Nikons Thailand factory flooded possible damage to Canon & Sony plants

[Flake]

http://nikonrumors.com/2011/10/11/nikons-official-statement-on-the-flooding-in-thailand.aspx/#more-23574

Comming after they moved production there following the Tsunami

 

[Polansky]

http://nikonrumors.com/2011/10/11/nikons-official-statement-on-the-flooding-in-thailand.aspx/#more-23574

Comming after they moved production there following the Tsunami

Nothing to really be worried about:

Canon's plant is one for inkjet printers, and is not being used for the production of camera gear.

"Canon Inc. halted operations at its inkjet printer plant in Ayutthaya because of flooding and will keep the factory closed tomorrow as a precautionary measure, Hirotomo Fujimori, a Tokyo- based spokesman for the company, said by phone today. "

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

Photo of the Nikon plant, it looks ugly.

http://ow.ly/i/iVa4

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

And now, Nikon has issued a press release

http://www.nikon.com/news/2011/1011_01_e.htm

Bad news for all photographers, in the long run, we pay in higher prices and product delays.

 

[Flake]

If this has affected production of Pro bodies then it could potentially delay the launch of the D800, and as Canon always seem to follow Nikon, the delay of Canons 5D MkII replacement.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

What about those new Canon Pixma Printers about to be announced? Isn't anyone worried?

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

If this has affected production of Pro bodies then it could potentially delay the launch of the D800, and as Canon always seem to follow Nikon, the delay of Canons 5D MkII replacement.

Unless Nikon moved production after the Quake, the D700 was made in Japan.

Lenses are made in Thailand, as well as the consumer DSLR's. This will hit Nikon hard, since the factory was likely running full tilt churning out cameras for Christmas sales. It is likely that 70% of those made for Christmas cameras and lenses have been shipped, but even a 30% cut in Christmas $$$ would hit extremely hard.

Canon announcements are on their own schedule, and won't be affected by a shortage of Nikon lenses. I doubt if any Nikon body announcements will be delayed unless they are for P&S.

Right now, the Canon decision to move some production to Taiwan rather than Thailand is looking wise.

 

[Gothmoth]

Right now, the Canon decision to move some production to Taiwan rather than Thailand is looking wise.

as long as they don´t move production to india or china.....

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

Right now, the Canon decision to move some production to Taiwan rather than Thailand is looking wise.

as long as they don´t move production to india or china.....

That has already happened long ago with many of the components. Final assembly of Canon Pro DSLR's is in Japan, and critical components are made in Japan, but this will be changing.

Most noticible to a end user, is my recent BP-E6 Canon DSLR battery which went from "Made in Japan" on the ones I bought in 2008 to "Cell made in Japan, assembled in China" on a battery dated 2010. I don't know when the switch was made.