is not exactly helpful, however, it’s Nikon’s response to the issue – or rather – the lack thereof, that has customers infuriated.
Even more so, now that rumors suggest they may launch a second gen camera – the D610 – that supposedly resolves the prob.
It's the D5200 beating the D7100 in image quality according to DXO.
And then there is the EN-EL3e false low battery warning (FLBW), which has customers scrambling all over the Web trying to figure out what is happening to them.
More than four years after the issue stuck its ugly head up, Nikon still have to formally respond to – let alone solve – a problem that is as actual today as it was four years ago.

Nikon's numbers are dropping. Why?
The Accessory Terminal, inverted...

Still, it’s the details of details that are the most tale-telling.
For example: they changed the position and/or inverted the orientation of the Accessory Terminal of the D90 on some of the posterior cameras – like the D7100, for example – meaning that the plugs of some third party accessories do not quite fit (photo).
They also introduce artificial limitations for non-Nikon devices, like GPS’s, for example, causing the gps-icon not to appear on the top LCD panel of the D600 and D7100.
Changing something that worked flawlessly ever since the D1X and hampers the customer experience for no obvious reason, is not just plain silly but also extremely annoying.




They introduced a "budget" $ 2.100 full-frame camera (D600) that is amateur in every possible way, even if only because it forgoes compatibility with 10-pin accessories and lacks a flash sync terminal, items that are included on the 500 dollar cheaper and five year older D300S.
Other examples are making a $ 800 camera like the D5200 incompatible with manual focus lenses and not including commander mode (wireless CLS flash control) or high speed FP sync on their entry-level cameras.
Let’s face it.
That’s not a matter of expensive including, but rather the result of plain stupid, marketing-driven excluding.
True: 90% of D3200 or D5200 customers may never ever want to mount a MF lens or wirelessly shoot an external flash, but those of us who look for an economical back-up camera might actually acquire one if only they included those very few relevant features that Nikon marketing has excluded from the price bracket.

Pros or amas?
Nikon recently posted a video, claiming they can service a pro camera in less than 25 minutes.
Good for them.
However, what moves the bottom line are not the pros but us simple house fathers who face daunting service terms, weeks of waiting to get our cameras back and absurd servicing fees.
Not even considering that Nikon stopped selling spare parts to non-Nikon service centers – even in the middle of nowhere – two years ago...
Company reputation today is not built on servicing the select few, but on properly servicing the masses and, frankly, Nikon suck at that.
They do not respond timely to customer issues, ignore failures and keep reconfiguring shit they ought not to reconfigure for any objective reason except thwart competition in areas that do not contribute to the bottom line to begin with.

In short. Why are Nikon’s numbers falling?
Not because they fail to make appealing products. They do.
It’s because they fail to pay attention to the details: customer experience and opportunely recognizing and solving customer issues that are there, at plain sight.
It's that simple (and that complicated).


Want to help?

I'm a freelancer!
If this article is useful to you, you might want to consider a small contribution. Thank you!

Tags: 2012 accessories back-up battery camera commander mode compatibility competition customer service d7100 d90 dxo mark economical en-el3e external flash false flash flbw focus full frame gps launch lens manual focus mf new nikkor nikon php problem products promote raw rumors service still strategy terms third party video warning
  • « October 8, 2013. Nikon launches the D610 to replace the 13 month-old D600
  • Geotagging test of the Nikon D7100 and the Promote GPS N-90 »

No feedback yet


Form is loading...

Comment feed for this post

Want to help?

I'm a freelancer!
If my work is useful to you, please consider a small contribution. Thank you!

Search

Translate


Who's Online?

