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Nikon is a leading Japanese multinational corporation focused on optics and imaging products, including cameras, interchangeable lenses, binoculars, medical imaging equipment, and semiconductor manufacturing tools. Founded in the early 20th century, it has established itself as one of the most recognizable brands in the global photography and optical industries.
Key moments
1917Founded as Nippon Kogaku Kogyo Co., Ltd. as a merger of three optical manufacturers
1932Adopted the Nikon brand name for its products
1948Released its first branded Nikon camera, the Nikon I
1971Launched the F-mount lens system, which remains a standard for professional SLR cameras
1988Officially renamed to Nikon Corporation
2007Released the D3, its first full-frame digital SLR camera
2018Shifted core camera development focus to mirrorless systems with the Z mount lineup
Nikon competes across several key market segments:
Consumer/Professional Cameras: Directly competes with Canon, Sony, and Fujifilm in both DSLR and mirrorless camera spaces. Sony has gained share with its full-frame E-mount ecosystem, while Canon retains strong loyalty among existing SLR users.
Optical Lenses: Rivaled by third-party manufacturers like Sigma, Tamron, and Carl Zeiss, as well as in-house lens lines from competitors like Canon and Sony.
Industrial & Medical Optics: Faces competition from Olympus (now part of OM Digital Solutions), Leica, and Siemens in specialized medical imaging and semiconductor equipment markets.
Key Strengths: Long-standing F-mount ecosystem legacy, professional-grade lens quality, strong brand recognition among photography enthusiasts.
Core Challenges: Declining overall demand for DSLR cameras, slower initial adoption of mirrorless technology compared to rivals, and increasing competition from smartphone imaging.
Competes with Canon, Sony, Fujifilm in consumer/professional camera markets
Rivaled by Sigma, Tamron, Zeiss in the interchangeable lens space
Faces competition in medical optics from Olympus and Leica
Leverages decades-old F-mount ecosystem loyalty as a key advantage
Struggling to keep pace with smartphone imaging disruption
Nikon is a well-established Japanese brand with deep roots in optics and imaging, holding significant cultural and market weight across both consumer and professional industry segments. Its more than a century of innovation in camera technology and optical engineering has built a reputation for precision and quality that resonates with enthusiasts, professional photographers, and industrial clients alike. The brand maintains strong global recognition across multiple markets, balancing its legacy in traditional photography with ongoing efforts to adapt to shifting consumer preferences and growing industrial demand.
While Nikon faces growing competition from mirrorless-first rivals and the rising quality of smartphone imaging, its loyal customer base and extensive legacy lens ecosystem create a strong market moat that supports ongoing brand relevance. The brand’s strategic expansion into industrial and medical optics has also diversified its revenue base, reducing overreliance on the declining consumer camera market and opening new sustainable growth avenues.
Nikon’s brand identity is closely tied to professional photography, with widespread adoption in journalism, sports coverage, and fine art photography that reinforces its premium positioning. This association with high-end professional work has trickled down to the consumer market, keeping the brand top-of-mind for casual and enthusiast photographers seeking high-quality precision gear.
Brand leadership
Score: 82/100
Nikon holds a top-three position in the global professional camera and lens market, with strong premium positioning rooted in a long-standing reputation for precision optical engineering. It maintains leading market share in the professional DSLR segment, and continues to gain traction in the full-frame mirrorless segment following the successful launch of its Z-mount product line, competing closely with Canon and Sony for professional and enthusiast customers.
Customer brand interaction
Score: 70/100
Nikon maintains active engagement with photography communities through industry events, sponsorships of professional creators, and social media content focused on creative education and inspiration. Its loyal user base, particularly built around the decades-old F-mount ecosystem, fosters strong word-of-mouth advocacy, though engagement with younger, first-time camera buyers is weaker than some more digitally native competitors.
