In the first half of 2007, Nikon sold more DSLRs than Canon in Japan. Nikon Corp., buoyed by the popularity of its D40 model, clinched a 47.5-percent share of the domestic market from January to June, surpassing Canon’s 36.5 percent, according to Tokyo-based market research firm BCN Inc.

It was the first time that Nikon has held the top spot over a half-year term, although it had done so on a monthly basis before. Nikon and Canon have long been the dominant players in the domestic SLR camera market, but Nikon appeared stuck in second place for digital SLR camera body sales.

Comparing that to the first half of 2006, Canon led at 46.4 percent to Nikon’s 31.9 percent, and at 42.9 percent to Nikon’s 35.5 percent in the second half.

Competition for third place has also been fierce. In the first half of this year, Pentax Corp. came in third at 6.7 percent, followed by Sony Corp. at 4.5 percent and Olympus Corp. at 4.3 percent. In May and June, however, Olympus moved up to third, led by its E-410 model, which it claims is the world’s “smallest, slimmest and lightest” digital SLR camera. The model, released in April, weighs 375 grams.

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