What's Ailing Nikon: Thom Hogan Checks In

[IByte]

It's hard to believe that Nikon has been in business for the better part of a century, and has risen to #2 in world-wide d-slr and lens sales, and has been able to do it all with out Thom Hogan's brilliant insights, and without Thom Hogan's incessant complaining, and without Thom Hogan's whining, and without Thom Hogan's second-guessing of the Nikon strategy, products, and product matrix. It's pretty amazing that a camera company that's#2 in the world has not taken all of Thom Hogan's suggestions, and bitching and moaning, and long-winded exposition to heart.

If Nikon did, then maybe they would be #1 lol

 

[TheLost]

First.. a bit about Mr. Hogan..
----
* He helped bring the first mass-produced portable computer to market (Director of Software @ Osborne computer) Osborne Computer Corporation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
* Worked on one of the first pen-based OS's (PenPoint OS) PenPoint OS - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
* Helped design one of the first consumer digital cameras (QuickCam) QuickCam - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
* Founded a software company that created table publishing program (Tycho TableMaker)

He's also worked as a television director/producer, a filmmaker, university instructor and was executive editor of Backpacker magazine.

He also teaches photography workshops in around the globe.
----
There you go.. right from his website..
About Thom | byThom | Thom Hogan

As for his thoughts on Nikon.. I totally agree (I even said the same thing before Thom's current article... http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/nikon/337757-sony-wins-post-still-nikon-related.html)

Nikon has no idea what they are doing. They are loosing the current generation (not you.. but people who think your old). My 16 year old son wouldn't think about buying a DSLR (he really doesn't think much anyway).. but he was raving about the new larger pixel size on the new iPhone 5s.

Nikon's product lineup is a mess.. Its technology is half-arsed (ever use the WU-1A/b?).. Its software is an after thought.. And its relying on its existing user base (like you) to keep it floating.

Nikon is your grandpa that refuses to get rid of his corded land-line phone.

 

[Derrel]

Henny Penny - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thom loves to hear himself talk. He used to make a lot of sense, but over the last year or so, has started drifting into a world in which he's POSITIVE that he alone knows what's best for the Nikon Corporation, AND all of its users. His CV however impressive, is all long,long in the past, and he has ZERO experience in running a large corporation that actually makes cameras and lenses.

But hey...he's got a hell of a series of websites!

And yet, still, Nikon is #2 in d-slr sales across the entire little ball we call "Earth"...huh...and Nikon has ALL, as in ALL of the top-rated d-slr cameras in the DxO Mark database...Nikon's cameras out-perform those from other manufacturers...Nikon's ENTRY-level cameras have 24-megapixel,modern sensors, while Canon is STILL regurgitating same-old same-old tweaks using the same 18-megapixel sensor first used in the 7D from 2009.

As amolitor pointed out, Thom's rhetoric, and logic, are broken. Mirrorless sales are going down the TOILET....and yet he faults Nikon for not wanting to go whole-hog into mirrorless. WTF? Sorry, but Hogan lost the plot some time ago, and he needs to take a step back, and look at the real world. He desperately needs an editor, to give him a point of reference WRT to reality. He desperately needs "a touchstone".

He has lost the plot. Mostly what he does now is complain and second-guess. The Quicktake camera was sooooo long ago, and soooo inconsequential, that it's not even relevant to the Nikon Corporation discussion. Being editor of a backpacking magazine is also really irrelevant too! He did that as well...why not bring that up?

No big launches, Thom sezzz...LMFAO...

 

[amolitor]

I don't pretend to understand anything about Nikon's business. This is mainly because I don't care, not because I don't know about running businesses.

The fact is that sometimes markets move, and there's nothing you can do about it. The buggy-whip makers were not going to retool themselves into car manufacturers or purse makers, the market would never have let them. Similarly, the market is simply not going to allow Nikon to succeed in those segments where photography is exploding.

Who in their right might would but a Nikon phone? That's crazy talk, and that's the essence of "the market won't let you succeed". There might be a play building components for phone cameras, but I doubt it. It doesn't feel like much of a cash generation machine, if you know what I mean.

I'm pretty damn sure that fiddling with the lens and body lineup is going to magically make phone cameras go away, and ultimately, that's what matters here.

