Our Product History: 1960's-1910's

• 2020's
• 2010's
• 2000's
• 1990's
• 1980's
• 1970's
• 1960's-1910's

• 1968
• 1967
• 1965
• 1964
• 1963
• 1962
• 1960
• 1959
• 1958
• 1957
• 1954
• 1949
• 1948

Narrow By

World's Firsts Mirrorless Camera Digital SLR Camera Compact Digital Camera Film Camera Z-mount Lens F-mount Lens Software Other

1968

Nikon Photomic FTN

• Shutter speeds displayed in the viewfinder
• Semi-automatic maximum aperture indexing

• Debut of Nikon F2
• Vol. 6. Nikon F (part II)
• Vol. 12. Special titanium Nikon cameras and NASA cameras

NIKONOS II

• Modified version of the NIKONOS (1963) with film rewind crank

• Evolution of NIKONOS
• Part 17 :"NIKONOS (I) / -II / III"

OP Fisheye-NIKKOR 10mm f/5.6 World's Firsts

World's Firsts

Aspherical lens elements adopted for use with SLR cameras. World's only orthographic projection fisheye lens.

1967

Nikon F Photomic TN World's Firsts

World's Firsts

Center-weighted exposure metering system.

• Nikon's first camera with a center-weighted exposure metering system

• Debut of Nikon F2

Nikomat (Nikkormat) FTN

• Nikomat FT (1965) with center-weighted metering
• Semi-automatic maximum aperture indexing

• Debut of Nikon F
• Part 6 : "Nikomat FTN"

Nikkor Auto 24mm f/2.8 World's Firsts

World's Firsts

Featuring the Close-Range Correction (CRC) system.

1965

Nikomat (Nikkormat) FT

• SLR with fixed pentaprism having a built-in TTL exposure meter and vertical traveling focal plane shutter

• Debut of Nikon F
• Part 5 : "Nikomat FT / FS"

Nikomat (Nikkormat) FS

• Simplified version of the Nikomat FT without an exposure meter or mirror look-up

• Debut of Nikon F
• Part 5 : "Nikomat FT / FS"

Nikon F Photomic T

• Nikon's first camera with a built-in TTL exposure meter

• Debut of Nikon F2

1964

Nikon AUTO35 (NIKKOREX AUTO35)

• First Nikon AE camera with shutter-priority auto [S] mode
• Lens shutter SLR (fixed 48mm f/2) with Quick-return mirror

• Debut of Nikon F
• Part 4 : "Nikon AUTO 35"

1963

NIKKOREX ZOOM 35

• Successor to the NIKKOREX 35/2 (1962); fixed with Zoom-NIKKOR 43-86mm f/3.5

• Debut of Nikon F
• Part 2 : "NIKKOREX Zoom35"

NIKONOS (Calypso/NIKKOR)

• Nikon's first underwater (all weather) camera
• Enables picture-taking down to 50 m underwater

• Debut of Nikon F
• Evolution of NIKONOS
• Part 17 :"NIKONOS (I) / -II / III"

1962

Nikon F Photomic

• Nikon's first Photomic finder for the Nikon F (1959); viewfinder includes a built-in external CdS-cell exposure meter coupled to the Nikkor lens aperture and shutter speed

NIKKOREX 35/2 (35II)

• Successor to the NIKKOREX 35 (1960)
• Improved lens shutter units

• Part 1 : "NIKKOREX 35 and NIKKOREX 35II (35/2)"

NIKKOREX F (NIKKOR J)

• Fixed pentaprism SLR having vertical traveling focal plane shutter; 1/125 s flash sync
• Hinged camera back and coupled to NIKKOREX F Meter

• Part 3 : "NIKKOREX F"

1960

NIKKOREX 35

• Lens shutter SLR (fixed 50mm f/2.5 lens)
• Wide and Tele converters available
• Includes a built-in external Selen exposure meter

• Debut of Nikon F
• Part 1 : "NIKKOREX 35 and NIKKOREX 35II (35/2)"

Nikon S3M

• The first 17.5 x 24mm frame RF camera
• Accepts the motor drive for continuous shooting up to 6 fps

• Nikon Rangefinder Cameras
• Vol. 7. Nikon SP/S3/S3M/S4
• Vol. 10. History of the Nikon cameras and shutter mechanisms (Part I)

1959

Nikon S4

• Simplified version of the Nikon S3 (1958)
• Two viewfinder frames (5 and 10.5cm)

• Nikon Rangefinder Cameras
• Vol. 7. Nikon SP/S3/S3M/S4
• Vol. 10. History of the Nikon cameras and shutter mechanisms (Part I)

Nikon F (NIKKOR F) World's Firsts

World's Firsts

SLR with 100% frame coverage and large-diameter bayonet mount.

• A system oriented, single-lens reflex (SLR) camera with interchangeable viewfinders, focusing screens and motor drive capability, and coupled to Nikon F Meter

• Debut of Nikon F
• Vol. 4. Nikon F2
• Vol. 5. Nikon F
• Vol. 6. Nikon F (part II)
• Vol. 10. History of the Nikon cameras and shutter mechanisms (Part I)
• Vol. 12. Special titanium Nikon cameras and NASA cameras

1958

Nikon S3

• A basic model of the Nikon SP (1957)
• Three viewfinder frames (3.5, 5 and 10.5cm)

• Nikon Rangefinder Cameras
• Vol. 7. Nikon SP/S3/S3M/S4
• Vol. 10. History of the Nikon cameras and shutter mechanisms (Part I)

1957

Nikon SP World's Firsts

World's Firsts

28mm-135mm universal finder.

• Dual viewfinders (5+8.5+10.5+13.5cm and 3.5 and 2.8cm)
• Built-in self-timer
• The later model features titanium shutter curtains
• Coupled to Selen Nikon Meter
• Accepts battery-powered motor drive (3 fps)

• Nikon Rangefinder Cameras
• Vol. 5. Nikon F
• Vol. 7. Nikon SP/S3/S3M/S4
• Vol. 10. History of the Nikon cameras and shutter mechanisms (Part I)
• Vol. 12. Special titanium Nikon cameras and NASA cameras

1954

Nikon S2

• 24 x 36mm picture format
• Lightweight and strong aluminum die-cast body
• 1.0x magnification viewfinder
• The first Japanese camera to incorporate a film advance lever and a rewind crank
• S2E accepts the world's first battery-powered motor drive

• Nikon Rangefinder Cameras
• Vol. 8. Nikon S2
• Vol. 10. History of the Nikon cameras and shutter mechanisms (Part I)

1949

Nikon M

• The second RF camera with a 24 × 34mm picture format

• Vol. 9. Nikon S/M/I
• Vol. 10. History of the Nikon cameras and shutter mechanisms (Part I)

Nikon S

• RF camera, built-in flash synchronization ('F' and 'S' contacts)

• Vol. 9. Nikon S/M/I
• Vol. 10. History of the Nikon cameras and shutter mechanisms (Part I)

1948

Nikon Camera (Nikon I)

• Nikon's first compact-size rangefinder (RF), focal plane shutter 35mm (135) format camera
• Unique 24 x 32mm picture format ( 'Nikon-Ban' )

• Vol. 9. Nikon S/M/I
• Vol. 10. History of the Nikon cameras and shutter mechanisms (Part I)