Brand growth momentum
Score: 58/100
Nikon's core consumer camera market faces sustained overall declining demand due to the rising quality of integrated smartphone imaging, and the brand was slower to adapt to the industry-wide mirrorless transition than key rivals like Sony. However, growing demand for its industrial and semiconductor optics products has offset some consumer segment declines, and recent Z-mount camera launches have regained modest market share from competitors, leading to soft positive momentum in high-margin core segments.
Brand stability
Score: 85/100
As a century-old publicly traded company with a diversified product portfolio across consumer, professional, and industrial optics, Nikon enjoys strong financial and brand stability. It has maintained consistent brand messaging and quality standards for decades, with minimal major reputational scandals that would erode customer trust, and its loyal customer base provides consistent recurring revenue from lens and accessory upgrades.
Brand age
Score: 95/100
Nikon was originally founded in 1917, giving it more than 100 years of continuous operating history in the optics industry. This long legacy has allowed the brand to build deep technological expertise, widespread global market recognition, and a strong heritage appeal that resonates with customers who value experience and tradition in precision engineering.
Industry profile
Score: 80/100
Nikon is one of the most recognizable names in the global photography and optics industries, with a profile that extends beyond consumer products to influence industrial and medical imaging standards. It has contributed multiple key technological innovations to the field, from early 35mm camera designs to modern semiconductor lithography tools, cementing its reputation as an industry leader in optical innovation.
Global brand presence
Score: 78/100
Nikon sells its products across North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania, with established distribution networks and regional marketing operations in most major global markets. It has strong brand recognition in developed markets where professional and enthusiast photography are prominent, though its penetration in some emerging markets lags behind larger mass-market consumer electronics brands, and a significant share of its revenue still comes from its home Japanese market and North America.
AI-generated analysis can support preliminary reasoning about a brand's value, but all derived figures and assessments provided here are illustrative only. For a fully audited, official brand valuation for Nikon, please contact the World Brand Lab directly.
Nikon Corporation (株式会社ニコン) is a Japanese optics and photographic equipment manufacturer.Nikon's products include cameras, camera lenses, binoculars, microscopes, ophthalmic lenses, measurement instruments, rifle scopes, spotting scopes, and equipment related to semiconductor fabrication, such as steppers used in the photolithography steps of such manufacturing.Nikon is the world's second largest manufacturer of such equipment.[3]
Since July 2024, Nikon has been headquartered in Nishi-Ōi, Shinagawa, Tokyo where the plant has been located since 1918.
The company is the eighth-largest chip equipment maker as reported in 2017.[4] Also, it has diversified into new areas like 3D printing and regenerative medicine to compensate for the shrinking digital camera market.[5][6]
Among Nikon's many notable product lines are Nikkor imaging lenses (for F-mount cameras, large format photography, photographic enlargers, and other applications), the Nikon F-series of 35 mm film SLR cameras, the Nikon D-series of digital SLR cameras, the Nikon Z-series of digital mirrorless cameras, the Coolpix series of compact digital cameras, and the Nikonos series of underwater film cameras.
Nikon's main competitors in camera and lens manufacturing include Canon, Sony, Fujifilm, Panasonic, Pentax, and Olympus.
Founded on July 25, 1917 as Nippon Kōgaku Kōgyō Kabushikigaisha (日本光学工業株式会社 "Japan Optical Industries Co., Ltd."), the company was renamed to Nikon Corporation, after its cameras, in 1988. At least since 2022 Nikon is a member of the Mitsubishi group of companies (keiretsu).[9]
The Nikon Corporation was established on 25 July 1917 when three leading optical manufacturers merged to form a comprehensive, fully integrated optical company known as Nippon Kōgaku Tōkyō K.K. Over the next sixty years, this growing company became a manufacturer of optical lenses (including those for the first Canon cameras) and equipment used in cameras, binoculars, microscopes and inspection equipment.
During World War II, the company operated thirty factories with 2,000 employees, manufacturing binoculars, lenses, bomb sights, and periscopes for the Japanese military.
