Memory Cards are the unsung heroes of photography. If you don’t have a memory card, you can’t take photos; it’s that simple. Some photographers only use a single memory card, but best practice says you should have at least a few. Cards rarely die these days, but if yours does and you don’t have a backup, your shoot comes to a halt.

New standards also make older cards almost obsolete. Start shooting 4K/60 video and the UHS-1 SD card you got with your camera might not be fast enough to record.

That’s why deals on memory cards are so important to the photographer and videographer, deals are the perfect time to grab some new cards for uniterrupted shooting.

How do Black Friday Deals Compare to Other Sale Events

Most photographic and videographic manufacturers have discounts for Black Friday, while the rest of the year, they offer sporadic deals, usually on just a few cameras they’re trying to clear out of inventory. Those deals are hard to predict, and can sometimes have only minor discounts, while generally, Black Friday deals offer greater savings.

Should I Wait Until Black Friday to Buy Memory Cards?

If you find a deal in this guide even before Black Friday, it’s likely to be the largest discount available for the whole Black Friday season. Companies rarely offer sales in October or early November and then offer the same products at a higher savings.

Where Can I Find out More About Memory Cards

If you’re looking for information and our recommendations for best memory cards, you can check out our Ulitmate Guide to Memory Cards buyer’s guide.

Imaging Resource Buyer’s Guides

If you’d like to see our guides to finding the best gear in dozens of categories, check out our Buyer’s Guides section. You can also find a full list of our buyer’s guides below.

All of our Buyer’s Guides

Pro Hybrid Video Cameras | Sony Cameras | Canon Cameras | 360 Cameras | Budget Mirrorless Cameras | Memory Cards | Cameras for Beginners | Waterproof Cameras | Action Cameras | Instant Cameras | Budget L-Mount Lenses | Micro Four Thirds Budget Lenses | Nikon Budget Lenses | Budget Fujifilm Lenses | Smartphone Videography Accessories | Smartphone Photography Accessories | Photography Accessories | External SSDs | Webcams for Streaming | NAS Devices | Microphone for Video Creators

The post Memory Cards Black Friday Deals in 2025 appeared first on Imaging Resource.

As we run up to Black Friday, companies are starting to announce their best sales of the year. We will be bringing you all of the best deals on Smartphone Black Friday Deals In 2025.

How do Black Friday Deals Compare to Other Sale Events

Most smartphone manufacturers have discounts for Black Friday, while the rest of the year, they offer more sporadic deals, usually on just a few products they’re trying to clear out of inventory.

Those deals are hard to predict, and can sometimes have only minor discounts, while generally, Black Friday deals offer greater savings.

Should I Wait Until Black Friday to Buy Photo and Video Gear?

If you find a deal in this guide even before Black Friday, it’s likely to be the largest discount available for the whole Black Friday season. Companies rarely offer sales in October or early November and then offer the same products at a higher savings.

Imaging Resource Buyer’s Guides

If you’d like to see our guides to finding the best gear in dozens of categories, check out our Buyer’s Guides section. The Smartphone Videography Accessories and  Smartphone Photography Accessories guides should help you pick the things you need to take your smartphones further.

Related Buyer’s Guides

Pro Hybrid Video Cameras | Sony Cameras | Canon Cameras | 360 Cameras | Budget Mirrorless Cameras | Memory Cards | Cameras for Beginners | Waterproof Cameras | Action Cameras | Instant Cameras | Budget L-Mount Lenses | Micro Four Thirds Budget Lenses | Nikon Budget Lenses | Budget Fujifilm Lenses | Smartphone Videography Accessories | Smartphone Photography Accessories | Photography Accessories | External SSDs | Webcams for Streaming | NAS Devices | Microphone for Video Creators

The post Smartphone Black Friday Deals In 2025 appeared first on Imaging Resource.

Let’s set politics aside for a moment and examine what tariffs are intended to do, and how the current wave is directly impacting every piece of gear we use.

A tariff is supposed to balance trade or protect local industries. If Canadian lumber floods the U.S. market at prices that undercut American producers, a tariff can level the playing field. That makes sense when there’s a domestic industry to protect. But in the case of cameras, there isn’t. No one is building cameras in Iowa or lenses in Michigan. Most photographic equipment is manufactured overseas, primarily in China, Vietnam, and Thailand.

