ars technica has an interesting article on the impact the earthquake in Japan will have on the supply of tech devices. According to their report, digital cameras will be hurt big time:
For digital cameras, the report has a number of details that show that the quake may have an impact on supplies. At the Panasonic facility in Fukushima, where the company makes digital cameras, workers suffered minor injuries, and the site has been designated off-limits because of aftershocks. Canon was one of the digital camera makers to be affected, with one of its lithography equipment and digital camera lens sites suffering "comparatively major damage." But the report claims that it's possible to transfer some production to another site. (Likewise with the Canon site in Fukushima that makes inkjet printer heads. Two other Canon plants have had their operations suspended.) The big problem, though, is Nikon, which has a total of five sites listed in the report as having suspended operations. For the site in Sendai that makes the company's signature DSLR lines, the report notes as of March 14: "Damage to part of buildings, operations suspended. Currently investigating extent of damage and considering restart schedule." The Nikon plant closures are not just a big deal for shutterbugs—it seems possible that Intel could have its 22nm transition plans set back by the closures. Three of the Nikon sites that shut down make lithography equipment; these are the high-powered lens systems that semiconductor makers like Intel use to etch transistors onto their chips. Nikon made lithography equipment for some of Intel's 45nm plants, and for all of the company's 32nm plants. The lens maker was allegedly contracted to make some of the litho equipment for the upcoming 22nm transition.