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From: hofbauer@utcsri.UUCP (John Hofbauer)
Newsgroups: net.rec.photo
Subject: Re: What is Nikon up to?
Message-ID: <1171@utcsri.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 7-Jun-85 12:04:42 EDT
Article-I.D.: utcsri.1171
Posted: Fri Jun  7 12:04:42 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 7-Jun-85 12:41:35 EDT
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Organization: CSRI, University of Toronto
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As a longtime Nikon owner I'm quite pleased by their conservatism.
While Canon obsoleted several lens mounts in rapid succession in
the early '70s Nikon very carefully engineered the AI mount so
that virtually all old lenses could be upgraded for minimal cost.

Furthermore, the Nikon FA as electronically advanced as any camera
on the market. I personally don't care much for whizbang cameras.
It's only a tool, as good or bad as the person wielding it. As far
as I'm concerned there have only been two significant advances in
camera design in the last 50 years: interchangable lenses and
thru-the-lens metering. Anything else I can live without.

I'm not surprised by Nikon's recent lack of activity. They have
the most complete line of lenses of all the major camera makers
and there are no obvious holes that need plugging. Most of their
recent new offerings have been in the wide-angle to medium 
telephoto zoom lens category which is the current hot area of
photo marketing. Nikon is taking a well-deserved rest while
the others are furiously running to catch up.

				John Hofbauer