Reception outside Japan
After the war, Nippon Kōgaku reverted to producing its civilian product range in a single factory. In 1948, the first Nikon-branded camera was released, the Nikon I.[11] Nikon lenses were popularised by the American photojournalist David Douglas Duncan.
Duncan was working in Tokyo when the Korean War began.Duncan had met a young Japanese photographer, Jun Miki, who introduced Duncan to Nikon lenses.From July 1950 to January 1951, Duncan covered the Korean War.[12] Fitting Nikon optics (especially the NIKKOR-P.C 1:2 f=8,5 cm)[13] to his Leica rangefinder cameras allowed him to produce high contrast negatives with very sharp resolution at the centre field.[14]
Names and brands
Founded in 1917 as Nippon Kōgaku Kōgyō Kabushikigaisha (日本光学工業株式会社 "Japan Optical Industries Corporation"), the company was renamed Nikon Corporation, after its cameras, in 1988. The name Nikon, which dates from 1946, was originally intended only for its small-camera line, spelled as "Nikkon", with an addition of the "n" to the "Nikko" brand name.[15] The similarity to the Carl Zeiss AG brand "ikon", would cause some early problems in Germany as Zeiss complained that Nikon violated its trademarked camera.From 1963 to 1968 the Nikon F in particular was therefore labeled 'Nikkor'.[16]
The Nikkor brand was introduced in 1932, a westernised rendering of an earlier version Nikkō (日光), an abbreviation of the company's original full name[17] (Nikkō also means "sunlight" and is the name of a famous Japanese onsen town.). Nikkor is the Nikon brand name for its lenses.
Another early brand used on microscopes was Joico,[18]
Rise of the Nikon F series
Nikon's rangefinder cameras, starting with the Nikon I in 1948, marked the entry of Nippon Kogaku K.K. into the photographic market, following its focus on optical instruments such as lenses and microscopes.These models, including the Nikon I, M, S, and subsequent series, utilized the S-Mount bayonet, inspired by the Contax RF system, and featured a compact design with a rangefinder viewfinder.They helped establish Nikon as a leading brand in professional photography until the shift to reflex cameras in the 1960s.[19]
The Nikon SP and other 1950s and 1960s rangefinder cameras competed directly with models from Leica and Zeiss.However, the company quickly ceased developing its rangefinder line to focus its efforts on the Nikon F single-lens reflex line of cameras, which was successful[20] upon its introduction in 1959.
For nearly 30 years, Nikon's F-series SLRs were the most widely used small-format cameras among professional photographers, as well as by some U.S. space programs, the first in 1971 on Apollo 15 (as a lighter and smaller alternative to the Hasselblad, used in the Mercury,
Post-millennium film camera production
Once Nikon introduced affordable consumer-level DSLRs such as the Nikon D70 in the mid-2000s, sales of its consumer and professional film cameras fell rapidly, following the general trend in the industry.In January 2006, Nikon announced it would stop making most of its film camera models and all of its large format lenses, and focus on digital models.[22]
Nevertheless, Nikon remained the only major camera manufacturer still making film SLR cameras for a long time. The high-end Nikon F6 and the entry-level FM10[22] remained in production all the way up until October 2020.[23]
Digital photography
Digital single-lens reflex and point and shoot cameras
Nikon created some of the first digital SLRs (DSLRs) for NASA; the Nikon NASA F4 was used in the Space Shuttle since 1991.[24] After a 1990s partnership with Kodak to produce digital SLR cameras based on existing Nikon film bodies, Nikon released the Nikon D1 SLR under its own name in 1999.Although it used an APS-C-size light sensor only 2/3 the size of a 35 mm film frame (later called a "DX sensor"), the D1 was among the first digital cameras to have sufficient image quality and a low enough price for some professionals (particularly photojournalists and sports photographers) to use it as a replacement for a film SLR.The company also has a Coolpix line which grew as consumer digital photography became increasingly prevalent through the early 2000s. Nikon also never made any phones.