  • Guest Users: 0

Articles

  • Astro photography for beginners
  • Upgrade or deal-breaker? Seven reasons not to buy the Nikon D7500 and get a D7200 instead
  • Your telescope as a super-tele lens: methods, tools, pros & cons of eyepiece projection and prime focus astrophotography
  • Home built heavy duty Crawford focuser with building plans
  • Is my camera motorized or motor-less, compatible with NAI, AI, AI-S, AI-P, AF-D, AF-I, AF-S lenses and GPS or not? Answers.
  • The Nikon F-mount. Manual focus NAI, AI, AI-S, AI-P, Series E and auto-focus AF-D, AF-I, AF-S, D- and G-Type lenses. A compatibility inventory
  • Why DxO Mark's lens “tests” are utter nonsense
  • Got a new camera? Problems with Photoshop or Camera RAW? Check out Nikon Capture NX-D. FREE!
  • Autofocus reloaded. AF-S, AF-C, AF-A, AF-F. 11, 39 and 51 point AF systems. Dynamic area AF, focus areas and 3D
  • When and how to use fill-in flash, high speed sync and slow sync flash
  • Adobe adds support for the Nikon Df, D610, D5300, D4S, D3300 and D810 in ACR 8.x (CS6 and CC ONLY)
  • Compatibility chart for Nikon DSLR and Adobe Camera RAW & DNG Converter (Updated 20-03)
  • 25-02-2014: Nikon launches the top-of-the-line 16.2 Mp. D4S
  • Cool Stuff V. Godox Witstro AD-180 & AD-360 portable bare-tube flashes
  • Good news for wildlife and sports shooters: Tamron launches the Di SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 VC USD
  • The Quick & Dirty Focus Test
  • Back Focus, Front Focus or Spot-on? Do the Domino Test
  • October 17, 2013. Nikon replace the D5200 with the D5300
  • October 8, 2013. Nikon launches the D610 to replace the 13 month-old D600
  • Nikon's numbers are dropping. Why?
  • Geotagging test of the Nikon D7100 and the Promote GPS N-90
  • How the DNG Converter makes your RAW files compatible with any version of ACR
  • Some very useful tips for shooting Video with your DSLR
  • Nikon announces to have produced the 80 millionth Nikkor
  • Adobe surveys potential CC customers. Mostly address the right issues, except the single most essential.
  • Flickr make a mayor change to their interface. Just in time or just too late?
  • Adobe Creative Cloud or CC. Cash Cows for Creative Criminals
  • Adobe adds support for the D5200 in ACR 7.3 and D7100 in 7.4 (CS6 Only)
  • Promote GPS 10-pin CA10 to D90-type CA90 connector conversion.
  • The D5200: Nikon’s most unnecessary launch ever.
  • Nikon's Premium Pricing and Pixel Overkill: A New Dead End Street?
  • Adobe adds support for the Nikon D600 in ACR 7.2 (CS6 only).
  • Adobe adds support for the D3200 in ACR 7.1 (CS6 only). D600 not yet supported.
  • Nikon D600 vs. D800. For what it offers, the D600 should cost $500 less.
  • EN-EL15 battery recall
  • To Goog Almighty: how do I get my search traffic back?
  • Adobe publishes Camera RAW and DNG Converter 6.7 final releases. The last for CS5.
  • Nikon launches the long overdue AF-S 28 mm f/1.8G Nikkor
  • Nikon launches the D3200, the WU-1a wireless mobile adapter and the 28mm f/1.8G prime lens
  • Flickr is dead. Long live Facebook
  • XQD vs. Compact Flash on the Nikon D4. Which is the fastest?
  • Adobe ACR 6.7 RC (CS5 only) and Nikon updates add support for the D4, D800/800E. Nikon software now also x64 native.
  • The new Nikon D800. Medium Format akin or not? A spec comparison with the Pentax 645D
  • January 2012. Nikon launches the D4. Time for a review of its product strategy.
  • That's it for Nikon in 2011
  • October 5, 2011. A farewell to Steve Jobs.
  • September 21, 2011. Nikon launches Nikon One: 2 mirror-less cameras, 4 lenses, and a host of accessories.
  • August 24, 2011. Nikon may finally give us the launches we have been waiting for. (Edited) Well, I guess not.
  • Sigma discontinues the 100-300mm f/4. Time to call upon Nikon for an affordable 400 and 500 mm
  • EN-EL3 rechargeable battery recall (D50, D70, D70s, D100)
  • Nikon launches the D5100 and the ME-1 stereo microphone for digital SLR
  • Cool Stuff IV. The Strobies XS bracket: turn your hot-shoe flash into a studio flash.
  • New software releases from Nikon, Adobe and Apple
  • Mac OS X 10.6 Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update. Support for the Nikon D7000 and CP7000, among others.
  • Cool stuff III. The Superclamp: don't leave home without one (or two)
  • Adobe launches Camera RAW (CS5 ONLY) and DNG converter 6.3 RC. Support for the Nikon D7000 and D3100, among others.
