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WiFi in cameras "means the end of film" - Nikon switches to nearly all digital

Which is better - film, or digital photography? The arguments won't end, just because Nikon - flagship manufacturer of traditional cameras - has announced that it is ceasing production of anything except two analogue models. But WiFi cameras are just too useful for the modern news pro - and there's no way of converting ordinary film to a wireless email, the company says.

Already, 95% of Nikon sales are digital. In the more demanding professional arena, said an executive today, "it's probably more like 80% digital, 20% analogue, because there are people who will only work with film. But even they are coming across."

Wireless, says Nikon, is the crunch. "The difference between digital and analogue is something people argue about," said the Nikon executive, "but for sports coverage, the advantage of getting your pictures back immediately has meant they're all going digital."

http://www.newswireless.net/index.cfm/article/1633 WiFi at Wimbledon was a Nikon innovation.  Photographers with radio-equipped cameras can literally transmit each shot back to the Editor at the touch of the cliche-operated button. Snappers with film to process may shoot two rolls, and then discover - hours later - that they aren't good.

Does this mean Nikon will stop making top-class film cameras?

"No; we're the only company to announce a new model, with our F6, in the last year."

The full text of the Nikon announcement is on the UK web site. It stresses that current owners won't be abandoned:

"As a result of the new strategy Nikon will discontinue production of all lenses for large format cameras and enlarging lenses with sales of these products ceasing as soon as they run out of stock," said the release. "This also applies to most of our film camera bodies, interchangeable manual focus lenses and related accessories. Nikon anticipates that the products will still be in retail distribution up to Summer 2006."

Canon took slight exception to one aspect of Nikon's announcement, issuing a brief statement that they would continue to sell film SLR cameras "as long as there is a demand" - but couldn't find anybody free to discuss how small the demand would have to get before they'd give up. "But yes, the market has mostly gone to digital, even at the top end. Enthusiasts will want to work with film for some time, probably."Tags: Nikon digital camera, WiFi, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi camera