Through the mid-2000s, Nikon's line of professional and enthusiast DSLRs and lenses, including its backwards compatible AF-S lens line, remained in second place behind Canon in SLR camera sales, and Canon had several years' lead in producing professional DSLRs with light sensors as large as traditional 35 mm film frames.[25]
Digital single-lens reflex and point and shoot cameras
Nikon created some of the first digital SLRs (DSLRs) for NASA; the Nikon NASA F4 was used in the Space Shuttle since 1991.[24] After a 1990s partnership with Kodak to produce digital SLR cameras based on existing Nikon film bodies, Nikon released the Nikon D1 SLR under its own name in 1999.Although it used an APS-C-size light sensor only 2/3 the size of a 35 mm film frame (later called a "DX sensor"), the D1 was among the first digital cameras to have sufficient image quality and a low enough price for some professionals (particularly photojournalists and sports photographers) to use it as a replacement for a film SLR.The company also has a Coolpix line which grew as consumer digital photography became increasingly prevalent through the early 2000s. Nikon also never made any phones.
Through the mid-2000s, Nikon's line of professional and enthusiast DSLRs and lenses, including its backwards compatible AF-S lens line, remained in second place behind Canon in SLR camera sales, and Canon had several years' lead in producing professional DSLRs with light sensors as large as traditional 35 mm film frames.[25] All Nikon DSLRs from 1999 to 2007, by contrast, used the smaller DX size sensor.
Then, 2005 management changes at Nikon led to new camera designs such as the full-frame
Mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras
In reaction to the growing market for mirrorless cameras, Nikon released its first Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Cameras and also a new lens mount in 2011.The lens mount was called Nikon 1, and the first bodies in it were the Nikon 1 J1 and the V1.The system was built around a 1 inch (or CX) format image sensor, with a 2.7x crop factor. This format was pretty small compared to their competitors. This resulted in a loss of image quality, dynamic range and fewer possibilities for restricting depth of field depth of field range.In 2018, Nikon officially discontinued the 1 series, after three years without a new camera body.[39] (The last one was the Nikon 1 J5).
Also in 2018, Nikon introduced a new mirrorless system in its lineup: the Nikon Z system.The first cameras in the series were the Z6 and the Z7, both with a Full Frame (FX) sensor format, In-Body Image Stabilization and a built-in electronicviewfinder.The Z-mount is not only for FX cameras though, as in 2019 Nikon introduced the Z50 with a DX format sensor, without IBIS but with the compatibility to every Z-mount lens.The handling, the ergonomics and the button layout are similar to the Nikon
Mirrorless fixed-lens cameras, the cancelled release of DL series
Before the introduction of the Z-series, on February 23, 2016 Nikon announced its DL range of fixed-lens compact cameras. The series comprised three 20 megapixel 1"-type CMOS sensor cameras with Expeed 6A image processing engines: DL18-50 f/1.8-2.8, DL24-85 f/1.8-2.8 black and silver and DL24-500 f/2.8-5.6. Nikon described the range as a premium line of compact cameras, which combines the high performance of Nikkor lenses with always-on smart device connectivity.[44] All three cameras were showcased at CP+ 2016.[45] One year after the initial announcement, on February 13, 2017, Nikon officially cancelled the release and sale of DL-series, which was originally planned for a June 2016 release. They cited design issues (with the integrated circuit for image processing) and profitability as main issues causing the cancellation.[46]
Movie camera production
Although few models were introduced, Nikon made movie cameras as well. The R10 and R8 SUPER ZOOM Super 8 models (introduced in 1973) were the top of the line and last attempt for the amateur movie field. The cameras had a special gate and claw system to improve image steadiness and overcome a major drawback of Super 8 cartridge design. The R10 model has a high speed 10X macro zoom lens.
Contrary to other brands, Nikon never attempted to offer projectors or their accessories.
