Ken Utagawa, Nikon Fellow

Ken Utagawa joined Nikon in 1974. At first, he was assigned to a research group and was involved mainly with the development of SLR cameras. Regarding autofocus technology in particular, it was Utagawa who opened a path to the development of this technology at Nikon. Utagawa developed the F3AF TTL SLR camera, equipped with an autofocus (AF) function and the first of its kind from Nikon, which was launched in 1983.

Utagawa was also engaged in the development of digital image processors, and his work has contributed greatly to the enhanced performance of digital cameras. He was inaugurated as a Nikon fellow in 2003, and started the Advanced Digital Imaging Laboratory within Nikon Imaging Company in 2005. At present, he is training and nurturing younger researchers in his laboratory, while developing next-generation digital cameras. Utagawa is also a keen photographer and photography enthusiast. The Nikon D700 is his favorite camera.