Currently, goods from China face around a 34% tariff, with threats of further increases, although the tariff rates change monthly as the U.S. and China continue trade talks.

 Vietnam’s tariffs, originally a staggering 46%, have been negotiated down to 20%—still a significant burden. And because importers have to pay those fees, they simply pass them down the chain. By the time the gear hits the shelves, it’s people like you and me who are footing the bill.

Why Tariffs May Kill the Photography Market: The Price Problem

The ripple effect is noticeable. We’ve already seen companies like Fujifilm and Nikon raise prices, sometimes multiple times, since last spring, because they can’t predict what the final tariff rates will be. 

Even if tariffs are reduced in the future, history tells us that prices don’t always return to their original levels. Once the market becomes accustomed to higher numbers, manufacturers are unlikely to revert to pre-tariff levels.

We’re always looking for deals to bring to you in our Deals section, and nearly every piece of camera gear has had a price hike. Many cameras and lenses now have a price when on sale that’s a hundred dollars or more than previous discounts. In other words, the best price you can get now on a lot of gear is the worst price it would have been just a year ago. 

And that has real consequences. When Sony launched the RX1R III at around $5,000, many reviews (including my own) pointed out how high that price felt, especially when the camera dropped features compared to its predecessor. Without tariffs, it could have been $4,500 or even less. 

In Canada, the RX1R III retails for approximately $6,300 CAD, equivalent to around $4,550 USD. Even factoring in Canada’s own tariffs, you can see how pricing shifts wildly depending on trade policies. And for an interchangeable lens camera, that extra $500 could have easily been used to purchase a new lens for your kit.

The Demand Dilemma – A Tariff-Driven Return To Bad Times

Here’s where things get scarier: higher prices directly cut demand. Cameras and lenses aren’t bread and milk. You don’t need a new body or lens the moment it’s released. Enthusiasts will hold onto older gear longer, and professionals, already working on tight margins, may stretch their cameras beyond their typical upgrade cycle or raise their rates to compensate. Either way, fewer units get sold.

Leica recently canceled a string of events in the United States, citing “unforeseen circumstances.” This event was thought to have been to introduce a rumored M EV1 camera, a new product category for the company. 

This cancellation could certainly have been due to delays in production, but it also could be the result of tariffs. The problem is we’ll never know. 

We’ve seen fragile moments before in the industry. When the 2011 earthquake in Japan took out Sony’s imaging sensor plant, it caused delays and profit drops across the board because of reduced supply and the resulting increase in component costs.

Tariffs could have a similar effect, only this time, it’s not a natural disaster; it’s a financial earthquake. 

Sure, the booming creator economy might soften the blow. New YouTubers and TikTokers emerge every day, and many invest in cameras instead of relying on their phones. However, many will still go for cheaper camera options instead of the higher-end gear they might have 

The Bottom Line

Tariffs are going to make photography more expensive, period. The only real question is by how much. Maybe we’ll see a few price drops down the line if trade agreements improve, but chances are, the higher baseline is here to stay. That means fewer people buying new cameras, fewer product releases, and more of us wondering if the gear we have will need to last just a little longer than we planned.

For those of us who care about photography, this isn’t just an abstract economic debate. It’s something that could reshape the gear market for years to come. As I said, once prices go up, they rarely go back down. When the cost of goods eventually drops, companies usually keep retail prices the same or similar and use the increased revenue to offset losses incurred during the price hike. 

And while we’ll continue to find ways to create, no matter what, it’s hard not to feel that the industry we love is being dragged into a fight it didn’t ask for.

The post Tariffs May Decimate the Camera Industry appeared first on Imaging Resource.

According to the retailer, the Ricoh GR IV ranked first overall, ahead of the newly launched Fujifilm X-M5 and X-E5 mirrorless cameras, which placed second and third, respectively. The four-year-old GR IIIx still managed to secure fourth place, while the Canon EOS R6 Mark II and Sony a7C II rounded out the top five in a tie.

Although Map Camera’s sales charts represent a smaller slice of the market, they’re widely regarded as a bellwether for broader consumer trends in Japan — often hinting at what’s gaining traction worldwide. The buzz surrounding the GR IV’s launch clearly helped drive strong early demand.

