UPDATE 2-Nikon, Elpida still waiting on tech recovery

* Nikon Q2 oper loss 20.3 bln yen, beats consensus

* Cuts chip stepper outlook by 3 units, ups digicam outlook

* Elpida doubles annual bit growth forecast to 40 pct growth

* Elpida may invest in more steppers next yr

* Nikon shares down 0.2 pct, Elpida down 0.6 pct (Recasts lead; adds details, executive comment)

TOKYO, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Japanese precision equipment and camera maker Nikon Corp (7731.T) cut its chip stepper outlook, while chipmaker Elpida Memory Inc (6665.T) said it was still waiting to see if it was safe to invest more amid mixed signs of a tech recovery.

Nikon, the world's No.2 maker of chip steppers, cut its chip stepper sales target for the year to March by 3 units to 33 units of the multi-million dollar machines, used to scan circuitry onto silicon wafers to make semiconductors.

That is in contrast to sector leader Netherlands-based ASML (ASML.AS), which last month raised its third quarter order bookings amid strong earnings by the world's No.1 chip maker Intel (INTC.O) and the world's biggest memory maker Samsung Electronics (005930.KS).

Still, quarterly results at Nikon, which also competes with Canon Inc (7751.T), beat consensus, thanks to strong sales of its compact digital cameras, coupled with cost cuts.