Just for your edification. Nikon dumps us.

[otzi]

Second paragraph.

http://money.cnn.com/2006/01/12/technology/nikon.reut/index.htm

[robc]

if its any consolation, Zeiss are thinking of making lenses to fit manual focus Nikon cameras.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/01/12/nikon.film.ap/index.html

[Joe Smigiel]

Pretty much answer the old Nikon vs. Canon debate, don't it?

[David R Munson]

Not really. I mean, it was all a farce from the beginning. Everyone knows Nikon>Canon.

*ducks*

[Brian Vuillemenot]

Isn't it more a question of the Schneider vs. Rodenstock debate?

[ADG]

On the one hand (and the one of sole interest to Nikon) it's a business decision.
We'll see this often as the whole industry realigns itself. Good news if you are a
german semi niche lens manufacturer..

[Richard Kelham]

Joe

How does it answer the "old Nikon vs Canon debate"? Where can I buy Canon Large Format lenses, new or used?

[Walt Calahan]

I'm sorry Joe, but I don't understand your comment about ending the Nikon vs Canon debate. Please elaborate.

I use to work with Canon gear for 35 mm photography. Then they switched to a new lens mount system making all their old lenses worthless for the new camera bodies.

Nikon on the other hand never sacrificed their old gear to a new design.

Nikon believed in Large Format. Canon never did, or gave up before I was born.

Wanted you to know why I'm puzzled by the Canon vs Nikon comment. Doesn't seem germane to the news of Nikon's decision, but perhaps I'm missing a different point you're trying to make. I welcome you're further comments.

[Scott Davis]

And you see what has happened to Canon since they switched their lensmount... utter dominance of the PJ market (sports, documentary, etc). Go watch a sporting event on TV if you don't believe me, and count how many white lenses you see on the sidelines... virtually all of them. It was a painful switch for the folks who had old Canon gear, but it worked out better for the product in the long run.

The Canon V Nikon debate aside, it's a shame they're killing off those products, but entirely understandable. They had to be loss-leaders for Nikon for a long time - prestige products to prove the quality of their optics that seldom sold for enough to recoup their production costs.

[Alan Davenport]

How did the fact that Nikon is dropping production of film-based cameras (in favor of digital) get us into the Nikon-vs-Canon thing? Does anyone seriously believe Canon won't follow suit? (As will all the rest, sooner or later.)

The days of film are numbered. Enjoy the time we have left before the headsman's axe falls on us all.