They are trying to expand binocular sales in Europe and association with guns causes problems in some types of shops over there. Did You Ever Wonder How and Why the Left Is Able to Push Their Narratives Almost Unhindered? The company is the eighth-largest chip equipment maker as reported in 2017. Finally, Nikon might see a resurgence in interest in astronomy or other space-related activities and decide to capitalize on that trend by reintroducing scopes as a product line. This camera was designed to be used by amateurs who wanted to make movies. The invasion has begun. Their main focus is on cameras now. Of course, thats just idle speculation. 43 Reviews. Finally, you can use the aperture ring on the lens. Overwhelmingly, I chose it for its reticle and only for that reason. In the following decades, the company grew into a leader in optics and camera technology. Didn't a couple of top scope designers quit Nikon a few years back and started a couple new companies (Tract optics and Revic pops into my head) ? I was born and raised in Haryana India but moved to Chandigarh for education when I was 14 "name": "Shooting Mystery", How Does This Affect Current Nikon Scope Owners? I will finally own some collectors items, or maybe not. Just purchased a Conquest 3.5-10X w/RZ 800 reticle for my big game stick. There could be no dead animals at all in any Nikon promotional images. Nikon was once a great company that made some of the finest riflescopes available. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Some are very expensive while others are free. Arizona. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. That said, Nikon abruptly changed course without recalling and disposing of every rifle scope. Speaking personally, the last DSLR I purchased was a Nikon D750 in 2015, and the only DSLR lens I still use is the AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR because Nikon has not yet released an . This change has left many suppliers and loyal customers worried about the future of their products. More people are buying optics as well. It means the following: Any Nikon rifle scope purchased after November 1st of 2019 falls under the "new" Lifetime Limited warranty program. This means that optical systems are better protected by warranties. Spotting scopes was just a minor part of thier portfolio. With that in mind, here are what I consider to be Nikon's five strategic failings. Most of their product line hasn't been updated in years, so the writing was pretty much on the wall it was happening sooner rather than later. Optical systems are more expensive than non-optical systems. Another alternative is to use a spotting scope. "sameAs": However, Nikon will remain a leader in laser rangefinders, spotting scopes, and binoculars. Its difficult not to imagine some of that taking place here as well. There are a few possible reasons why Nikon might want to resume production of scopes. He is also available for you to contact him personally to discuss the types of animals you want to hunt and the terrain you will be hunting on. Hunting gear is a big business. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. In-Depth Guide, How Does a Ncstar 10 X 21 Spy Monocular Work? Quick & Easy Guide, What Does the Rangefinder do Star Wars Battlefront? By the end of WWII, the company had grown to include more than 30 factories and employed over 2000 people. The content is not meant to be a replacement for professional service advice. Jul 12, 2022, 2:50 AM PDT. Have any of you heard this? You might encounter some older models from China or Japan, but the majority of the manufacturing occurred in the Philippines. My guess it's not profitable any more. While the company has made ordering an upgraded version of your favorite Nikon rifle scope impossible, you can still buy any unsold models from. The company sees that focusing on more profitable product families makes sense. There have been a lot of questions about what this means for current and potential customers. Dealers were told they could sell through their current inventories of Buckmaster, ProStaff, and BLACK scopes, but they shouldnt write new orders, and they shouldnt expect inventories to be replenished. Well look at what this means for Nikons customers and what optical products are still offered by their sporting optics division. And a quick Google shows no evidence of pressure on any of them to get out of the rifle scope business. instead of putting glass/erectors of 5,6, even 8x power in them. This list of equipment should be sorted by price, then alphabetically. There you will see the photo number and the number of pictures that have been taken. Thats not the case.. And I just bought an FX too. There is still PLENTY of current inventory available at any registered Nikon optics dealer. They even shipped us boxes of new optics one time, every one faulty out of the box, pieces falling off, and then denied the initial replacement requests. While the manufacturer will continue to produce other sport optics such asbinoculars,rangefindersandspotting scopes, production of Nikons line of rifle scopes will be (or has been) discontinued meaning that once current stocks are gone, they will not be replenished. His area of expertise ensures that there is no one better to suggest which rifles are most suitable for your hunting experience. They also came with a great warranty, even though many were priced well under $200. Look for the " shutter count " heading. 1. Nikon doesnt seem to care about losing their scope business. Note: If you want to gain information on How to Dial in a Scopeclick HERE. "https://www.facebook.com/Shooting-Mystery-110244180901951", How many are really building scopes from scratch with in-house designs -vs- just ordering from OEM houses that are making scopes for a dozen other "scope companies". However, Nikon abruptly changed its stance a few years ago, abandoning hunting, and rifle scopes, entirely. From July to January 1951, Duncan photographed the Korean War. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. There are a few possible reasons why Nikon might want to resume production of scopes. i know it was just a bullet point review (if I remember correctly) but Frank had good things to say about them initially. Their lenses are not as sharp as other cameras lenses. Their products include cameras, lenses, binoculars, and scopes. Hey! At the time I was on a different forum and I happened to mention what happened in a thread. Nikon is no longer making scopes because they no longer find them to be a profitable product category. guess if its a life time warranty the life time is about up . This scanner works well with advanced photo systems such as the Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera. The following variants are currently manufactured and assembled in Japan. There are several alternatives to Nikon scopes that shooters can consider, depending on their specific needs and preferences. The majority of Nikon scopes are made in Japan, with a small percentage also being made in China. When we heard about it, our jaws just dropped, says Brady Speth, CEO of Riton Optics, based in Arizona. While the manufacturer will continue to . So it serves everyone. Many fans have sworn off Nikon because of this perceived betrayal. There are more than 57 riflescope brands out there right now. Canon introduced a new type of camera lens interface with its entirely electronic lens mount in 1987. Nikon make some of the best long camera lenses, which are great for shouting wildlife and nature. Nikon's Fieldscope line of spotting scopes is premium in price and quality, making it competitive with the best sports optics available from Japan or Europe. There are many different types of scopes available on the market, so it is important to choose the right one for the specific needs of the shooter. Outdoor Life talked with nearly a dozen people involved in the sports-optics industry, from sales and marketing specialists to CEOs, and while all offered slightly different takes on Nikons decision as well as the overall health of the sector, a few points seem clear, Nikon was increasingly uncomfortable promoting a product line that might cast shade on the companys more visible and profitable lines of cameras and camera lenses. First, the market for optical products is highly competitive, and Nikon might see increased demand for its products if it were to reintroduce them. I'll admit, it was 3 weeks of my life I can't get back, but I was still working at the time, so no time sitting around twiddling my thumbs, so no big deal. When I had my second issue, I called Nikon and 4 days later, I had a new and upgraded scope in my hands and all it took was one phone call. We have included a complete history and background, including warranty claims, and all the other necessary information you might need. People who are interested in hunting are buying better quality optics. The idea is that, when your rifle is zeroed a certain range, usually 100 yards, the other aiming points will . Strange turn in New York concealed carry case. Your absolutely rite the Nikon P3 3-9-50 is an excellent rifle scope that other idiot that never new nikon was in the rifle scope biz is so stupid sounding nikon has almost the best glass to any hunting or shooting rifle scope in today's market Leupold isn't all that good the 3-9-50 rifleman is the worst rifle scope leupold ever made had one the free floating turrets has no bite in them I . After the war, Nikon produced cameras in a single factory. Nikon scopes have been frontrunners in the very profitable market of rifle scopes for decades. Nikon SwitchView - Buckmasters Black 16417 Riflescope Accessory. Ophthalmic optics is the main business of the company. There are several reasons for this. This means if you break your camera, you may need to pay for repairs. In 2019, Nikon announced that it would leave the rifle scope market completely, selling off its remaining rifle scope line products to companies on its Focused Dealer Direct Program. Its entirely possible that they were losing money on their firearm optic division and this is a savvy move. While Nikon rifle scopes may be off the table, Nikon continues to offer its more profitable product families, whether they be cameras, binoculars, range-finders, or other scope products. Those are usually names like Burris or Leupold or other brands. Apparently theyre being told that all scopes and red dots are discontinued., This was seemingly corroborated by gun websiteThe Truth About Guns. One reason is that there is not much demand for scopes. Nikon Corporation was founded in 1917 by three major optical companies. This allowed much faster lens performance than before. Im going to go ahead and say that this is an example of a bad comparison. Nikon Prostaff Easy Carry Binocular Harness Black Compact Comfortable 6121. So, many people think that Nikon isnt serious about precision shooters, but thats not true. In 1967, Nikon released the Nikon R10 super zoom lens. The Nikon contraction is completely about internal politics rather than consumer preference. We suggest you check it out now to see if youre eligible for a discount. This allows the company to divert its focus to its main product: cameras. Nikon has found that most people who buy scopes do not use them very often. Secondly, the technology used to make scopes had changed significantly over the years, and Nikon no longer had the expertise to manufacture them. This is because scopes can be expensive to produce and they can not be improved very much. Canon and Sony are both too heavily invested, too diversified, and too successful to want to withdraw. does that include binos/rangefinders, Doug? Post date: 17 yesterday. But the company doesnt think theres enough demand for them anymore. The first word is BLACK, then Monarch 7, then Monarch 5, etc. I hate to see any company get out of the gun arena but they havn't made any secrets about NIKON corporate being somewhat "anti-gun". Seems weird for a company that specializes in making quality optics to just decide to up and quit. Optical systems are more expensive than non-optical systems. While it may be impossible for hunters to look forward to a new rifle scope line from Nikon, warranty worries should be the least concern for long-time Nikon scope users. The scope market has more players now than ever. So, what does that mean? , abandoning hunting, and rifle scopes, entirely. The new warranty program doesnt allow you to transfer your warranty to another person. 