Strong Demand Despite the Price Hike

The Ricoh GR IV lands squarely in first place in Japanese sales charts.

Anticipation for the GR IV had been building for months before release. Ricoh refined the formula that made the GR III series so successful, improving startup time, refining ergonomics, and introducing a redesigned lens — all while keeping the camera compact and discreet.

However, not everyone was happy with the price jump. The GR IV debuted at $1,500, a sharp increase over the GR III’s $900 launch price. Some critics questioned whether the upgrades justified the cost, but Japanese consumers didn’t seem deterred.

Map Camera reported that pre-orders sold out almost immediately, and the retailer has temporarily stopped accepting new orders until Ricoh can restock. The company even warned that demand may exceed supply, echoing the shortages seen with the GR III when it launched in 2019.

Where to Buy the Ricoh GR IV

For U.S. customers, the Ricoh GR IV is available now at B&H Photo for $1,496.95. Stock remains extremely limited, and orders are being fulfilled on a first-come, first-served basis.

If the early sales numbers are any indication, the Ricoh GR IV is shaping up to be another cult favorite among street and travel photographers — despite its premium price tag.

The post The Ricoh GR IV Dominates Japan’s September Camera Sales Charts appeared first on Imaging Resource.

If you’ve been sitting on an upgrade plan and waiting for the right moment, this the one. 

** Affiliate links may earn Imaging Resource a commission on qualifying purchases. **

Sony Camera and Lens Rebates Overview September 2025

On the camera side, standouts include $600 off the flagship Alpha 1 for shooters who need speed and resolution in one body, $600 off the A7 IV as the do-everything hybrid, and $500 off the A7R V if you prioritize detail for landscape or studio work. Video-first creators should look closely at $400 off the A7S III and $300 off the ZV-E1, while travel and street photographers get compelling savings on the compact A7C II and A7CR.

Lens deals are equally good. $200 off the FE 24–70mm f/2.8 GM II hits the workhorse slot, $100 off the FE 200–600mm helps wildlife and sports shooters reach farther, and $100 off the FE 12–24mm f/2.8 GM covers ultra-wide needs. There’s true range of lenses here, not just older lenses. It's  a rare chance to round out an E-mount kit intelligently

The post Massive List of Sony Rebates On Dozens of Camera and Lenses – Avoid Tarrif Pricing Now appeared first on Imaging Resource.

B&H Photo is in the midst of their BILD show for photogarphers, videographers, and creators. To celebrate this massive photo event, they have discounted hundreds of items on their website.

Below is a list of the most popular items on sale.

Highlights of the BILD sale

We’ve handpicked the top discounts for photographers looking to upgrade their gear. But don’t wait too long – the sale runs only until June 22, so now’s the perfect time to score that new camera before the deals disappear.

Canon EOS R6 Mark II Mirrorless Camera – a versatile full-frame camera designed for multimedia creators that can shoot 6K ProRes Raw video.

Buy now on B&H: Canon EOS R5 Mark II camera body – Was $2,199.00, now $1,799.00

Canon EOS R5 Mark II Mirrorless Camera – a high-resolution hybrid camera that can shoot 8K Raw video and 45-megapixel stills.

Buy now on B&H: Canon EOS R5 Mark II camera body – Was $4,299.00, now $3,799.00

Nikon D850 DSLR Camera – a robust full-frame DLSR capable of shooting high-resolution 45-megapixel stills.

Buy now on B&H: Nikon D850 camera body – Was $2,396.95, now $1,796.95

B&H BILD Specials

The post B&H Discounts Hundreds of Photo and Video Products to Celebrate its BILD Creator Event appeared first on Imaging Resource.

Nikon has announced that during December 2017, the company took the number one position for market share and revenue for full-frame interchangeable lens digital cameras in the United States. This is thanks in large part to the new Nikon D850 and the older, but still very capable, Nikon D750 DSLRs.

Compared to December 2016, Nikon saw double-digit unit and dollar sales growth in the full frame camera segment this past December. December 2017 showed an increase of 69% in units and 59% in dollars compared to December 2016. Specifically looking at the full frame segment, the growth was 81% and 88% respectively.

