Nikon pressured to get out of hunting scope business

[Ridgewalker]

Just had a friend from Burris Optics verify that Nikon is getting out of the scope business. It sounds like they have been pressured for quite a while by photographers and birdwatchers to get out of the hunting industry. Finally the heads of Nikon in Japan bowed to their majority customer base.

Sad. I suspect warranties will no longer be valid. Sorry now I bought any of their products even if they were excellent.

 

[thriller]

Just had a friend from Burris Optics verify that Nikon is getting out of the scope business. It sounds like they have been pressured for quite a while by photographers and birdwatchers to get out of the hunting industry. Finally the heads of Nikon in Japan bowed to their majority customer base.

Sad. I suspect warranties will no longer be valid. Sorry now I bought any of their products even if they were excellent.

good to know I will never purchase their products again.

 

[Wade J VanGinkel]

I've only owned 1 scope that was plagued with problems even after 2 return trips. Never bought another. Sad to hear anyway

 

[sestoppelman]

Been a fan of their products for years, cameras, scopes, bino's all excellent quality. I probably wont need anymore of their products, but if I did I will still buy the brand.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Just got off the phone with NIKON.
They are indeed no longer going to be manufacturing rifle scopes.
The Warranty on the rifle scope products is still valid.

 

[curtism1234]

That doesn't surprise me they are getting out of the scope business. I'm not so sure it's because of anti-hunting pressure though. Vortex's surprise emergence in the market along with Leopold's newer budget minded scopes has made it where the scope business is no longer really profitable for them. Bushnell is even trying harder to up their quality in that sub-$200 category.

Camera wise, Nikon is a HUGE player. I would think maybe 40% of the detachable lens cameras being sold are Nikon.

Nikon is about growing their business and making money. If their resources can be used far better elsewhere, I don't fault them for getting out of the scope biz

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Well, I hope that hunters think carefully about what cameras to bring on their Safaris as well. Lots of great brands out there like Canon, Samsung etc. not to mention how great the cameras on the phones have become.

Its about time that we stand together.

 

[YancyW]

I'm positive they are unconcerned with my opinion, but they can piss off. I won't be spending a dime with them.

 

[cpr0312]

Well this is unfortunate, although I have never owned any of their products still stinks if the decision is due to anti pressure.

 

[wesheltonj]

Well, I hope that hunters think carefully about what cameras to bring on their Safaris as well. Lots of great brands out there like Canon, Samsung etc. not to mention how great the cameras on the phones have become.

Its about time that we stand together.

Unfortunately, that’s not the case. In the easy portable you have Leica, Hasselblad and Nikon in the professional market with very little overlap between them. The consumer market that’s a different story.

 

[BRICKBURN]

I think it is much more likely they are heading to where the money is to be made.
It's a market they tried, it did not work out and they are focusing resources on the

 

[fourfive8]

Yah, heading away from pressure that has been on them from the antis since at least 2013, especially in the UK.

 

[BnC 04]

Can't say I'm a big Nikon scope fan but anyone who caves in and sides with the anti's mindset holds a special place on my s**t list.

 

[sestoppelman]

Couple of my better scopes are relatively inexpensive Nikons. My wife bought a large 7x50 top grade bino for me when I got my tugboat operators license many years ago, still use them on my boat today. I have a very good camo rubber 7x35 bino for hunting, a fairly new Nikon D3300 digi SLR as well as the old Nikon FE 35mm SLR from years ago when I fancied myself a budding photographer. I will happily keep all my Nikon stuff.
If they are not actively campaigning against hunting.. I think its silly to get too worked up about this. They make fine stuff.

 

[Shootist43]

I have a number of Nikon scopes and they have all been good. As long as they continue to honor their warranties there isn't much reason to complain about them getting out of the business. Providing there is a good "fire sale" (because of this business decision,) now might be a good time to stock up.

 

[mdwest]

What (if any) confirmation is there of their reasoning and rationale for moving away from rifle optics?

If it is a purely business decision (not enough money in it..or they see a need to re-focus their efforts on their core business (cameras).. I dont see a reason for a hunters boycott..

If its succumbing to pressure from antis or radicalized executives pushing their own political or moral agendas on the public.. then screw em.. I'll never own another nikon product..


for now, I am ASSUMING the decision is being driven by dollars not politics.. if thats the case, I will definitely be looking for the fire sale mentioned by @Shootist43 .. I'd love to pick up a couple of their scopes at a healthy discount..

 

[fourfive8]

Like Nike's decision to drop the Betsy Ross flag from being on one of their shoes.... When pressed about it Nike said it was a "business decision". Whatever

As to Nikon's decision... up to them. I've never bought any of their products, so now for certain won't.

 

[CBH Australia]

Well it’s just one less scope to compare when making choices on new scopes, might simplify things for us

 

[Timbo]

I

Well, I hope that hunters think carefully about what cameras to bring on their Safaris as well. Lots of great brands out there like Canon, Samsung etc. not to mention how great the cameras on the phones have become.

Its about time that we stand together.

I've suggested on here before that we should stand together, and that we should also create an index (on AH) cataloguing those businesses which boycott us so we can return the favour.

 

[johnnyblues]

The hell with them. They abandoned hunters I abandon them.