Canon is to halt development of new film cameras to focus resources on digital models in the latest sign of the rapidly fading role of film in photography.
A spokesman at Canon, the world's largest maker of digital cameras, said it made the decision to freeze development of both compact and single lens reflex film models because the markets for both are shrinking.
Canon said it would continue to produce and sell existing models and make a final decision on the business in the future while monitoring market demand.
Canon's decision follows an announcement earlier this year by Nikon that it would stop producing most of its film cameras except for a few professional products.
Konica Minolta has already said it would leave the camera and photo film markets, where it has been losing money amid stiff competition and weak demand.