Of the growth and market share position, Nikon President and CEO Bo Kajiwara says, “Nikon has returned to an emphasis on high-end products for advanced and professional users. These users appreciate Nikon’s full frame offerings because of their amazing image quality, reliability, low-light capability and high-speed performance. Nikon is an innovative, diversified company with a clear, long-term strategy to thrive into 2018 and beyond.”

Nikon’s strong growth was driven in large part by the new Nikon D850 full-frame DSLR.

Ben Arnold, the executive director and industry analyst for The NPD Group remarks, “Premium segments are leading the imaging market, as consumer demand for features like full frame are on the rise.” While smartphones may be taking their toll on compact camera markets, it’s clear that consumers who want the ultimate in image quality are heading toward full-frame cameras in larger numbers.

Nikon will continue to celebrate their centennial through July 2018 and after a strong showing in 2017, particularly with the Nikon D850, we are looking forward to seeing what 2018 brings for Nikon and the rest of the camera industry.

The post Nikon sees huge growth and takes the top spot in the US for full-frame cameras this holiday season appeared first on Imaging Resource.

While Black Friday isn’t officially until tomorrow, the holiday sale of the year has already started in earnest, with several big-box stores already having rolled out their door-crasher sales. There are still great deals to be had over the weekend though, and we’re going to shine the spotlight on a few of those right now!

There are door-crasher sales on now at Target and Best Buy on Canon, Nikon, Sony, GoPro and DJI products. The savings aren’t much more deep than you’d get from competing online sales, but if you want the camera in your hands now, you can brave the lineups:

• Canon EOS Rebel T6 with EF-S 18-55mm IS II and EF 75-300mm III lenses, 32GB memory card, camera bag @ $449.99 (compared to $699 – Best Buy door crasher sale November 24)

• Canon EOS Rebel T6i with EF-S 18-55mm IS II and EF 55-250mm III lenses, 32GB memory card, camera bag @ $799.99 (compared to $1,199 – Best Buy door crasher sale November 24)

• Canon EOS 80D with 18-135mm IS USM lens, 32GB memory card, camera bag @ $1,399.99 (compared to $1,799 – Best Buy door crasher sale November 24)

• Canon PowerShot SX720, 32GB memory card @ $279.99 (compared to $379 – Best Buy door crasher sale November 24)

• Canon PowerShot SX530, 32GB memory card @ $229.99 (compared to $349 – Best Buy door crasher sale November 24)

• Canon VIXIA HF R700 HD Camcorder, 32GB memory card @ $169.99 (compared to $299 – Best Buy door crasher sale November 24)

• Nikon D3400 with 18-55mm and 70-300mm lenses @ $499.99 (compared to $999 – Target door crasher sale November 24) [Target]

• Nikon D3400 with 18-55mm and 70-300mm lenses, 32GB SD Card @ $499.99 (compared to $999 – Best Buy door crasher sale November 24) [Best Buy]

• Nikon D5300 with 18-55mm and 70-300mm lenses, 32GB SD Card @ $599.99 (compared to $1,099 – Best Buy door crasher sale November 24) [Best Buy]

• Nikon Coolpix AW130 Waterproof camera – Orange @ $199.99 (compared to $349 – Best Buy door crasher sale November 24) [Best Buy]

• Nikon Coolpix B500 camera, 16GB SD Card @ $259.99 (Best Buy door crasher sale November 24) [Best Buy]

• Sony Alpha a6000 with 16-50mm and 55-210mm lenses, 32GB SD card @ $799.99 (compare to $1,199, Best Buy door crasher sale – November 24, 8am) [Best Buy]

• 50% the purchase of an extra battery with the purchase of any Sony E-mount camera (regularly $79.99, Best Buy door crasher sale – November 24, 8am) [Best Buy]

• Sony Alpha a5000 @ $349.99 (compare to $449, Best Buy door crasher sale – November 24, 8am) [Best Buy]

• Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 @ $349.99 (compare to $369, Best Buy door crasher sale – November 24, 8am) [Best Buy]

• Sony Handycam AX33 4K Camcorder @ $749.99 (compare to $869, Best Buy door crasher sale – November 24, 8am) [Best Buy]