The market for standalone cameras is never going to go away entirely. It's probably going to evolve to a position reduced from its current state. There's a few billion dollars of daylight between those two ends, and I haven't a clue where it's gonna land in there. Whether the guys at Nikon are right or not, I think we may safely say that, statistically speaking, they're a lot more likely to have the right guess than I do, or than Thom Hogan does.

 

[pixmedic]

First.. a bit about Mr. Hogan..
----
* He helped bring the first mass-produced portable computer to market (Director of Software @ Osborne computer) Osborne Computer Corporation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
* Worked on one of the first pen-based OS's (PenPoint OS) PenPoint OS - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
* Helped design one of the first consumer digital cameras (QuickCam) QuickCam - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
* Founded a software company that created table publishing program (Tycho TableMaker)

He's also worked as a television director/producer, a filmmaker, university instructor and was executive editor of Backpacker magazine.

He also teaches photography workshops in around the globe.
----
There you go.. right from his website..
About Thom | byThom | Thom Hogan

As for his thoughts on Nikon.. I totally agree (I even said the same thing before Thom's current article... http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/nikon/337757-sony-wins-post-still-nikon-related.html)

Nikon has no idea what they are doing. They are loosing the current generation (not you.. but people who think your old). My 16 year old son wouldn't think about buying a DSLR (he really doesn't think much anyway).. but he was raving about the new larger pixel size on the new iPhone 5s.

Nikon's product lineup is a mess.. Its technology is half-arsed (ever use the WU-1A/b?).. Its software is an after thought.. And its relying on its existing user base (like you) to keep it floating.

Nikon is your grandpa that refuses to get rid of his corded land-line phone.

for a company that doesn't know what they are doing, they seem to be doing OK.
especially for a company that Thom claims has not had any "major" releases since 2007.
6 years of "nothing" sure has done pretty well for Nikon.
sure, maybe nikon has not released what Thom thinks they should have. or wanted them too. But it has somehow managed to keep Nikon from going bankrupt so....Kudos to Nikon. they have fared far better than a lot of other companies have over the last 6 years.
I don't see why anyone cares anyway. Nikon will do what Nikon thinks is best. (or most profitable) Thom should just switch to Canon if he is so unimpressed with Nikon.
OR, he could just go over to Sony, since he feels they are so fresh and innovative. or maybe Pentax. plenty of options for ole Thom so he doesn't give himself an ulcer worrying himself sick over Nikons poor product decisions.

personally, I think the negative rants are just getting him more blog hits than the positive ones lately so that's what hes going with.
name me a company that you cant find some faults with? or one that puts out a perfect product every time. and perfect updates for it.
its not like anyone is FORCED to buy nikons products. its not like there arent perfectly good alternatives.

 

[astroNikon]

Not knowing Nikon's cash flow and R&D budget per year makes it difficult to know how they operate.

I worked for Toyota for 8+ years and they were very slow in the 90s to make changes. Evolution and not revolution.
There's many design changes that they can do to provide a better bang for the buck like putting the Wifi/GPS into the add-on Grip that I think Canon is doing.

It may be a mgt philosophy that is keeping them slow. Or they may be manufacturing too many cameras and have to slow down to sell inventory. On another thread the 3100 was the best selling camera the other quarter?

Many product manufacturers identify sold manufacturing inventory as when it is sold to the retail shops, etc out of their inventory warehouse. But if it stalls there at the retail then it actually isn't sold. The general Meijer store by me still were selling 3100s and actually had some 3000s a few months back. They were going for cheap but still it's old stuff !!

I would love a "revolution" of sort of Nikon gear. BUt I'm not one to really ask as I like my D7000 but don't know enough of the other products and product lines and competition. I'm sure some startups from China is going to start infiltrating the market. for 3rd party stuff they already have with their batteries, grips, remote releases, flashes, etc. I wonder how much that is costing Nikon in Patents being ignored and lost sales. I'm all for lower prices but I've seen what it has done in other markets when someone completely disregards international patents, etc. (small rant).

 

[sleist]

The impression I get from Thom's writings is that he is a huge fan of the company who is truly frustrated by Nikon's inability to support and promote their own products.

