Way too much gloom and doom in the Photo industry. Shipments down for second year . . .

[AndyS]

I don't see the glass so much as half empty but put out of reach for awhile. 2019 was the last pre pandemic year, 2020 was the world in lockdown and high demands being made on $$ for other recreational sales. Not only does being confined to four walls cut down on photographic inspiration but labor shortages due to illness and shifting demands from recreational photography to upgrading home offices and home entertainment sucked expendable $$ from the market. Frankly it's amazing that the photo market did as well as it did. Then comes 2021 and the beginnings of a recovery only to have supply chain shortages put a cramp on EVERYTHING from toilet paper to automobiles. No semiconductors for cars, cameras, computers or game controllers. Add in the Olympus sale (10% of the market), Panasonic not releasing new product, Nikon shutting down existing product manufacturing for lack of parts and both Nikon and Cannon making a major shift in technology and is there any surprise that shipments are down?

If I were a betting man I'd bet that 2022 will be a major comeback for the camera industry as well as the auto, computer, gaming and, yes, toilet paper industry will be a much better year.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. I think your analysis is clear-headed and correct.

I might be oversimplifying, but we've been through some awful days, so the only place we can go, is UP.