DSLR sales increase Nikon's net profits

Nikon Corp., Tokyo, Japan, reported first quarter net profits more than doubled, driven by sales of high-end digital cameras. For the three months ending in June, the company posted a net profit of ¥14.75 billion, compared to ¥7.75 billion the year before.

The company said it boosted sales of DSLRs to 360,000 units, from 330,000 the year before. Compact camera sales are also up, rising to 1.67 million, compared to 1.57 million the year before.

For the year ending March 2007, the company is projected a net profit of ¥37 billion on sales of ¥780 billion. Nikon expects to sell 1.75 million DSLRs and 7.1 million digital compact cameras.