What should Nikon DO to become no 1 camera Manufacturer

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What should Nikon DO to become no 1 camera Manufacturer

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bmxdad

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Like it or not Canon is and has been the Leader for the last many years. Nikon has been close but newer really been able to trow Canon of the throne.

Now what should Nikon do to finally some day become the king of Camera Manufacturer, or maybe you feel that that will newer happen. I think it could be done if Nikon would think a bit different.

Here is some things that I feel should be done:

- Make Nikon the best in Customer Service: In regards to repairs, upgrades, recalls, help with using products etc

- Create a NEW advertising campaign, that is smart, that will create a very strong Nikon Brand recognition, we don't need idiots crawling on model runways

- Nikon need the understand the need for markets that are not really met by anyone: Make smart cameras for Children, why not even a DSLR looking P&S camera for the 4-8 year old, Remember these are future Customers of real DSLR's. Make a Senior friendly P&S camera, believe me Seniors are holding on to their dear old P&S film cameras, because they are simply afraid of the complexity of ALL current P&S cameras. And Seniors represent the largest growing market BTW

- If you Nikon does not understand how to make HD video work properly on future DSLR, please partner with someone that does, Canon will run over you if you get left behind in this area. So all DSLR have to have articulating display, AF in video/liveview has to be improved, also make one EVIL style camera like Samsung has just made.

- Like Thom Hogan mentioned and this was discussed on another NR post, I think Nikon should have a more open Software design, sort of like Apple is doing with their Iphone/ITouch, because I can not ever see Canon doing it

- Get going on that digital Range Finder camera, digital Nikon SF. But market it with more primes, not only ONE like the Oly Pen

Anyway that is all from white but plus 8 Celsius Alberta Canada

Pete

Posted 3 years ago #
poster

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Be innovative. Be the first guy who glistens everybody's eyes with their new awesome product. Stop following suit, and take charge.

Scrap their PS cameras. Create the "ipod" of PS cameras. Easy to use, innovative and trendy.

Keep doing the triple down effect with DSLRs.

I would suggest creating their own micro 4/3 system and digital rangefinders. Though I would prefer micro 4/3 system more.

STOP that fecking limited manufacturing batches of products. I don't want to wait 6 months for my pre-ordered product to come in so late. Make enough of them to keep the prices from being jacked up.

Stop your crappy commercials with that twit Kelso

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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I don't really want Nikon to be number 1. canon is there because they are a big company and make lots of cameras. It doesn't mean they are good cameras!

I like Nikon the way they are now. For such a "small" company they really do quite well against big guys like canon and Sony.

But yeah I could do without seeing Kelso rolling around the floor with a Nikon.

Posted 3 years ago #
bmxdad

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They don't have to be No 1 in volume, but no 1 in quality and feature of products made and no 1 in brand recognition might both lead to no 1 in volume. And to become no 1 in Customer service would not be so bad either

Pete

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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They are No 1 in quality. According to JP Power and associates anyway. I say they are No 1 in brand recognition too. When was the last time you heard canon in a song?

Posted 3 years ago #
bmxdad

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I think there is a few Cannon songs

Pete

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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The camera not the gun ;^)

Posted 3 years ago #
PB PM

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I'm with some of the others, it does not matter to me whether Nikon is the #1 brand or not. I'd rather have quality cameras and service over brand popularity.

Posted 3 years ago #
bmxdad

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But Camera Quality and Service will have to be the best for Nikon to throw Canon of the Thrown, right

Pete

Posted 3 years ago #
Willis

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To me, the best path for Nikon, or any other camera company to take the market by storm is to fire their entire software department. The smartest thing Nikon ever did as far as software goes, was to hire out NIK to put together Capture NX. Nikon's software is buggy, platform dependant garbage that rarely is given a second thought after it is released.

If the Cannon A-Series taught us anything its that you can open source your firmware and get some really amazing results. Even better, it doesn't even cost you anything. All you loose is your ability to use software to artificially segment your market (i.e. Bracketing would no longer be a "high end" feature).

A great camera coupled with a decent nice SDK and Nikon's legendary optics would create one of them most powerful Photographic tools on the market.

Posted 3 years ago #
aesnakes

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I think what I am seeing here is that no one is happy with Nikons service. We like the brand, we like the optics, the products that are available but they seem to lack in the easiest thing they can offer....good nice customer service.

This is just for a point and not to hijack a thread but the latest post about peeling being ok in a lens. I wont buy that lens now because im not going to put up with customer service that is crap when things start to break down because of it.

If nikon could learn one thing from Canon i guess that is it.

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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Have you ever used canon's customer service? IT IS CRAP!!! It literally took years before canon admitted the 5D had a problem with it's mirror falling out of the camera!

Nikon has always taken care of their problems. I think Nikon has recalled and fixed just about every major problem that has been brought to light. I have no reason to think they wont take care of the lens peel issue. Any global company is going to have unforeseen manufacturing problems.

I think it's silly to avoid buying something just because it might have a problem. If that were the case then none of us would ever buy a car.

Posted 3 years ago #
PB PM

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I rather like Nikon customer service, but then again I'm lucky enough to live within driving distance of a Nikon service center.

