Japanese market sales figures for H1 2010: Nikon is #1

[synn]

The domestic market is where all manufacturers market the most aggressively and this is a huge win for Nikon:

http://nikonrumors.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/nikon-ranking-2010.png

Surprised to see such a huge dip from Canon and it seems Panny, Oly and Pentax all profited from it along with Nikon.

Here are the top individual DSLR models:

http://nikonrumors.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/nikon-d90-top-ranking-sales.png

One interesting sign is that the 7D is comfortably outselling the D300s. Definitive sign that customers are holding back for that D400 which they have been waiting for quite some time now.

[KrishnenduKes]

Not surprising to see the way Nikon has improved and arguably gone ahead of Canon in the past 2 years in quality and AF performance.

Approved

[CrAzY PiCs]

Not surprising to see the way Nikon has improved and arguably gone ahead of Canon in the past 2 years in quality and AF performance.

Approved
Another good reason seems to be the reduction in price of D90. D90 was always a fantastic cam, and it recently became highly affordable. Its raining D90s in most forums, although its been taken off stores in several international markets.

500D from Canon was not a huge hit IMHO. Have seen negative opinion about it. 550D should help Canon recover!

And, D3000 - D5000 - D90 lineup seems to cover the price band better, compared to 1000D - 550D lineup. This segment accounts for majority sales in the DSLR category.

[anvancy-(macro analyst)]

Nikon is gonna get even better once they launch the D3100(mass market grabber).Thats where even the video tech of nikon will start to outshine the canon.

Anvancy

[Bibudesh]

Now these guys are running short of innovative ideas in still photography tech.They are all fighting on the video capability now.

I don't know how much attraction they are going to grab with hi-fi video capability. A lot of cost cutting is already visible in the entry level camera build quality.

I cannot see any difference in the plastic quality of my D40 and D300. But the plastic quality of D60 till D5000 is toy like cheapo.

Similar problem in Canon as well. I have not handheld the 7D, but till 50D segment its only the 50D/40D which feels good on plastic quality, others are again toyish.

[KrishnenduKes]

Similar problem in Canon as well. I have not handheld the 7D, but till 50D segment its only the 50D/40D which feels good on plastic quality, others are again toyish.

The 5D MkII is not cheap! If I remember correctly, it even has weather sealing! You can't do that on a cheap build I assume.

[synn]

some things:

SP: The D300 is NOT made of plastic. It has a metal alloy body with full weather sealing. It may FEEL the same as your D40, but one 3 foot drop would tell you who the real daddy is.

As for the 5D Mk II, I feel it could use some re-enforcements in the build quality department. I use one extensively these days and the build is nowhere near as confidence inspiring as say, a D700. (It only has partial weather sealing like the 40/50D) The 7D is a step in the right direction with pro level build rivaling the D300/700, so I hope the 5D Mk III would be in a similar vein.

While I agree with SP that way too much interest is given to video by the manufacturers these days, it's a necessary evil. Can't really help it as the indy movie makers have really embraced video on DSLRs. Gen III Nikons are supposed to get a super fast, continuous AF for video+ 1080p with AVHCD, so this should be the first challenge to Canon in that arena.

But I wouldn't really say that they aren't concentrating on the other arenas. Sensors are always improving WRT color reproductions and high ISO performance, across brands. Ditto AF tech. Yes, there's some cost cutting involved, but not where it hurts.

---

On topic though, these figures tell an interesting story. The entry level had long been a Canon stronghold and it seems that Nikon has successfully penetrated it with the D3000/ 5000 duo (And not to mention the D90 which is the best seller in the list. Imagine that, a 2 year old model!) with excellent marketing and pricing. Even Nikon India, which has a history of horrible pricing seems to have learned a lesson and cut prices across the board, from what I hear.

[powerslave]

I'm not surprised. This better be a good kick to Canon to innovate like they used to and not be followers.

Do you have any stats on their worldwide and North American sales compared?

[Bibudesh]

I think my point was misunderstood.
@Ken with 50D I meant the model till 50D and no model further. i.e. models like 1000D, 500D, 550D etc. Certainly 5D comes with a weather seal.

@Synn- I am aware of the mag alloy construction of D300. With plastic quality I mean the outer coating of plastic. The outer plastic coating quality of D300 and D40 is same.

[synn]

Do you have any stats on their worldwide and North American sales compared?

Believe me, I've tried. The closest I came to accurate figs were some paid reports.

Usually, I wait till end of the year for Thom Hogan's year-end thoughts to see the figs.

Edit: I could find something until 2008: http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.photoscala.de%2FArtikel%2FDSLR-Welt-im-Wandel

Considering that all of Nikon's killer cameras came after 2008, I won't be surprised if they made up that 1% deficit by now.

Edit 2:

http://www.techradar.com/news/photography-video-capture/nikon-snaps-up-dslr-number-one-spot-489831

"The official announcement is that Nikon is "number one for share by volume in the UK, Europe, USA and Japan."

That's for 2008.

So I'm guessing Canon clawed back the lead worldwide that year due to strong showing in other markets. India, for instance.