  • Missed the D7000 launch, but went to Amsterdam, played the tourist, met my grandson and “tested” the D7000, Pentax 645D at Photokina
  • Nikon launch their own on-line store in the US. Unfortunately, it's outrageously expensive.
  • Nikon & NASA. Almost 40 years together in space.
  • Cool Stuff II: lenta.ru. Probably the coolest portal on the planet, right now.
  • Cool Stuff I: GoPro HERO wearable, waterproof 1080p HD digital video and still “sports” camera
  • The rumors were not too far off: Nikon launch the D3100 with the 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6G VR.
  • Nikon View: could it get any worse? A crash test review of View NX2.
  • The rumors are no longer rumors. Nikon launch their new Coolpixes S1100 Pj and S5100.
  • NEW! Nikon View NX 2 now available for download.
  • Adobe Labs publishes the Camera RAW ACR 6.2 release candidate (CS5 Only) and DNG Converter v.6.2.
  • It's that time of the year again. Rumors about new Nikon DSLR cameras: D3100 and D7000 (D95).
  • JPG vs. RAW, 8-bits vs. 16-bits, sRGB vs. wide-gamut RGB. Which to choose, when and why
  • Shot befittingly with a Nikon: my grandson
  • Nikon EN-EL3e false low-battery warning problem. Possible solutions.
  • Swamped in comment Spam
  • Geo-tagging Flickr images: the coolest game on (Google) Earth.
  • Adobe releases Camera RAW ACR 5.7, probably the last update for CS4.
  • The earthquake in Chile and the power of photography.
  • Nikon updates software. Now compatible with Apple Snow Leopard (OS 10.6.x) and Windows 7, Vista 32/64 bits.
  • I'm not the only one who thinks Adobe is Lazy...
  • Nikon introduce 7 new Coolpix cameras. Finally move their butt, um, sensor. Launch their first BSI-CMOS in the P100.
  • Can I use Nikkor AI and AI-S manual focus lenses on my Nikon DSLR? Yes, you can!
  • Nikon's greatest hits, 1999-2009
  • Adobe Camera RAW ACR 5.6 RC (CS4 only) now available for download. Support for the Nikon D3S, among others
  • Green pictures in Nikon View?
  • Nikon View NX does not work on Snow Leopard (OS 10.6)
  • 14-10-2009. Nikon launch the D3S with 12.800 standard ISO plus the DX 85mm f/3.5 micro-Nikkor
  • RIP: the Nikon D300, officially discontinued
  • Which is the best RAW converter: Camera RAW, Nikon View, Capture or Phase One Capture One?
  • Adobe Camera RAW 5.5 Release Candidate (Free, CS4 ONLY). Support for the Nikon D300S and D3000
  • New Nikon camera? Photoshop or Camera RAW Trouble? Check out Nikon View NX! (Updated)
  • 30-07-2009: Nikon Launch the D300s and D3000 cameras. Specs here.
  • Nikon service advisory for a power related problem with the D5000 (certain serial numbers only)
  • The rumors confirmed: launch date for the Nikon D300s and D3000.
  • A good laugh for our Dutch friends...
  • My Nikon wish list. Some of it I can afford, some not (yet).
  • D5000 & 18-55, 55-200 Outfit for the price of a D90 (Body alone)
  • In depth D5000 review on DPreview
  • Competition for the Nikon GP-1(a). Promote Systems GPS N-90 for the D90, D6x0, D7K and D5K series, the D3100 and D3200
  • Nikon D300, D90 & D80 EN-EL3e false low-battery warning problem.
  • Let's stick it to Adobe and Nikon! 3 Alternatives to upgrading RAW software every time you get a new camera
  • Plausible rumors about the specs of the new Nikon D300s and more...
  • Adobe Camera RAW 5.4 Release Candidate (CS4 ONLY). Support for the Nikon D5000 and other cameras.
  • Teaser Campaign for the D400? More rumors: D400, D750.
  • Nikon D300, out of stock or discounted in stores in the US, France and Sweden. D40 and D80 discontinued in Europe.
  • Adobe now officially WORSE than MS. Sell by NOT doing, rather than doing.
  • “Geotagging” with your Nikon. Review of the Promote GPS N-1
  • Review: Nikon D40 + AF-S DX 18-55 mm. f/3.5-5.6GII ED kit. Maybe the best Nikon ever?
  • My Nikon cameras, the ones to come and why.
  • Review: 18-200 mm. f/3.5-6.3D IF DC Sigma. You can't have it All.
  • Review: APO 100-300mm f/4D EX HSM Sigma. Sharpness on a Shoestring
  • Review: AT-X PRO 12-24mm f/4G DX Tokina. Big Bang for your Buck
  • Dictionary of (digital) photography terms and abbreviations

©2021 by Gerard Prins All content of this blog is copyrighted. Articles may be reproduced only when providing a byline and a link to the original article. Images may not be reproduced without previous, written permission of their author(s). • Contact • Help • blog software • PHP hosting