Thai operations
Nikon has shifted much of its manufacturing facilities to Thailand, with some production (especially of Coolpix cameras and some low-end lenses) in Indonesia.The company constructed a factory in Ayuthaya north of Bangkok in Thailand in 1991. By 2000, it had 2,000 employees. Steady growth over the next few years and an increase of floor space from the original 19,400 square meters (209,000 square feet) to 46,200 square meters (497,000 square feet) enabled the factory to produce a wider range of Nikon products. By 2004, it had more than 8,000 workers.
The range of the products produced at Nikon Thailand include plastic molding, optical parts, painting, printing, metal processing, plating, spherical lens process, aspherical lens process, prism process, electrical and electronic mounting process, silent wave motor and autofocus unit production.
As of 2009, all of Nikon's Nikon DX formatDSLR cameras and the D600, a prosumer FX camera, are produced in Thailand, while its professional and semi-professional Nikon FX format (full frame) cameras (D700, D3, D3S, D3X, D4, D800 and the retro-styled Df) are built in Japan, in the city of Sendai. The Thai facility also produces most of Nikon's digital "DX" zoom lenses, as well as numerous other lenses in the Nikkor line.
Nikon-Essilor Co. Ltd.
In 1999, Nikon and Essilor have signed a Memorandum of understanding to form a global strategic alliance in corrective lenses by forming a 50/50 joint venture in Japan to be called Nikon-Essilor Co. Ltd.
The main purpose of the joint venture was to strengthen the corrective lens business of both companies by integrating Nikon's brand and optical technology and sales network in the Japanese market with the global marketing and sales network of Essilor.[47]
Nikon-Essilor Co. Ltd. started its business in January 2000, responsible for research, development, production and sales mainly for ophthalmic optics.[48]
Recent development
Revenue from Nikon's camera business has dropped 30% in three years prior to fiscal 2015. In 2013, it forecast the first drop in sales from interchangeable lens cameras since Nikon's first digital SLR in 1999.[49] The company's net profit has fallen from a peak of ¥75.4 billion (fiscal 2007) to ¥18.2 billion for fiscal 2015.[50] Nikon plans to reassign over 1,500 employees resulting in job cuts of 1,000, mainly in semiconductor lithography and camera business, by 2017 as the company shifts focus to medical and industrial devices business for growth.[51][50]
Nikon held an experiment dubbed 'Heartography' in 2015, in which a dog named Grizzler was equipped with a camera in a case also containing a heart rate monitor. When his heart rate rose, the camera took a photo. Examples of photos that Grizzler took included those of other dogs, cats, a tortoise, a crab, a pigeon, and food.[52][53]
Film cameras
In January 2006, Nikon announced the discontinuation of all but two models of its film cameras, focusing its efforts on the digital camera market.[55] It continues to sell the fully manual FM10, and still offers the high-end fully automatic F6.[56][57] Nikon has also committed to service all the film cameras for a period of ten years after production ceases.[58]
Film - Professional Rangefinder cameras
The following were the first film cameras introduced by Nikon. The latter three were built on the same frame with different features; the Nikon F SLR shares the basic body configuration of the latest rangefinder models. And later commemorative editions:
High-end (Professional – Intended for professional use, heavy duty and weather resistance)
High-end (Prosumer – Intended for pro-consumers who want the main mechanic/electronic features of the professional line but don't need the same heavy duty/weather resistance)
Mid-range (Consumer)
Entry-level (Consumer)
Nikon F3AF (1983, modified F3 body with Autofocus Finder DX-1)
Nikon F4 (1988) – (World's first professional auto-focus SLR camera and world's first professional SLR camera with a built-in motor drive)
Nikonos RS (1992) (Professional when reviewed in underwater conditions) – (World's first underwater auto-focus SLR camera)[71]
Nikon F5 (1996)
Nikon F6 (2004)
Nikon F-501 (1986, known in North America as the N2020)
Compact cameras
Between 1983 and the early 2000s[72] a broad range of compact cameras were made by Nikon. Nikon first started by naming the cameras with a series name (like the L35/L135-series, the RF/RD-series, the W35-series, the EF or the AW-series). In later production cycles, the cameras were double branded with a series-name on the one and a sales name on the other hand. Sales names were for example Zoom-Touch for cameras with a wide zoom range, Lite-Touch for ultra compact models, Fun-Touch for easy to use cameras and Sport-Touch for splash water resistance. After the late 1990s, Nikon dropped the series names and continued only with the sales name. Nikon's APS-cameras were all named Nuvis.
