Corporate History

The first binoculars developed, designed and manufactured by Nikon. They were reproduced in 1997.

The first microscope designed by Nikon. The trademark JOICO was from the initials of Japan Optical Industry Co., a translation of Nippon Kogaku K. K., the company's name at the time.

Nikon's first equatorial telescope had the largest diameter of any such telescope in Japan at the time. It was in use until 2006.

Publication of the NIKKOR trademark application. It was filed in July 1931, published in April 1932 and registered in December 1932.

Nikon's first products after World War II were these surveying instruments.
On the left is Tiltig Level E and on the right is Transit G2, which was an upgrade of Transit G and released in 1949.

The first Nikon camera and the first product to bear the "Nikon" name. It was first sold as "Nikon," but "I" was added to distinguish it from subsequent cameras.

A profile projector redesigned from a home-use model to incorporate the parallel beam illumination method and other features.

The only product in Japan at the time that featured a three-step variator. The variator prevents focus drift during zooming and epi-fluorescence illumination.

A microscope enabling observation of live colorless cells and bacteria.

Nikon's first lens-interchangeable SLR camera. It incorporated a number of world-first features, such as an exposure meter fully coupled with aperture and the practical application of a motor drive. It was considered a high-end SLR camera.

Developed for the production of photomasks required for photolithography. The lens had the highest resolution of any lens at the time.

Designed to be water-/pressure-/corrosion-resistant, and positioned as an amphibious "All Weather" camera.

The first ruling engine in Japan. Until the 1960s, it was known as the "fantasy machine," as the ultrahigh precision required for its manufacture was extremely difficult to achieve.

Developed jointly with Mitsubishi Electric, this instrument made it possible for the first time in Japan to measure distance using light waves.

The world's first successful commercialization of a microscope objective lens for the CF system. The system was referred to as "the first innovation in 100 years." The photo shows a Biophot microscope.

Introduced as the preeminent SLR camera with electronically controlled aperture-priority AE. The design by Italian designer Giugiaro had a major impact on subsequent cameras.

Japan's first stepper. As a next-generation ultra-LSI production device, it achieved a high level of integration, throughput and yield.

The world's first titanium frames. Stronger than conventional nickel alloy frames and some 50% lighter.

Used for visual inspection in the etch and lithography process of semiconductor manufacturing. It contributed to the stabilization of the production line and improved yields.

Nikon's first compact camera. It was nicknamed the "one-touch" in the United States.

The world's first 35mm film direct transmitter. It was co-developed with Kyodo News.

The first Nikon Total Station and the first fully digitized Nikon surveying instruments.

The first three-dimensional coordinate measuring machine designed by Nikon and the first such machine in Japan to achieve spatial measurement accuracy within five micrometers.

The first Nikon SLR camera with autofocus operated from the camera body.

Nikon's first LCD steppers and scanners. The launch was quick to meet the increasing demand for liquid crystal display products.

Non-contact high-precision measurement was made possible by image processing technology. The confocal-type microscope enabled mesurement of two-dimensional field and height in the same field of view.

Developed with Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. (now FUJIFILM Corp.), these SLR-type digital cameras are equipped with the unique Reduction Optics System and are compatible with major F-mount lenses.

The world's first lens scanning type KrF excimer stepper (KrF scanner) corresponding to design rules of less than 0.25 micrometers.

A portable stereoscopic microscope that allows "as is" observation.

The optical system of the infinity optics (CFI60) system was revamped to make the parfocal distance of the objective lens 60 mm.

Nikon's first compact digital camera.
"COOLPIX 100" could be inserted into a PC card slot to transfer data directly to the computer. Pen-touch operation was possible with the "COOLPIX 300".

Features a non-prism measuring function that enables measurement without a reflective prism by using a laser beam.

SLR-type digital camera with interchangeable lens that combines high-speed performance and overall picture quality. Priced with general users in mind, it contributed to the popularity of digital SLR cameras.

Nikon's original Multi-Lens Projection Optical System was adopted to correspond to an increase in the size of liquid crystal displays.

Introduced as the preeminent film SLR camera, it combined Nikon F series tradition with advanced features.

The first IC Stepper and Scanner model incorporating Immersion Lithography Technology and the first to break the barrier of NA1.0 in air to achieve NA 1.07.

Equipped with a microscope in the incubator, it has expanded the possibilities of live cell observation.

It boasts a number of innovative features, such as a high sensitivity of ISO6400 at normal settings and a 51-point autofocus system.

Supporting 10th-generation mother glass (about 3 meters square), it enables effective mass-production of large panels of over 60 inches.

Corresponds to a production process using double patterning.

Achieved a resolution that is beyond the capabilities of conventional optical microscopes.
The photo shows the "N-SIM," which has nearly double the resolution of conventional optical microscopes.

An object's shape and waviness can be measured in a single operation, a difficult achievement for conventional measuring instruments.

Nikon's first advanced cameras with interchangeable lenses. Video and still images are of equally high quality.
The photo shows the Nikon 1 J1.

The flagship model of Nikon digital SLR cameras, it achieves high sensitivity and high image quality as well as excellent high-speed performance. Reflecting the real needs of photographers in the field, operability and reliability have been pushed to the limits.

Nikon DX format CMOS sensor is used in a COOLPIX series camera for the first time.