Nikon tops Canon in SLR market

Nikon took the title of market leader in digital single-lens reflex cameras away from Canon for the first time ever in 2007, a private research agency said Thursday.

Nikon Corp. raised its share of the Japanese market to 43.8 percent against Canon Inc.'s 40.0 percent by selling less expensive products aimed at novice photographers, BCN Inc. said.

Pentax Corp. finished a distant third, with 5.8 percent.

While Nikon and Canon together account for the lion's share of the market, competition is expected to intensify when Pentax, Olympus Imaging Corp. and Sony Corp. launch a flood of new models, industry observers say.

BCN began compiling its annual rankings for digital SLR camera makers in 2005.