The cameras came in all price ranges from entry-level fixed-lens-cameras to the top model Nikon 35Ti and 28Ti with titanium body and 3D-Matrix-Metering.
Movie cameras
Double 8 (8mm)
NIKKOREX 8 (1960)
NIKKOREX 8F (1963)
Super 8
Nikon Super Zoom 8 (1966)
Nikon 8X Super Zoom (1967)
Nikon R8 Super Zoom (1973)
Nikon R10 Super Zoom (1973)
Professional Underwater cameras
Nikonos I Calypso (1963, originally known in France as the Calypso/Nikkor)
Nikonos II (1968)
Nikonos III (1975)
Nikonos IV-A (1980)
Nikonos V (1984)
Nikonos RS (1992)[73] (World's first underwater Auto-Focus SLR camera)[71]
Digital cameras
Nikon's raw image format is NEF, for Nikon Electronic File. The "DSCN" prefix for image files stands for "Digital Still Camera – Nikon."
Digital compact cameras
The Nikon Coolpix series are digital compact cameras produced in many variants: Superzoom, bridge, travel-zoom, miniature compact and waterproof/rugged cameras. The top compact cameras are several "Performance" series indicated by a "P...".
Nikon Coolpix P7100, 2011-08-24 (roughly same specifications as predecessor)
Nikon Coolpix P7700
Nikon Coolpix A, 2013-03-05 (16MP DX-CMOS sensor)
Nikon Coolpix P7800
Light-weight fast lens compact cameras
Nikon Coolpix P300
Nikon Coolpix P310
Nikon Coolpix P330
Nikon Coolpix P340
Nikon Coolpix A900
Light-weight fast lens compact cameras
Nikon Coolpix P300
Nikon Coolpix P310
Nikon Coolpix P330
Nikon Coolpix P340
Nikon Coolpix A900
Bridge cameras
Nikon Coolpix L810, Feb, 2012–16 MP, 26x optical zoom, no wi-fi, fixed LCD, ISO 80–1600
Nikon Coolpix L820, Jan, 2013–16 MP, 30x optical zoom, no wi-fi, fixed LCD, ISO 125-3200
Nikon Coolpix L830, Jan, 2014–16 MP, 34x optical zoom with 68x Dynamic Fine Zoom, no wi-fi, tilting LCD, ISO 125-1600 (3200 in Auto)
Nikon Coolpix L840 Feb, 2015–16 MP, 38x optical zoom with 76x Dynamic Fine Zoom, built-in Wi-Fi and NFC (Near Field Communication), 3 inch high-resolution tilting LCD, ISO 125 – 1600, ISO 3200, 6400 (available when using Auto mode)
Nikon Coolpix P530, Feb, 2014–16.1 MP, 42x optical zoom & 84x Dynamic Fine Zoom, opt wi-fi, fixed LCD, ISO 100–1600 (ISO 3200, 6400 in PASM mode)
Nikon Coolpix P600, Feb, 2014–16.1 MP, 60x optical zoom and 120 Dynamic Fine Zoom, built in wi-fi, vari-angle LCD, ISO 100–1600 (ISO 3200, 6400 in PASM mode)
Nikon Coolpix P7100, 2011-08-24 (roughly same specifications as predecessor)
Nikon Coolpix P7700
Nikon Coolpix A, 2013-03-05 (16MP DX-CMOS sensor)
Nikon Coolpix P7800
Light-weight fast lens compact cameras
Nikon Coolpix P300
Nikon Coolpix P310
Nikon Coolpix P330
Nikon Coolpix P340
Light-weight fast lens compact cameras
Nikon Coolpix P300
Nikon Coolpix P310
Nikon Coolpix P330
Nikon Coolpix P340
Nikon Coolpix A900
Bridge cameras
Nikon Coolpix L810, Feb, 2012–16 MP, 26x optical zoom, no wi-fi, fixed LCD, ISO 80–1600
