Coolpix cameras are the gateway to higher end cameras. Get the users hooked on your brand and then move them up over time. Pretty typical marketing strategy. Much more difficult to move a Canon Pro to Nikon or vice versa. Spend where your best ROI is.

Seshan said:
The people that would be buying something like the D700 or other High end cameras would already know about them, the ad's are targeting average consumers not pro photographers. It's basic advertising 101.

+1 That is just normal. Canon is just wasting their money.

or maybe Nikon target consumer cameras, c-z their status among pro is steady, while canon lost a lot of pro consumers towards nikon

But psychologically speaking If you show pro cameras and pros alongside consumer cameras it makes the consumer cameras seem like they will take better pictures which would result in better sales. I heard the "I got canon because that is what the professional photographers use to get good pics" too many times!

The people that would be buying something like the D700 or other High end cameras would already know about them, the ad's are targeting average consumers not pro photographers. It's basic advertising 101.

Nikon seems to target consumers who will buy MORE cameras - not necessarily more expensive cameras. They have advertised the D3000 & D5000 cameras, and then "tagged" the end of those ads with higher end products like the D90 or D300s - even the D700 & high end lenses. They do the same with their coolpix ads - tagging them with the P100, P7000, or SLR products.

Canon runs plenty of generic, broad appeal ads that mention powershot & Rebel models. But, they also run individual ads in higher end publications - like National Geographic - for their 5D MkII & high end lenses.

It's just a different way to look at the marketplace. But if you ask me, Nikon's strategy will help them gain more market share. And, as we all know, some D3000 & D3100 buyers will no doubt get the photo bug, and upgrade to higher end bodies & lenses in the future. And, if someone purchases a new digital SLR system now, chances are that they will stay loyal to their brand in the future.

Hey, I have been pondering the differences between canon and nikon advertisements. I have noticed far more canon commercials for their new 70/200 2.8 and 5dm2 then nikon equivalent. I've only seen 1 nikon commercial that includes a "pro" level type camera , the D300s, other then that all I have seen is nikon coolpix ashton kutcher commercials.

I was curious if anyone out of country notices differently or am I just missing some of nikons advertisements