Nikon Corporation is one of the major companies of the Mitsubishi Group, a multinational corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan and specializing in optics and imaging.
Nippon Kogaku K.K., or Japanese Optical Society (afterwards became known as Nikon Corporation) was formed at July 25, 1917 as a result of merging of three firms: Tokyo Keiki Seisaku-sho's optical division, Iwaki Glass Seisaku-sho ?? Fujii Lens Seizo-sho. The new company was aimed at manufacturing high-quality optics for Imperial Japanese Navy. And up to 1945 it actually was their main goal that determined the company’s philosophy and traditions. The first president of Nippon Kogaku was Yoshihira Wada.
Apart from military equipment the company produced microscopes, telescopes and other measuring instruments for industry and science. From 1932 they started serial production of Nikkor lenses for photo cameras. It’s an interesting fact that all Canon cameras, launched between 1937 and 1947 were equipped with lenses produced by Nikon!
After the WW II Nippon Kogaku K.K. manufactured its own camera –a rangefinder Nikon 1 – and stopped manufacturing lenses for Canon. The new camera appeared already Nikon-branded.
It was Nikon who introduced in 1951 the well-known 135-type (frame dimensions of 24x36 mm). In fact, Nikon built their reputation on 35mm SLRs.
In April 1959 Nikon Corporation manufactured their first professional DSLR camera Nikon F which in its variations and modifications determined the choice of photographers for a long time even after the Nikon F2 came into existence (1971).
In the 1970, 80s and early 90s, Nikon continued to grow and attract more of the consumers’ attention. And in 1995, Nikon went digital with its new E2/E2S camera. But the first “real” digital SLR that offered a practical alternative to 35mm film camera, the D1, was launched in June 1999. It had a 2.7 megapixel resolution and took the standard Nikon 'F' ranges of lenses.
For non-professionals Nikon offered (and, of course, offers now!) retractable lens compact digital cameras in their Nikon Coolpix series.
Nowadays, Nikon Coproration makes 35mm SLRs, Nikon Coolpix digicams, film scanners, Nikkor lenses, digital SLRs - from their entry-level to their top-of-the-line pro models, and a full range of accessories for their 35mm and digital SLRs.