He wrote an entire essay regarding how many people brought Nikon 1 cameras to his Botswana trip.
He is a believer in the possibilities of the Nikon 1 and is frustrated by Nikon's inability to properly market this camera and promote it's strengths.
I don't think even Nikon likes the Nikon 1 - based on their lack of commercial support.

He thinks the Coolpix A is a great camera that was doomed by calling it a Coolpix (and over pricing). I really can't disagree with this.
I see the name Coolpix and instantly think CRAP. If I had bought a Nikon Coolpix when I was first buying digicams, I would be shooting Canon or Olympus now instead of Nikon.
The Coolpix line sux. Kill it now. I would buy the Ricoh GR before I even consider the Nikon A.

He is a firm believer in the M43 line despite his affinity for Nikon gear. He shoots with an Olympus OMD EM5 and gives intelligent critique to the line.
I think Ming Thein's reviews are better for the products. Ming only reviews what he uses though so that may be good or bad depending on fanboyisms and sales incentives.
Yes, I'm a cynic ...

The DX line has been under supported by Nikon. There is no arguing this point - particularly with respect to fast, wide primes.
I have DX and FX Nikon bodies and I have as many Tokina and Sigma lenses as Nikon glass. And no - not because I can't afford the overpriced Nikon FX glass ....

Thom may come across as a know it all, but he does echo many of the feelings of people that shoot and prefer Nikon cameras and lenses.
Nikon's actions of late seem to be more about maximizing the extraction of cash from their loyal customers than supporting and sustaining a loyal customer base through excellent customer relations and support.
This is a recipe for failure.

I agree with much of what Thom says. Even if I didn't, it still needs to be said.

 

[cgw]

The impression I get from Thom's writings is that he is a huge fan of the company who is truly frustrated by Nikon's inability to support and promote their own products.

He wrote an entire essay regarding how many people brought Nikon 1 cameras to his Botswana trip.
He is a believer in the possibilities of the Nikon 1 and is frustrated by Nikon's inability to properly market this camera and promote it's strengths.
I don't think even Nikon likes the Nikon 1 - based on their lack of commercial support.

He thinks the Coolpix A is a great camera that was doomed by calling it a Coolpix (and over pricing). I really can't disagree with this.
I see the name Coolpix and instantly think CRAP. If I had bought a Nikon Coolpix when I was first buying digicams, I would be shooting Canon or Olympus now instead of Nikon.
The Coolpix line sux. Kill it now. I would buy the Ricoh GR before I even consider the Nikon A.

He is a firm believer in the M43 line despite his affinity for Nikon gear. He shoots with an Olympus OMD EM5 and gives intelligent critique to the line.
I think Ming Thein's reviews are better for the products. Ming only reviews what he uses though so that may be good or bad depending on fanboyisms and sales incentives.
Yes, I'm a cynic ...

The DX line has been under supported by Nikon. There is no arguing this point - particularly with respect to fast, wide primes.
I have DX and FX Nikon bodies and I have as many Tokina and Sigma lenses as Nikon glass. And no - not because I can't afford the overpriced Nikon FX glass ....

Thom may come across as a know it all, but he does echo many of the feelings of people that shoot and prefer Nikon cameras and lenses.
Nikon's actions of late seem to be more about maximizing the extraction of cash from their loyal customers than supporting and sustaining a loyal customer base through excellent customer relations and support.
This is a recipe for failure.

I agree with much of what Thom says. Even if I didn't, it still needs to be said.

Amen. Glad somebody actually read and understood Hogan's article.

 

[sandollars]

Henny Penny - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thom loves to hear himself talk. He used to make a lot of sense, but over the last year or so, has started drifting into a world in which he's POSITIVE that he alone knows what's best for the Nikon Corporation, AND all of its users. His CV however impressive, is all long,long in the past, and he has ZERO experience in running a large corporation that actually makes cameras and lenses.

But hey...he's got a hell of a series of websites!

And yet, still, Nikon is #2 in d-slr sales across the entire little ball we call "Earth"...huh...and Nikon has ALL, as in ALL of the top-rated d-slr cameras in the DxO Mark database...Nikon's cameras out-perform those from other manufacturers...Nikon's ENTRY-level cameras have 24-megapixel,modern sensors, while Canon is STILL regurgitating same-old same-old tweaks using the same 18-megapixel sensor first used in the 7D from 2009.