Nikon Coolpix L820, Jan, 2013–16 MP, 30x optical zoom, no wi-fi, fixed LCD, ISO 125-3200
Nikon Coolpix L830, Jan, 2014–16 MP, 34x optical zoom with 68x Dynamic Fine Zoom, no wi-fi, tilting LCD, ISO 125-1600 (3200 in Auto)
Nikon Coolpix L840 Feb, 2015–16 MP, 38x optical zoom with 76x Dynamic Fine Zoom, built-in Wi-Fi and NFC (Near Field Communication), 3 inch high-resolution tilting LCD, ISO 125 – 1600, ISO 3200, 6400 (available when using Auto mode)
Nikon Coolpix P530, Feb, 2014–16.1 MP, 42x optical zoom & 84x Dynamic Fine Zoom, opt wi-fi, fixed LCD, ISO 100–1600 (ISO 3200, 6400 in PASM mode)
Nikon Coolpix P600, Feb, 2014–16.1 MP, 60x optical zoom and 120 Dynamic Fine Zoom, built in wi-fi, vari-angle LCD, ISO 100–1600 (ISO 3200, 6400 in PASM mode)
Nikon Coolpix P610
Mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras
Nikon Z series – Nikon Z-mount lenses
Nikon 1 series – CX sensor, Nikon 1 mount lenses
Nikon Z7, FX/Full Frame sensor, August 23, 2018
Nikon Z6, FX/Full Frame sensor, August 23, 2018
Nikon Z50, DX/APS-C sensor, October 10, 2019
Nikon Z5, FX/Full Frame sensor, July 21, 2020
Nikon Z6II, FX/Full Frame sensor, October 14, 2020
Nikon Z7II, FX/Full Frame sensor, October 14, 2020
Nikon Zfc, DX/APS-C sensor, July 2021
Nikon Z9, FX/Full Frame sensor, October 28, 2021
Nikon Z30
Digital single lens reflex cameras
High-end (Professional – Intended for professional use, heavy duty and weather resistance)
High-end (Prosumer – Intended for pro-consumers who want the main mechanical/weather resistance and electronic features of the professional line but don't need the same heavy duty)
Midrange and professional usage cameras with DX sensor
Upper-entry-level (Consumer) – DX sensor
Along with the D750 and D500 above, these are the only Nikon DSLR's with the articulated (tilt-and-swivel) display.Entry-level (Consumer) – DX sensor
Nikon D1, DX sensor, June 15, 1999 – Discontinued
Nikon D1X, DX sensor, February 5, 2001 – Discontinued
Nikon D1H, DX sensor, high speed, February 5, 2001 – Discontinued
Nikon D2H, DX sensor, high speed, July 22, 2003 – Discontinued
Nikon D2X, DX sensor, September 16, 2004 – Discontinued
Photo optics
Lenses for Nikon Z-mount
Nikon introduced the Z-mount in 2018 for its system of digital full-frame (FX) and APS-C (DX) mirrorless cameras.
Lenses for F-mount cameras
The Nikon F-mount is a type of interchangeable lens mount developed by Nikon for its 35 mm Single-lens reflex cameras. The F-mount was first introduced on the Nikon F camera in 1959.
Other lenses for photography and imaging
Electronic flash units
Nikon uses the term Speedlight for its electronic flashes.Recent models include the SB-R200, SB-300, SB-400, SB-600, SB-700, SB-800, SB-900, SB-910, SB-5000 and R1C1.
Since the release of the SB-5000 in 2016, there have been no new flash units released.
