Nikon sees 0.6 pct fall in digital SLR shipments

TOKYO May 13 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikon Corp (7731.T) said it expects a 0.6 percent fall in its digital single lens reflex camera shipments in the year to next March, and a 3.2 percent fall in its compact digital camera shipments.

The precision equipment maker, which competes with Canon Inc (7751.T), Sony Corp (6758.T) and Panasonic (6752.T) said it expects to ship 3.4 million units of the high-end camera models that use interchangeable lenses and 10 million units of compact digital cameras in the current financial year.

Nikon, which competes with Netherlands-based ASML (ASML.AS) (ASML.O) and Canon Inc (7751.T) in chip-making machines, also said it expected shipments of 40 new chip steppers, down 34 percent from 61 steppers shipped in the year ended in March.

It also expects to ship 36 LCD stepper units this year, down from 65 units in the previous year. (Reporting by Mayumi Negishi)