Well this is interesting

[smoke665]

According to a released report by Japan Camera Industry Association (JCIA), By the end of the 2024 fiscal year, the modern Big Five—ranked by camera-and-lens revenue—look like this:

• Canon Inc. - ¥937.4 billion
  Imaging Systems Division: cameras + lenses (sec.gov + global.canon + cined.com).
• Sony Group (Minolta legacy) - ¥609 billion
  Photo and video cameras within the ET & S segment.
• Fujifilm Holdings - ¥540 billion
  Imaging Solutions (Instax + X/GFX).
• Nikon Corporation - ¥295.4 billion
  Imaging Products Business (Z-series).
• Ricoh Imaging - ¥35.8 billion

 

[cgw]

They might all look back fondly on those numbers after the likely effect of the tariff downdraft by late 2025.

 

[VidThreeNorth]

What I find interesting is that the CIPA numbers show year over year increases of interchangeable lens bodies and lenses up to June 2025. Relatively steady growth in unit sales. It looks to me like the industry is about as healthy has been typical.

 

[gk fotografie]

According to a released report by Japan Camera Industry Association (JCIA), By the end of the 2024 fiscal year, the modern Big Five—ranked by camera-and-lens revenue—look like this:

• Canon Inc. - ¥937.4 billion
  Imaging Systems Division: cameras + lenses (sec.gov + global.canon + cined.com).
• Sony Group (Minolta legacy) - ¥609 billion
  Photo and video cameras within the ET & S segment.
• Fujifilm Holdings - ¥540 billion
  Imaging Solutions (Instax + X/GFX).
• Nikon Corporation - ¥295.4 billion
  Imaging Products Business (Z-series).
• Ricoh Imaging - ¥35.8 billion

It's a good thing none of these companies rely solely on cameras and lenses, because the results seem substantial, but aren't exactly impressive.
A sum of 900 billion yen is roughly 6 billion dollars, or 5 billion euros. Keep in mind that this (in all likelihood) represents gross revenue, not net profit, which is hardly worthwhile for these companies.

For example, consider a Dutch company like ASML, with over 28 billion euros in revenue and a whopping 7.6 billion euros in profit (!), or a company like Heineken with a turnover of 36 billion euros. I'm not particularly impressed. Let's hope that Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm, etc., can all keep their photographic products divisions intact in the coming years.
Incidentally, as I recently read, there's a good chance that these Japanese companies will export significantly less to the US in the coming years, resulting in camera prices in the US skyrocketing, while in Europe, among other places, prices will actually drop sharply due to the increased supply of Japanese cameras, which is actually quite welcome.

Ordinary American citizens probably haven't fully grasped it yet, but they'll ultimately be paying the price for the enormous import duties imposed by 'big-mouthed Oedipus' if that's not already the case.

 

[smoke665]

Incidentally, as I recently read, there's a good chance that these Japanese companies will export significantly less to the US in the coming years, resulting in camera prices in the US skyrocketing, while in Europe, among other places, prices will actually drop sharply due to the increased supply of Japanese cameras, which is actually quite welcome.

Market share data on camera equipment is all over the board, so finding reliable data is difficult. I've seen estimates of 6-7 billion in the US and 3-4 billion in the European market. From what I've read the US market is expected to grow by over 3% (over12B by 2030) while the European market is predicted to be less than 1%, so I'd think it would be highly unlikely the Japanese will abandon this market. As to any tariff effect, in reality, they've been less than expected on the consumer, with much of the cost being absorbed by retailers, distributors and manufacturers. Now that the US has inked a trade deal with Japan which sets tariffs at a reciprocal 15%, and brings substantial investment from Japan in the US it will be pretty much business as usual. Another side note to the tariffs is the talk that a "rebate" of sorts to US taxpayers from tariffs revenue may be in the works. Money giveaways equal spending.

 

[gk fotografie]

American importers will all pay the bill for the 15% higher prices manufacturers will charge, and importers will pass these higher prizes on to American consumers, or don't you think so? So, in the end, there's zero revenue from tariffs, let alone any revenue that will be distributed among American taxpayers! Plenty of manufacturers worldwide will largely ignore the US market in the coming years, especially if the percentages suddenly go up again. But, enough of this, keep believing in fairy tales; perhaps, once Trump is gone, they might just come true, who knows...

Market share data on camera equipment is all over the board, so finding reliable data is difficult. I've seen estimates of 6-7 billion in the US and 3-4 billion in the European market. From what I've read the US market is expected to grow by over 3% (over12B by 2030) while the European market is predicted to be less than 1%, so I'd think it would be highly unlikely the Japanese will abandon this market. As to any tariff effect, in reality, they've been less than expected on the consumer, with much of the cost being absorbed by retailers, distributors and manufacturers. Now that the US has inked a trade deal with Japan which sets tariffs at a reciprocal 15%, and brings substantial investment from Japan in the US it will be pretty much business as usual. Another side note to the tariffs is the talk that a "rebate" of sorts to US taxpayers from tariffs revenue may be in the works. Money giveaways equal spending.

 

[smoke665]

@gk fotografie just a word of caution forum guidelines state:

"No general politics are allowed. If the political discussion involves photography, it may be allowed. Use common sense when posting anything of a political nature"

As such my comments are going back on post. I don't believe in fairy tales or unsubstantiated opinions. I will say there has been significant shuffling of manufacturing locations as companies adjust to varying tariff disputes, to limit the effect. Also, how actual market prices are affected by outside influences isn't always clear, in the case of "new model" releases, camera manufacturers typically use surge pricing, which eventually settles to lower prices once the newness wears off. Here's a good example the Nikon D850 was released in 2017 at a price of around $3300, B&H shows it now for $1896.