Posted by Michael Lowe on March 12, 2011 at 2:48 PM
WOW. I am just dumbfounded and have to vent. On photo.net I just came across a thread in the Canon EOS forum, where a photographer actually wanted to know what effect the tsunami would have on Canon equipment prices. My simple mind can not even grasp this kind of bizarre insensitivity.
Posted by Jim Erhardt on March 12, 2011 at 3:21 PM
Posted by Vincent Nobel on March 12, 2011 at 4:28 PM
WOW indeed! People just amaze me (and not in a good way!)
Posted by David Bostedo on March 12, 2011 at 6:53 PM
Given that both photo.net and NPN are photography sites I think it's a valid question, and in no way takes away from the seriousness of the event and the continuing tragedy that's unfolding. In fact, Nikon released an official statement with regard to their facilities since they have well known plants in Sendai.
Now if your FIRST reaction to hearing about the news is "gee, I wonder if that'll affect my photos", I could see insensitivity. But wondering how it affects the important industries of Japan, it's economy and its people, is not insensitive, I don't think. Perhaps, given that it's an internet forum, it came across as more callous than was intended?
Posted by Bruce Painter on March 12, 2011 at 9:52 PM
Even though I have started to think about a body upgrade for my 30D the only images I have thought of are horific ones that I have seen on the news. This side of the equation never crossed my mind.
Bruce
Posted by Basil Greber on March 13, 2011 at 7:03 AM
Similar threads are going on in Nikon forums...
Posted by Jim Erhardt on March 13, 2011 at 9:14 AM
No doubt, these events will have an impact on all aspects of life in Japan, including manufacturing and export.
I worked in that area and a little further north on Hokkaido 30 years ago, and it's an eye opener to recognize a landmark now and then among the devastation. The Japanese society is amazing and the people I know there are unbelievably capable. I suspect they'll recover in "record" time, but in the meantime the disruption and suffering will be widespread. Camera manufacture will be the last thing on their minds until everyone has a bottle of water, a meal and a blanket.
I must admit that when I read the title of this thread I thought "Hmmm Never crossed my mind". I think all reasonable people will agree that the human recovery from this disaster is paramount and should be the main focus of everyone.
Posted by Bruce Palla on March 13, 2011 at 3:26 PM
I have to agree with David B., above. It does seem callous at first glance, but the business portion of news broadcasts are dealing with the economic ramifications of this disaster and the potential for instability. I have not heard any reports about the imaging corporations, but news about Toyota, Honda, and import/export expectations have been covered extensively.
My thoughts and prayers for those affected are definitely taking precedence over whether or not any lenses are being made. I wish all affected nothing but the best and a speedy recovery.
Posted by Bruce Painter on March 13, 2011 at 10:07 PM
I'll admit that I know little about the manufacturing capabilities or Canon or Nikon but my thinking is that from an economic standpoint this would be harder on them than Honda. Toyota and Nissan. I would think that percentage wise the camera companies facilities are more concentrared into Japan than the auto makers.
Having said that the releif of human suffering and the availibility of basic necessities are the most important. things right now. They indeed need our prayers.
Bruce
Posted by Kent Staubus on March 14, 2011 at 9:47 AM
Most large companies like these have manufacturting spread out over several countries. Tokyo seems unaffected, and I bought a large format lens from a guy there. It was worth ~$800 normally, but he offered it to me for $450. I sent him the money, and he thanked me saying he had to raise cash quickly to help his elderly parents who had just lost everything. I then sent him some more cash. Didn't want to take advantage of a guy who was doing the right thing. My point is that even in these sorts of situations doing some commerce is helpful.
Kent in SD
Posted by David Bostedo on March 14, 2011 at 12:56 PM
Good for you Kent. Apparently a lot of the population of the affected area of Japan was older.
Posted by Paul DeCesare on March 14, 2011 at 1:00 PM
It's a very valid question that should be asked months from now, not at this point in time because it is extremely unimportant when we don't even know the extent of the loss of life yet. Price of gear is not this week's priority topic I would think, respect for life and compassion for those there should be first. I'm not saying we should be fanatical and stop our own lives and only think on the Japan disaster as many of us may have personal tragedies happening right now with loved ones, etc. But the person who posted the gear question (and others around the forums of the earth) need to have some integrity and respect, and hold back on posing a question like that to the public world right now. Again, the question of financial impact is valid, but all in good time.
And, yes, it's OK if you disagree. Discussion makes people think, it's when we don't that we get into trouble, lol.
Posted by Paul DeCesare on March 14, 2011 at 1:03 PM
Kent, thank you, you just laid the right moral groundwork for this topic!
Posted by Nancy de Flon on March 15, 2011 at 12:38 PM
It seems that concerns for Japan's economic well-being (including the survival of its major industries, whether cameras or cars) is valid and important, but the way the original question was apparently put suggests a touch of narcissism. My son and his girlfriend (she's Japanese, with her family still over there) are supposed to leave for Japan on a vacation trip next week. (He, of course, wants to take his Nikon D700 back to its native land to shoot mountains.) I'm praying they make the right decision about whether to reschedule.
Posted by Richard Olsen on March 20, 2011 at 9:31 PM
Like everyone else, I watched as the earthquake and tsunami devestated many peoples lives. My heart goes out to the people of Japan.
To go along with this topic...from a search on the net
Canon will not have to halt production of new cameras following last night's earthquake in Japan, the company has claimed.
The manufacturer says it did not suffer sufficient damage at its plants from the 8.9-magnitude earthquake that would keep it from producing Canon cameras at this time.
It is unknown if shipments of Canon cameras will be affected, as reports suggest the tsunami that followed in the earthquake's wake has flooded Tokyo airport.
Canon recently launched the Canon 600D and Canon 1100D, which are due to hit shelves in the UK later this month and are already available at some retailers.
Sony has meanwhile halted production and evacuated six of its factories in northeastern Japan, according to a company spokesman.
Discussion
17 repliesNow if your FIRST reaction to hearing about the news is "gee, I wonder if that'll affect my photos", I could see insensitivity. But wondering how it affects the important industries of Japan, it's economy and its people, is not insensitive, I don't think. Perhaps, given that it's an internet forum, it came across as more callous than was intended?
Bruce
My thoughts and prayers for those affected are definitely taking precedence over whether or not any lenses are being made. I wish all affected nothing but the best and a speedy recovery.
Having said that the releif of human suffering and the availibility of basic necessities are the most important. things right now. They indeed need our prayers.
Bruce
Kent in SD
And, yes, it's OK if you disagree. Discussion makes people think, it's when we don't that we get into trouble, lol.
To go along with this topic...from a search on the net
Canon will not have to halt production of new cameras following last night's earthquake in Japan, the company has claimed.
The manufacturer says it did not suffer sufficient damage at its plants from the 8.9-magnitude earthquake that would keep it from producing Canon cameras at this time.
It is unknown if shipments of Canon cameras will be affected, as reports suggest the tsunami that followed in the earthquake's wake has flooded Tokyo airport.
Canon recently launched the Canon 600D and Canon 1100D, which are due to hit shelves in the UK later this month and are already available at some retailers.
Sony has meanwhile halted production and evacuated six of its factories in northeastern Japan, according to a company spokesman.