A 2016 earthquake delayed cameras for months. Another one just hit Japan. This is how much the 2026 earthquake could impact photographers
Sony has released an update following the July 28 earthquake that paused manufacturing for the world's largest producer of camera sensors
A 7.1 magnitude earthquake recently hit Japan's Kumamoto region, widely known for its image sensor production, and has temporarily halted manufacturing at Sony Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation. The company anticipates returning to pre-earthquake production levels by mid-August, with operations resuming in stages starting August 4.
The Kumamoto region, located near the earthquake's epicenter, is a crucial area for sensor manufacturing not just for Sony but also for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Inc. and Fujifilm. Despite the disruption, Sony assures that all evacuated personnel are safe, with only minor injuries reported. The impact of the 2026 earthquake on camera shipments is yet to be determined, but the expected recovery time is notably shorter than the three-month delay from the 2016 earthquake, which led to substantial camera shortages.
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