Nikon + FujiFilm 4ever?
I got a report that Nikon may be BUYING FujiFilm. No I can’t substantiate it, no I can’t find anything but periodic reports of this going back for years. I’m not actually sure what Nikon would get out of it- possibly some sensor patents from Fuji like the one for using different sized pixels in their sensor to get better dynamic range.
Though I think it’d be smarter to simply license any patents Nikon would like, rather than buy Fuji wholesale. Also, Nikon seems to be doing fine in the sensor-design category itself…
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August 1st, 2008 at 1:14 am
I assume you meant “buy” Fujifilm. Fuji itself is huge. If they were willing to sell their camera division, Nikon would be buying on 6mp DSLR and a bunch of point & shoots– not (supposedly) a growing market.
However, it would be nice to see them expand on Fuji’s sensor concept. I have wondered if it would be possible to add a shadow sensor to complement Fuji’s highlight sensor. The resulting dynamic range might be amazing if the can keep the pixel count competitive.
Fuji has also made equipment for Hasselblad in the past. Maybe Nikon could enter the medium format market with cameras and lenses under the Fuji brand.
August 1st, 2008 at 2:36 pm
“Fuji has also made equipment for Hasselblad in the past. Maybe Nikon could enter the medium format market with cameras and lenses under the Fuji brand.”
Because that’s such a big, important market?? IMO, it makes absolutely no sense for Nikon to enter such a market. It doesn’t seem to me that Nikon wants to be in niche markets. That’s why they stopped making enlarger lenses and the like and why F-mount manual focus lenses (except for the new Tilt-Shifts) are special order only (at least in the U.S.)
August 1st, 2008 at 4:55 pm
this patent could well be the future o fuji sensors.
A great idea…
August 6th, 2008 at 12:31 am
Yeah, actually, medium format is rebounding. When prices come down from the stratosphere and there is some stability in platforms (Hasselblad has probably made some lifelong enemies in the last few years), I bet a lot of commercial studio photographers will invest in digital medium format.