As I expressed in a previous post, camera equipment might be of little concern to victims of the natural disasters and their ongoing effects in Japan. For someone planning on purchasing equipment for an upcoming assignment or trip, however, it is important to know that camera equipment shortages of dSLR cameras and lenses are already being reported and is evident by the stock listed on major retailers’ websites. The earthquakes and tsunami in Japan have affected manufacturing and the supply chain of products or parts needed to assemble the products, and these effects could continue for months.
If you are planning to make a camera purchase in the near future, or if you need certain equipment for an assignment or trip you have planned in the upcoming months, it might be wise to go ahead and make those purchases now.