• DJI – Phantom 3 Standard Quadcopter – White @ $399.99 (compare to $499.99 – Best Buy door crasher sale 8am, November 24) [Best Buy]

• DJI – Phantom 3 Professional Quadcopter – White @ $799.99 (compare to $999.99 – Best Buy door crasher sale 8am, November 24) [Best Buy]

• DJI – Phantom 4 Standard Quadcopter – White @ $999.99 (compare to $1,199.99 – Best Buy door crasher sale 8am, November 24) [Best Buy]

• GoPro HERO5 Camera, 64GB microSD card @ $399.99 (Best Buy door crasher sale 8am, November 24) [Best Buy]

• GoPro HERO Session Bundle, 16GB microSD card @ $179.99 (compare to $249, Target door crasher sale 8am, November 24) [Target]

Many deals that were scheduled to end at midnight last night have been extended over the weekend. These are almost exclusively deals offered by B&H and Adorama on Canon and Nikon camera-lens kits. In some cases, these deals have even been sweetened with an even lower discount, so if you were on the fence about a new Canon T6, T6i, or Nikon D3400, you might be even more tempted now.

• Canon EOS Rebel T6i with EF-S 18-55mm IS STM and EF-S 55-250mm IS STM lenses with free 32GB SDHC memory card and Canon EOS shoulder bag @ $799 (compare to $1,200) (Offer ends November 26 at 11:59 PM EST) [B&H]

• Canon EOS Rebel T6i with EF-S 18-55mm IS STM lens with free 32GB SDHC memory card @ $649 (compare to $900) (Offer ends November 26 at 11:59 PM EST) [B&H]

• Canon EOS Rebel T6i with EF-S 18-135mm IS STM and EF-S 55-250 IS STM lenses with free 16GB SDHC memory card and Ruggard Commando 36 DSLR shoulder bag @ $998 (compare to $1,400) (Offer ends November 26 at 11:59 PM EST) [B&H]

• Canon EOS Rebel T6i with 18-55mm lens Video Creator Kit @ $699 (compare to $999) (Offer ends November 26 at 11:59 PM EST) [B&H]

• Canon EOS Rebel T6 with 18-55mm and 75-300mm lenses with free 16GB memory card, cleaning kit, 58mm UV filter, Corel software and extra battery @ $449.00 (compare to $749) [Adorama]

• Nikon D3400 with 18-55mm and 70-300mm lenses @ $496 (compare to $996) (Offer ends November 26 at 11:59 PM EST) [B&H]

Fujifilm has announced $200 rebates on its X-E2s camera, with and without the 18-55mm kit lens:

• Fujifilm X-E2s (body only): $499.95 w/ free shipping (compare to $699.95) [B&H]

• Fujifilm X-E2s with XF18-55mm lens: $799.95 w/ free shipping (compare to $999.95) [B&H]

Color calibration company X-Rite has also announced some discounts on its calibration products:

• X-Rite i1 Filmmaker Kit @ $299 w/ free shipping (compare to $369) [Adorama]

• X-Rite EOPROF i1Publish (software only) @ $999 (compare to $1,259) [Adorama]

• X-Rite i1 Display Pro / ColorChecker Passport Bundle @ $199 w/ free shipping (compare to $299) [Adorama]

• X-Rite ColorMunki Display / ColorChecker Passport Bundle @ $139 (compare to $239) [Adorama]

• X-Rite i1 Display Pro Display and Monitor Calibrator, USB Powered @ $204.99 (compare to $258.99) [Adorama]

• X-Rite ColorMunki Photo @ $359 (compare to $458.99) [Adorama]

• X-Rite ColorMunki Display @ $126.99 (compare to $168.99) [Adorama]

• X-Rite ColorMunki Smile @ $55.64 (compare to $98.99) [Adorama]

Some manufacturers have decideed to get into the Black Friday spirit by adding incentives on their own retail portals. If you’re in the mood to shop for some Olympus products through their own shop, you’ll earn twice the rewards points this weekend; Canon’s offering a 15% discount on refurbished lenses purchased through their store.

If you want to try out different glass for your gear without buying it right now, Borrow Lenses has a Black Friday promotion that grants you 20% off all rentals with the code “BF2016.” Plus, if your rental includes Thanksgiving and Black Friday, you get those two days for free! Check it out here.

That’s it for today. Be sure to check out our page with all the deals and come back tomorrow to see what we add to it!

Black Friday Camera Deals 2016

The post ‘Twas the day before Black Friday: Camera Deals Round-up – November 24 appeared first on Imaging Resource.

Black Friday is fast approaching and you know what that means…great camera deals! We have been compiling them on our “Black Friday Camera Deals for 2016″ page, but we realize that there are a lot of deals to keep track of, so we are starting a daily round-up of some of the standout deals.

Before we get to the deals, we want to make mention of a special promotion we have with B&H. In addition to the 2% to 4% reward points on certain purchases at B&H, any purchase you make with them through our affiliate links automatically enters you into a monthly drawing for a $500 gift card. All B&H links on our Black Friday Deals page are marked with a special gift card icon to help you spot them.

Alright, now for our hand-picked deals of the day:

If you want to get started with a Canon mirrorless camera kit, the Canon EOS M3 is available in a kit with an 18-55mm lens and an electronic viewfinder accessory for $828, which is a savings of over $500. If you’re looking for a Canon DSLR instead, then how about the T6i DSLR? You can get everything you need to start capturing, and printing, photos with an 18-55mm lens, PRO-100 printer and much more for $837.92 after a mail-in rebate compared to its regular price of $1,373.

Get your hands on a Fuji X-T10 and a pair of lenses for under $900!

Are you a Fuji fan? Instantly save $400 on a Fujifilm X-T10 with 16-50mm and 50-230mm lenses. Available for $899 in black and silver.

Micro Four Thirds shooters take note; you can purchase the Panasonic G7 can be acquired this week with a 14-42mm kit lens for $500, a savings of $300. Plus, you get a $50 gift card! Get the black one here and the silver one here.

Nikon has been heavily targeting sports and wildlife shooters with its excellent D500 DSLR. That is more evident now that they are offering a special kit that includes the D500 and Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E lens. For Black Friday, you can purchase this kit, which includes a battery grip and XQD cards, for under $3,250. That’s a lot of kit for the money. Do you want some wide glass to go with that D500? You can purchase a Sigma 18-300mm lens (including a free close-up lens filter and Sigma USB dock) for $499, an instant savings of $80. This lens is also available on sale for the following mounts: Canon, Pentax and Sony A.

Nikon wants to give you lots of reach with their D500 Sports and Wildlife kit.

The Sony A6000 with 16-50mm and 55-210mm lenses, plus a free accessory bundle, can be purchased for just under $700, an instant savings of $350.

To help stabilize your camera when recording video, the DJI Ronin-M is a solid option. Today only, B&H is selling the Ronin-M for $1,199, an instant savings of $200. If you’ve been looking for a good deal on a 3-axis gimbal, strike while the iron is hot.

It’s always fun to print your own photos and you can grab the Epson P800 printer for $300 off after a mail-in rebate until November 30, which results in a final price just under $900. Grab some paper to go with it too, it’s on sale. If you’re curious to learn more about this printer, read our Epson P800 printer review.

It’s very satisfying to print your own work. You can purchase the P800 printer for under $900 after completing a $300 mail-in rebate.

If you want to try out different glass for your gear without buying it right now, Borrow Lenses has a Black Friday promotion that grants you 20% off all rentals with the code “BF2016.” Plus, if your rental includes Thanksgiving and Black Friday, you get those two days for free! Check it out here.

That’s it for today. Be sure to check out our page with all the deals and come back tomorrow to see what we add to it!

Black Friday Camera Deals 2016

The post 10 of the best camera deals: Black Friday Camera Deals Round-up – November 22 appeared first on Imaging Resource.

Over the last few days, Japanese companies have been releasing their financial reports for the first quarter of their 2016 fiscal year. (That is, for the period from April to June 2016; the Japanese fiscal year doesn’t follow the calendar year, but instead runs from April 1st to March 31st.) Among those doing so are both Olympus and Nikon, and neither report paints a pretty picture of the digital imaging market in the wake of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, which struck early in the fiscal year on April 16th, and whose damage was compounded by hundreds of aftershocks in the following days.

