Photographic & Optical Equipment/Supplies Manufacturing
Companies in this industry manufacture photographic and optical equipment and supplies, such as cameras, photocopiers, projectors, and film editing equipment, as well as lenses used in scientific instruments and consumer products. Major companies include Bushnell, Coherent, GoPro, and Sony Electronics (all based in the US), along with Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, Olympus, Ricoh (all based in Japan), and Zeiss (Germany).
The US photographic and optical equipment manufacturing industry includes around 600 establishments (single-location companies or units of multi-location companies) with combined annual revenue of about $6 billion. This industry does not include companies that primarily manufacture eyeglasses or other ophthalmic lenses, which are covered in the Eyewear Manufacturing profile.
Competitive Landscape
Demand for optical instruments is driven by technological advancements and R&D spending, while demand for photography equipment largely depends on consumer income and corporate spending. The profitability of individual companies depends on product innovation, raw materials costs, and effective pricing. Large companies enjoy economies of scale in design, manufacturing, and purchasing. Small companies can compete effectively by offering more specialized and innovative product lines. The US industry is highly concentrated: the 50 largest manufacturers of lenses and optical instruments account for about 80% of revenue in that industry segment, and the top 50 photography and photocopier equipment manufacturers account for more than 90% of segment revenue.
Several of the industry's larger manufacturers have begun incorporating software applications and business services into their business models to distinguish themselves from competitors and reduce their reliance on sales of hardware devices, a category with more limited growth potential.
US manufacturers of lenses and optical instruments face significant competition from imports, particularly from China, Japan, Mexico, Germany, and Canada. Japanese electronics companies dominate the market for digital cameras and related accessories.
Products, Operations & Technology
Major products in the optical equipment manufacturing sector include lenses used in cameras, binoculars, telescopes, weapon sights, and laboratory instruments
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