It looks like Nikon will stop developing and releasing flash units

Nikon announced yesterday that it will work with Japan’s Nissin and Sweden’s Profoto to develop flash units and studio lighting fixtures.

Nissin Japan is a flash manufacturer with over 60 years of history, founded in 1959. Profoto AB is the world’s leading manufacturer of lighting products for professional photography. To date, both companies have released a large number of Nikon compatible flash units. Nikon said the collaboration with these manufacturers “will further improve the compatibility of Nikon mirrorless cameras with Nissin Digital and Profoto products.”

Nikon went on to say in a press release that “along with Nikon’s built-in flashes, improved compatibility with Nissin Digital and Profoto products will further enhance the reliable choice for Nikon camera users, expanding the possibilities of expression in shooting.”

While there is no additional information in Nikon’s post, a little more is said in a press release issued by Nissin on the same subject. In addition to expressing joy at the collaboration, it mentions “improved functionality for professional photographers.”

Nikon Rumors suggests that Nikon has decided to help third-party manufacturers who previously had to rely on reverse engineering to ensure compatibility with Nikon cameras with the discontinuation of Nikon’s proprietary Speedlights. To ensure that Nikon cameras do not lose their appeal in the eyes of consumers without these flashes, Nikon wants to ensure maximum compatibility with third-party models.

When you remember that the latest Speedlight model, the SB-5000, was released in 2016, this assumption does not seem so unfounded.