Category Archives: Nikon Patents

In order to prevent the use and resale of stolen gear, Nikon filed patent 2013-61508 in Japan that will require the photographer to enter a passcode in order to make a certain lens-camera combination usable. The authentication process will most likely use the lens and camera serial numbers and link them to a pre-selected password. Unless the correct password [...]

Nikon filed patent application 2013-57757 that will make changing camera lenses in the dark easier by illuminating the mount/lens. The implemented LED light source in the camera will transmit light to the mount and lens via an optical path located above the optical elements.

The latest Nikon patent from Japan is for a hybrid viewfinder (OVF & EVF) - something similar was filed few years ago. The patent describes an OVF/EVF switch as well as the ability to display zoomed-in or zoomed-out live view from the scene in the OVF:

Patent 2012-247687 is for a new full frame 16-35mm f/2.8 VR lens with 5 aspherical surfaces and 3 ED elements (the current 16-35mm f/4 lens has 3 aspherical surfaces and 2 ED elements).

Nikon filed a patent (2012-257100) in Japan for a semi-transparent, see-through, rotating LCD screen. The idea behind this patent is to overlay the camera’s live view on a semi-transparent LCD display. This will allow a better tracking of fast moving objects and the photographer will be able to observe the entire scene beyond what is being shown in [...]