Ethan pointed out to me this press release from Nikon UK that points out that Nikon Japan is getting rid of most 35mm SLR film bodies, all large-format lenses and enlarging lenses, many manual focus 35mm lenses and related accessories.
I emphasize the word “most†because many people are reading this as “all†when, in fact, the Nikon F6 is still being manufactured and sold worldwide along with the Nikon FM10 for some markets. The former is the latest (and possibly last) in a long line of 35mm cameras that people like me used to dream about owning as kids. The latter is an all-manual camera that has a special place in my heart because I hijacked an eyepiece from its grandfather, the FM2 to build my D70 eyecup replacement.
Does anyone else find it interesting that this latest news of the dominance of digital came from Nikon UK? I noticed most of the nice digital photography and photoshop magazines seem to be published there.
NB: Don’t you love how the press release tries to spin this in a positive manner?
Slashdot picks this up with an article surprisingly similar to mine. The commentary is the usual slashdot faire: a few accurate gems mixed in with a whole lot of bullshit.
Here is the Nikon USA Press Release.
Ken Rockwell’s take on it.