Today, Nikon celebrates its 109th anniversary!
On July 25, 1917, Nippon Kōgaku Kōgyō Kabushikigaisha (Japan Optical Industries Co., Ltd.) was established in Tokyo through the merger of the optical instruments division of the Tokyo Keiki company and the mirror division of Iwaki Glass with Fujii Lens Manufacturing. This merger gave rise to Nippon Kogaku K.K. and, subsequently, the Nikon of today. The new firm focused on producing optical glass, lenses, rangefinders, microscopes, and other precision instruments at a time when Japan was building its domestic optical industry.
The company that would become Nikon gradually expanded. It introduced the NIKKOR brand for lenses in the early 1930s, released its first camera (the Nikon Model I) in 1948, and launched the iconic Nikon F SLR in 1959 – a camera that helped define professional 35mm photography for decades. Throughout its history, Nikon has introduced many iconic products that have helped shape photography, including the legendary Nikon F, the Nikon F2, the Nikon F3, and the Nikon D1. What began as an optics manufacturer evolved into one of the world’s most influential camera companies. Key milestones along the way include:
- 1917 – Foundation of Nippon Kōgaku.
- 1932 – Registration of the NIKKOR lens brand
- 1948 – Launch of the first Nikon camera (Nikon Model I)
- 1959 – Introduction of the Nikon F, the professional SLR that defined an era
- 1999 – Release of the D1, Nikon’s first professional digital SLR
- 2018 – Debut of the Z-mount mirrorless system
- 2024 – Acquisition of RED Digital Cinema and the subsequent launch of the Nikon ZR cinema camera
Check out those old blog posts related to the history of Nikon:
