Category Archives: Nikon Patents

Nikon patents a digital back for 35mm film SLR cameras

This is probably the most interesting Nikon patent since I started my coverage in 2008: last year Nikon filed a patent (2012-242615) in Japan for a digital back that will transform a 35mm film SLR camera into a DSLR. The sensor is attached to the camera’s back panel and by replacing it, you will be able to get […]

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Nikkor Micro 37mm f/2.4 lens patent for Nikon’s mirrorless cameras

Another Nikon patent (2012-220828) for a new Micro (macro) 37mm f/2.4 lens designed for 1″ sensor (Nikon 1 mirrorless cameras) was recently filed in Japan:

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New Nikon 58mm f/1.2 lens patent

Nikon filed two different patents (2012-230133 and 2012-230340) in Japan for a 58mm f/1.2 lens: Patent release date: October 22, 2012 Patent filing date: April 4, 2011 Focal length: 58.0220mm Aperture: 1.210 Half angle of view: 20.81° Image height: 21.6mm Lens length: 108.8935mm Back focus: 38.0120mm The legendary Ai Noct Nikkor 58mm f/1.2 lens, that was […]

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Nikon patent for a 55-300mm f/2.8-4 full frame lens

Just a quick update on another Nikon patent filed in Japan for a 55-300mm f/2.8-4 full frame lens that just got published by Egami:

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Nikon patent for adapter that can improve AF when using old Nikkor lenses

Nikon filed patent 2012-215769 in Japan for obtaining a high precision focus when attaching an old Nikkor lens to a digital camera (this solution is probably intended for Nikon 1 mirrorless cameras). The patent describes a high precision AF mount adapter that has a built-in automatic focus adjustment mechanism – the AF is first determined by TTL phase detection and […]

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Nikon patents for 1 Nikkor 10-100mm f/4-5.6 lens and fan accessory for cooling digital cameras

US patent D665005 filed by Nikon is probably for the upcoming 1 Nikkor 10-100mm f/4-5.6 lens. As you can see from the drawings, the controls on the lens are slightly different then the current 1 Nikkor VR 10-100mm f/4.5-5.6 PD-Zoom lens. There seems to be also a new switch on the side:

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Nikon patent for a camera you can toss in the air to take pictures from above

Nikon’s patent 2012-189859 is exactly what designer Junho Yoon envisioned: a camera that you can throw up in the air in order to snap picture from above (see more camera design concepts here). The patent describes built-in velocity and acceleration sensors that can detect when to take pictures while in the air. In order to survive the fall, Nikon will make the […]

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