AmateurPhotographer

© RR AUCTION
Camera makers shaken
by Japan earthquakes
IT HAS been a torrid few weeks
for Japanese cameras makers,
who warn that the devastating
earthquakes that struck in April
will affect production. The quakes
affected Kumamoto, a region
regarded as a manufacturing hub for
companies including Nikon, Canon,
Sony and Panasonic. At least 42
people have been reported killed
and about 3,000 injured.
A statement released by Nikon on
20 April read: ‘The suppliers of parts
for Nikon products, such as digital
cameras with interchangeable
lenses, interchangeable lenses and
compact digital cameras… were
affected by the series of earthquakes
that started on 14 April in
Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan,
and this will inevitably impact our
production and sales.’
Canon told AP that it has been
forced to halt production of some
products owing to the effect of the
earthquakes on infrastructure and
on the companies that supply
Canon with parts. However, in a
statement, it stressed there were
no serious injuries to Canon
employees or their families, and
no signifi cant damage to the
company’s building or facilities.
Canon says the current
effect on the company’s
business is ‘minimal’,
although the future is
still being assessed.
Panasonic said the factories
supplying components for its
digital-imaging products were
also damaged. A Panasonic
spokesperson told AP: ‘As the
entrance to the factories is not yet
permitted, the schedule to restart
operations is still unclear.’
On 2 May, Fujifi lm said it had
resumed operations, although on
a limited basis. It expects a return
to full production by the end of
the month.
Sony confi rmed that its main site
for image-sensor manufacture, the
Kumamoto Technology Centre, was
damaged by the earthquakes, as was
a semiconductor plant. ‘In addition,
the earthquakes have caused
damage to the manufacturing
facilities of certain third-party
suppliers of components to Sony,
the impact of which on Sony’s
business operations is currently
being evaluated,’
the fi rm stated.
Nikon confirmed
that its new
DL models
are affected
The Kumamoto
quakes have hit
camera production
Technical glitch strikes
premium Nikon compacts
In a double blow, Nikon has
confirmed that technical
problems have forced it to delay the
release of its flagship DL compacts, the
production of which was also hit by the
Kumamoto earthquakes. The cameras
affected – each boasting 4K video – are
the Nikon DL 24-85 f/1.8-2.8 (pictured
above), Nikon DL 18-50mm f/1.8-2.8 and
Nikon DL 24-500 f/2.8-5.6. Nikon blamed
‘serious issues with the integrated circuit
for image processing’ on all three models.
Nikon has yet to confirm a revised release
date for these cameras, which were
announced in February in a bid to shake up
the high-end compact camera market and
expected to go on sale in June.
Nikon has also pulled back the launch of
the Coolpix A300, B500, A900 and B700,
and delayed its KeyMission 360 action
camera, to allow more time for ‘software
adjustment’. However, a Nikon UK
spokesperson confirmed that the Nikon
D500 DSLR went on sale at the end of
April, escaping further delay.
Moon lens sold
for stellar price
THE 500mm f/8 Zeiss
lens that was used on
an Apollo moon mission in
1971 has fetched around
£315,000 at an auction.
The Zeiss Tele-Tessar was
used to take almost 300
photos of the lunar surface
and to capture images in
orbit. The 1ft/30cm-long
lens was specially adapted
to include rotational
segments in the centre, so
that focus and aperture
could be controlled using
the pressurised gloves
of the spacesuit worn by
astronaut Dave Scott.
‘After the mission, Scott
received the lens from
NASA as a memento and
it has been in his personal
collection since that time,’
said a spokesman for RR
Auction, which is based in
Boston, USA.
Attached to a Hasselblad
camera, the 500mm f/8
Zeiss Tele-Tessar lens was
used on four missions to
the lunar surface.
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6 14 May 2016 I www.amateurphotographer.co.uk I subscribe 0330 333 1113