Posted 3 years ago #
aesnakes

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This is only things Ive heard around here in BC. A lot of people shoot Canon here for some reason. I was more familiar with Nikon so I went this way and Im not regretting it at all I just would like to think that customer service is right next to quality as the most important thing. I heard about Canon being more friendly about their service but I think its probably more of a regional thing and everyone has a different experience so I respectfully rethink that comment an just want to make a point that customer service and quality products are the most important things to me in a company

Posted 3 years ago #
NSXType-R

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If they updated all their lenses by tomorrow and set incredulously low prices so that I can actually afford them, that would make them #1 in my book.

And fire Aston Kutcher. I don't need him to promote Nikon cameras.

Actually, updating all their old AF lenses and MF lenses would be a nice task. That'd be a good start.

Posted 3 years ago #
mb

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If Nikon wants to be № 1 they need to be able to produce own uniquely designed DSLR sensors (like Canon does) not just to tweak Sony units. Right now they are forced to follow the others and to depend on Sony as far sensor technology is in question.
And I would ditch current low cost P&S line and focus resources on DSLR-s and some new and higher (bigger sensor) P&S class. Volumes would be lower but it will allow them to give better service and will improve Nikon reputation as a serous camera maker.
They should work on other aspects of the company image like making better and more serous advertisement, and dumping A.K. along the way will also help. Anyway they should distinguish they self from the rest of companies.

Posted 3 years ago #
Willis

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Why does everyone want Nikon to Ditch P&S cameras.... That's a money making division. Those P&S cameras help subsidize our DSLR's

Despite the fact that the cameras are (in my opinion) complete crap, they sell well.

More importantly, who, prey tell, would they sell their P&S division to? Is there anybody who wants to be in the point and shoot market that isn't? Its a pretty crowded field. If Nikon were to exit the market, they would wind up having to write down a substantial amount of their IP & manufacturing facilities investment.

If Nikon were struggling in the point and shoot market then I might get your point, but the truth is they are thriving (According to Amazon the #1 Selling Digi Cam is the Coolpix L20). P&S are crucial to filling in the gaps in the slower developing SLR market.

Nikon does lots of things wrong, but we armchair CEO's don't appear to have much to offer.

Posted 3 years ago #
bmxdad

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I think here in Canada that Nikon has an overall better Service than Canon. But Nikon have to sit down and write a Customer Service plan than will be the best of any Camera Brand period and more important the same anywhere you go

Like you buy a camera or whatever in Japan or the USA with a world wide warranty card inside the box and Nikon in Canada states they will not service it under warranty

Pete

Posted 3 years ago #
PB PM

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That is an issue, why bother having a "World Wide" warranty if it isn't?

Posted 3 years ago #
adamz

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- open firmware
- small rangfinder or P&S with EVIL - sensor at least DX size
- service improvements, as they suck, especially in Poland

Posted 3 years ago #
bmxdad

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adamz said:
- open firmware
- small rangfinder or P&S with EVIL - sensor at least DX size
- service improvements, as they suck, especially in Poland

The service should be the same anywhere, any Country, simple Nikon make a plan with ruling for how service is done at any Location.

Pete

Posted 3 years ago #
adamz

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pete - sure the service should be the same in every country, unfortunately it sucks over here - read some stories over here: http://www.polishnikonservice.com/

Posted 3 years ago #
ted2001

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For Nikon to be the #1 Camera Manufacturer they have to do two things: Superior Customer Service and Product innovation. Open firmware would enhance both service and innovation, so that's a great idea. I don't think it would be smart to market any kind of interchangeable lens camera that couldn't use the current F-mount lenses, but other configurations that utilize those lenses would provide tremendous value to it's current customers and reward them for their loyalty. Upgradeable camera's (pro-line at least) would make the initial high acquisition cost more palatable. Market "Nikon Assurance" - all damage warranty coverage/theft/blanket insurance - as a premium for an added cost?
And then they can start over with their P&S's.

Posted 3 years ago #
dellaaa

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1) stop being so petty - i bought a canon g10, the raw software was included, nikon charges for NX, come on

2) develop their own sensor - in the digital age, the sensor is key, any major player needs to have complete control over it, they dont and they are always following

3) inovate / lead like sony - a full frame 24mp camera for $2000 would fly off the shelves if they would only produce it, why dont they

4) inovate / lead like olympus - an evil should be produced but not a me too, INOVATE

5) their marketing is wierd - i mean GPS on a p&s, i am sure someone somewhere out there was waiting for this, it just wasnt me or anyone i know

6) pay attention to advanced amateurs, not just pros and newbees - these days pros and ashton kutcher fans get all the attention

if it werent for all their glass that i have i would not shoot them anymore, but i hope the d900 makes me fall in love with what they produce all over again

Posted 3 years ago #
soap

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"What should Nikon DO to become [sic] no 1 camera Manufacturer?"

Nothing. Being #1 means you've watered down your product to make it palatable for as many people as possible, while likely completely satisfying none.

Few consider Budweiser the best beer in the world, yet it's #1.
Few would consider Taylor Swift's "Fearless" the best album in the world, yet it was the best selling one of 2009.
I could go on and on, but I'll leave it at that.

bmxdad said:
But Camera Quality and Service will have to be the best for Nikon to throw Canon of the Thrown, right

Outside Toyota - how many industry leaders are there because of their quality and service, not despite?
Check out almost any survey in Consumer Reports, nine time out of ten the products with the best quality ratings and repair history are not the market leaders.

Posted 3 years ago #