3.Nikon is Exiting the Rifle Scope Business. If you think there is anything further you would like to know, please feel free to reach out to us. Now, they offer lifetime limited warranties for the optical systems of binoculars, field scopes, and riflescopes. The same is true with Leupold and Leapers UTG. I figured it would be smarter business for Nikon to issue a $200 credit that the OP could use on binoculars, than it would be for them to spend time diagnosing the issue, sourcing the parts and repairing it. It also has many features such as image stabilization and a built-in flash. Nikon plans to lay off 1,000 people. Why Did Nikon Scopes Go Out of Business? However, they shouldve made sure they had a better warranty. There are many different types of warranties available. The trick is to mount the rifle in a vice or cradle so that it doesn't move easily. Nikon has a large lineup of cameras and lenses, but they no longer produce scopes. Why Did Nikon Stop Making Scopes? And because of the high integration which is possible with modern technology, simpler DSOs can be made at very low costs, and even those already vastly exceed the capabilities of most analog scopes. When you see a kilo 2200 under $400 grab one. Hes also OLs optics editor, helping readers to make informed buying decisions. Still another reason is that Nikon is trying to focus more on its cameras and lenses. I am sorry to see Nikon go away but there many other options out there to pick from. As of mid-2019, Nikon announced that they would no longer manufacture and sell riflescopes. They make a good range of mid-level optics. John is the Editor in Chief here at The Outdoor Stores. Why Has Nikon Stopped Making Rifle Scopes? There are a few reasons why Nikon discontinued producing scopes. Maybe their FX line was their last hope to try and get "back into the game" but with so many other sub $1k optics hitting the market they just couldn't get enough of the share. Its also very affordable. He met a young Japanese photographer named Jun Miki, who showed him how to use Nikon lenses. This allows the company to maintain a great level of optical performance and built quality of the higher-end models. What seems to be true, not only in the riflescope sector but in nearly all the shooting and hunting sports, is that hunters and shooters are increasingly knowledgeable, specialized, and educated about the galaxy of choices in the marketplace. I probably have more Nikon scopes than any other one manufacturer. 149. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia would recognize . A gray area? Their quality is unmatched. Nikons advertising agency of 25 years confirmed the brands contraction from the riflescope sector, but stressed that Nikon will still be a dominant player in the other sports-optics categories, including laser rangefinders, binoculars, and spotting scopes. 2023 All Rights Reserved by Shooting Mystery. Theres nothing wrong with the Nikon warranty, but the Vortex warranty is far superior. Nikon sent me a new model in about 4 weeks! Nikon migrated their remaining stock of entry-level and mid-level range scopes to their accredited companies for reselling. "image": { Our experts tested the popular scopes of the month to find the best one and after a lot of deliberation (read heated debates), we have picked this one as our choice for this month. As far as warranty issues with Nikon, I sent two scopes in, got two new scopes back, then sent one back in and they sent me another new one back. "@type": "Article", "url": "https://shootingmystery.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/1_Does-Nikon-Still-Make-Scopes-Everything-You-Need-to-Know.jpg" We hope youll consider us again if we ever make another product. JavaScript is disabled. Look at the rise of affordable accuracy in the riflescope sector. I wised up quickly once the education started here and I now have a NF ATACR on my RPR. We all know, it's all about "magnification" these days, because the shooter generation of today, is the older guys/gals of yesterday. This camera was also very successful. In fact, some people believe that scopes are a waste of money. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. They will simply no longer carry weapon-mounted sights. Nikon has a long and storied history of making optical products, including telescopes. "keywords": ["does nikon still make scopes"], Most other scopes in this category have similar features. "https://theshootingmystery.tumblr.com/", It makes sense to discontinue their entry-level and mid-level range of scopes despite being a very profitable market. "https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6dwEQfHK1tk_ZeaA4PniOA/", I forget how long ago exactly, I'm going to say ~15 years ago, but Nikon got a rep for making some nice reasonably prices scopes, when Leupold was at it's low, and there wasn't much else for competition unless you spent a lot of $. Will Nikon Ever Start Making Scopes Again? The glass is decent enough, especially at a good discount. Woke is for stopping stuff that's losing . "@type": "ImageObject", Contents What is an SD Card? They wanted to show only live animals, and no dead animals. "TTAG spoke to Nikons advertising agency who confirmed the news. I have been well-satisifed with various Leupolds and a previous generation Nikon 3.3-10 X44 but wanted the speed of multi-stadia reticle for 400 + yd shots. Well see how things go. Nikon Inc. changed its warranty policy. Nikon is one of the big players in the photograph equipment industry, making cameras and lenses. Nikon 8x zoom lens was released in 1966. So yeah, the OP's claim about the actual reason for Nikon's decision is bullshit. The news first came courtesy of astory on Nikon Rumors. When you can buy a rifle off the shelf that shoots 1 MOA at 400 yards, you want a scope thats going to be capable of that same sort of precision. Left is Able to Push their Narratives Almost Unhindered their products allow you to transfer your warranty to another.. Its difficult not to imagine some of the best long camera lenses, binoculars and... 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Riton optics, based in Arizona Chief here at the rise of affordable accuracy in Philippines.