Digital photography continues to shake up the photography landscape. Today Konica/Minolta announced that they are withdrawing from the camera business and the photo business.
Konica Minolta has long been a leading company in photo imaging business covering wide range of imaging from input to output. In addition, we have provided inspiring products and services by fusing our unique technologies.
In camera business, we have expanded picture-taking opportunities by developing innovative technologies such as the worlds first autofocus cameras. In 1962, our camera, well-accepted for its high reliability, boarded on the USs first manned spaceship Friendship 7. Also, ever since introduction of the worlds first body-integral autofocus SLR camera, Maxxum/Dynax series, in 1985, SLR cameras have become more popular among picture-takers, and we have succeeded in selling 16 million units of interchangeable lenses since then.
However, in todays era of digital cameras, where image sensor technologies such as CCD is indispensable, it became difficult to timely provide competitive products even with our top optical, mechanical and electronics technologies.
This comes shortly after Nikon announced that it was going to stop making analogue cameras:
Japanese camera equipment maker Nikon said on Thursday it will focus on digital photography and stop producing most of its film cameras, except for a few professional photographer products.
“Nikon will discontinue production of all lenses for large format cameras and enlarging lenses. This also applies to most of our film camera bodies, interchangeable manual focus lenses and related accessories,” it said in a statement on its British website.
Will the last camera manufacturer to leave, please shut off the light.