As amolitor pointed out, Thom's rhetoric, and logic, are broken. Mirrorless sales are going down the TOILET....and yet he faults Nikon for not wanting to go whole-hog into mirrorless. WTF? Sorry, but Hogan lost the plot some time ago, and he needs to take a step back, and look at the real world. He desperately needs an editor, to give him a point of reference WRT to reality. He desperately needs "a touchstone".

He has lost the plot. Mostly what he does now is complain and second-guess. The Quicktake camera was sooooo long ago, and soooo inconsequential, that it's not even relevant to the Nikon Corporation discussion. Being editor of a backpacking magazine is also really irrelevant too! He did that as well...why not bring that up?

No big launches, Thom sezzz...LMFAO...

Amen and Amen.

 

[JacaRanda]

This thread is all over the place. The guy knows what he is talking about, but he is talking out of his backside.

He loves the products but he hates the maker. He has lots of experience but he is just a blogger.

They have all the best cameras but are still #2.

What a somewhat entertaining wee wee match!

Sent from my iPad using PhotoForum

 

[amolitor]

I neither know nor care if Nikon has the best cameras! What I do know is that my old F-mount lenses won't fit Canon.

 

[runnah]

This thread is all over the place. The guy knows what he is talking about, but he is talking out of his backside.

He loves the products but he hates the maker. He has lots of experience but he is just a blogger.

They have all the best cameras but are still #2.

What a somewhat entertaining wee wee match!

Sent from my iPad using PhotoForum

We call these folks "fanboys". They pick a brand to stick with and defend it to the death one minute and bash it the next.

The only brands I am loyal to is Levi's jeans and Dunkin Donuts coffee. Although DD went down hill when they changed out their bean roasting components from the xr-32 to the xr-32a. Honestly DD hasn't had a really good blend since 2007. They really need to push the entry level coffee and let the pro grade sort themselves out. The introduction of sandwiches really dilluted the brand IMO.

 

[rexbobcat]

He wrote an entire essay regarding how many people brought Nikon 1 cameras to his Botswana trip.
He is a believer in the possibilities of the Nikon 1 and is frustrated by Nikon's inability to properly market this camera and promote it's strengths.
I don't think even Nikon likes the Nikon 1 - based on their lack of commercial support.
sales incentives.

I always assumed Nikon 1 was a huge disappointment. Seeing as how Nikon as several cameras with top dynamic range and ISO performance, it's weird to see that the Nikon 1 is so much worse (apparently) then the Sony NEX system. I thought Nikon 1 was a failure lol

 

[TheLost]

And yet, still, Nikon is #2 in d-slr sales across the entire little ball we call "Earth"...huh...and Nikon has ALL, as in ALL of the top-rated d-slr cameras in the DxO Mark database...Nikon's cameras out-perform those from other manufacturers...Nikon's ENTRY-level cameras have 24-megapixel,modern sensors, while Canon is STILL regurgitating same-old same-old tweaks using the same 18-megapixel sensor first used in the 7D from 2009.

What good is being #2 in a stagnating market? You always point out that the mirrorless camera market is tanking... but you never mention that DSLR sales are right with it.

A little more surprising, though, are the year-on-year declines in shipments of DSLR and mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras, both down around 18.5% in the first half of 2013 compared to last year.

(source: CIPA)

DSLR's sales are only 20% of the total camera market. Out of the 29 million cameras sold last year.. only 6 million where DLSR's. Apple just sold 2.2 million cameras (iPhone 5c) in a week and it isn't even shipping yet. Call it a phone all you want... but the iPhone is the top camera used on Flickr & Facebook.

You don't need a DSLR to take a good picture... what incentive do people have buying a bulky DSLR other then "A DSLR makes you look Pro"?

 

[TheLost]

I always assumed Nikon 1 was a huge disappointment. Seeing as how Nikon as several cameras with top dynamic range and ISO performance, it's weird to see that the Nikon 1 is so much worse (apparently) then the Sony NEX system. I thought Nikon 1 was a failure lol

The NEX system is built on APS-C (DX) sized sensors... a few are the same sensors used in Nikon cameras (D7000 = NEX-5n).