In its report, Olympus noted a whopping 25.5% decrease in its Imaging Business’ net sales for the quarter, year-on-year. Mirrorless camera sales fell by some 23% to 10.8 billion yen in the same period, while compact camera sales — a very small slice of the pie these days — dropped by 25% to just 3.8 billion yen. Nor was the news from Nikon any better. Net sales for the company’s Imaging Products Business in the quarter were down by 31%, and interchangeable-lens camera unit sales dropped by 32%. Nikon’s compact camera sales in the quarter plunged even more precipitously, dropping some 45%.

But can much of this really be attributed to a natural disaster? Most people don’t realize how devastating an impact the Kumamoto earthquakes have had on the camera industry. IR and other news outlets have told the story [Earlier articles here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5] of how the quakes shut down the major Sony camera-sensor plant there, and how that would impact most camera makers given Sony’s dominant position in the sensor business.

Along with everyone else, we here at IR breathed a sigh of relief when Sony announced that the plant was operational again, as of May 13th 2016.

Phew! They got it back up and running, and chips are flowing off the production line again, right?

Well, not exactly. In fact, not at all.

This was a major quake by any standard, measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale, but that’s only part of the story. It was also a very shallow quake (6.8 miles or 11km below the surface), so ground shaking was much more severe than it would have been in a similar-magnitude event happening many miles underground. It was an 8.8 on the Mercalli scale, based on the effects of quakes vs their moment magnitude. That level would normally correspond to a Richter-scale quake of 8.0 or higher.

And the Sony Kumamoto Technology Center was only about five miles from the epicenter.

Sony’s Kumamoto Technology Center was only ~five miles from the epicenter of the Kumamoto quake on April 16th, which measured 7.0 magnitude.
[Radar interferometry image courtesy Effigis Geo Solutions, annotations by IR.]

So this was a very severe quake, and the Sony sensor plant was sitting nearly on top of it, just a few miles away. The entire area was devastated, with landslides cutting both road and rail routes into the area. (We were told by an industry source outside Sony that it took them a week just to get into the plant.)

Sensor manufacturing involves literally hundreds of steps, with many of them requiring critical process control, extraordinarily precise alignment, and the complete absence of dust particles. If anything goes wrong in any of these areas, an entire batch of chips can be lost.

Now imagine a major-magnitude earthquake, power failure, the likely breaching of cleanroom areas, and ultra-precise wafer-patterning equipment being shaken a few feet in each direction. (That’s probably an understatement; the ground along the fault line ended up being shifted by 1.8 meters laterally, and raised up 70 centimeters. Furthermore, it appears that the 1.8 meter movement happened in just 20 seconds.)

It only takes a moment’s thought to realize that this wasn’t a matter of a factory having to shut down until they could get the lights back on and mop the floors. To the contrary, all work in process was lost. This means that, once they got the plant running again, the entire manufacturing process had to start from scratch, starting from raw wafers.

The complexity of the semiconductor fabrication process means it takes a long time from raw wafer to finished sensor. A loooong time. About three months. So after the production resumed on May 21st, it would require three months, give or take, for the first sensors to start coming out the other end. In other words, the first chips since the quake will only be starting to ship sometime about now.

The industry didn’t lose just 36 days or so, it lost more than four months of production. A third or so of an entire year’s output. But wait, there’s (probably) more…

Sony has made no comment on the internal state of the plant, but it’s hard to imagine that a lot of delicate equipment wasn’t badly damaged, at least some of it to the point of needing to be replaced or significantly overhauled. But these aren’t machines you can just run down to the corner superstore to pick up another one. Many will be build-to-order items, with long lead times.

So as an industry, we’re not out of the woods yet. Even if sensors are about to start coming off the line again, they probably won’t be doing so as quickly as before the quake.

The good news, though, is that thanks to herculean efforts on the part of Sony’s manufacturing engineers and plant employees, chips are about to start flowing out to the market again, and we are going to see new products being announced again in the runup to this year’s Photokina show in late September. All indications are that this fall is going to be an exciting time in the camera business!

The post Olympus, Nikon reveal big sales drops: Why the Kumamoto quake devastated the camera industry appeared first on Imaging Resource.