[Digital Today reporter Choi Jae-won (최재원)] Japan's camera makers Nikon and Fujifilm have been cautious in launching new products this year, but their core existing models are still seen as highly competitive. The analysis said the pace of new product releases does not necessarily reflect technological capability or overall product completeness.

On Oct. 11 (local time), IT outlet TechRadar reported that Sony and Canon have rolled out new products in succession to target the market this year. Sony released the A7 V, A7R VI and RX10 V, and Canon unveiled the EOS R6 Mark III and EOS R8 Mark II.

Fujifilm, by contrast, has not introduced a new mirrorless camera this year. Nikon also had few releases until it announced the Z5IIC last month, removing the viewfinder. Since releasing the Z5 II last year and the video-focused ZR, no entirely new mirrorless model has appeared.

Rumours also emerged that Fujifilm's next-generation X-T6 would launch in September, but it has not been unveiled so far. Some camera enthusiasts have voiced complaints about delays in new product releases.

The outlet, however, rated the completeness of existing products as still high. A key example is Nikon's Z5 II. The product, released last year, was assessed as setting a new standard for entry-level full-frame cameras. It said Canon's recently unveiled EOS R8 Mark II, despite design and image stabilisation improvements, did not surpass the Z5 II in overall completeness.

Nikon's Z8, released in 2023, is also maintaining competitiveness in the professional full-frame camera market. The same applies to Fujifilm. The X-T5, released in 2022, has a 40.2-megapixel APS-C sensor and in-body image stabilisation, and was still cited as a product worth recommending.

The outlet stressed that a camera's product life is longer than many expect. It said that even if new releases are delayed, manufacturers' competitiveness does not immediately weaken if existing products offer sufficient performance.

It added that even if Fujifilm introduces the X-T6 in future, the key will be how much it can improve on the already highly complete X-T5.