Film scanners
Nikon's digital capture line also includes a successful range of dedicated scanners for a variety of formats, including Advanced Photo System (IX240), 35 mm, and 60 mm film.
Nikon introduced its first scanner, the Nikon LS-3500 with a maximum resolution of 4096 x 6144 pixels, in 1988. Prior to the development of 'cool' LED lighting this scanner used a halogen lamp (hence the name 'Coolscan' for the following models). The resolution of the following LED based Coolscan model didn't increase but the price was significantly lower. Colour depth, scan quality, imaging and hardware functionality as well as scanning speed was gradually improved with each following model. The final 'top of the line' 35mm Coolscan LS-5000 ED was a device capable of archiving greater numbers of slides; 50 framed slides or 40 images on film roll. It could scan all these in one batch using special adapters. A single maximum resolution scan was performed in no more than 20 seconds as long as no post-processing was also performed. With the launch of the Coolscan 9000 ED Nikon introduced its most up-to-date film scanner which, like the Minolta DiMAGE scanners were the only film scanners that, due to a special version of Digital ICE, were able to scan Kodachrome film reliably both dust and scratch free. In late 2007 much of the software's code had to be rewritten to make it Mac OS 10.5 compatible. Nikon announced it would discontinue supporting its Nikon Scan software for the Macintosh as well as for Windows Vista 64-bit.[104] Third-party software solutions like SilverFast or Vuescan provide alternatives to the official Nikon drivers and scanning software, and maintain updated drivers for most current operating systems.Between 1994 and 1996 Nikon developed three flatbed scanner models named Scantouch, which couldn't keep up with competitive flatbed products and were hence discontinued to allow Nikon to focus on its dedicated film scanners.
(1988) LS-3500 (4096x6144, 4000 dpi, 30 bits per pixel) HP-IB (requires a third-party NuBus card; intended for Mac platforms, for which there is a Photoshop plug-in).[93]
(1992) Coolscan LS-10 (2700 dpi) SCSI. First to be named "Coolscan" to denote LED illumination.[94]
(1994) LS-3510AF (4096x6144, 4000 dpi, 30 bits per pixel) Auto-focus SCSI (usually employed on Mac platforms with a Photoshop plug-in; TWAIN is available for PC platforms).[95]
(1995) LS-4500AF (4 x 5 inch and 120/220 formats, 1000x2000 dpi, 35mm format 3000x3000). 12bit A/D. SCSI. Fitted with auto-focus lens.[96]
(1996) Super Coolscan LS-1000 (2592x3888, 2700 dpi) SCSI. scan time cut by half[97]
Sport optics
Binoculars
Sprint IV
Sportstar IV
Travelite V
Travelite VI
Travelite EX
Mikron
Action VII
Action VII Zoom
Aculon
Action EX
Sporter I
Venturer 8/10x32
Venturer 8x42
Prostaff 5
Prostaff 7
Monarch ATB
Monarch 3
Monarch 5
Monarch 7
Monarch HG
Monarch M5
Monarch M7
StabilEyes
Superior E
Marine
EDG II
Spotting scopes
Prostaff 3 16-48x60
Prostaff 5 60
Prostaff 5 80
Spotter XL II WP
Spotting Scope R/A II
Spotting Scope 80
Fieldscope 60mm
Fieldscope ED78/ EDII
Fieldscope III/EDIII
Fieldscope ED82
Fieldscope ED50
Fieldscopes EDG 65 /85
Fieldscope EDG 85 VR
Rifle scopes
BLACK
Monarch 7
Monarch 5
Monarch 3
Monarch
Laser IRT
Prostaff 5
Encore
Coyote Special
Slughunter
Inline
Buckmaster II
Buckmaster
AR
ProStaff II
Prostaff
Team REALTREE
Rimfire
Handgun
Nikon Metrology
Overview
Nikon Metrology, a division of Nikon, produces hardware and software products for 2D & 3D measurement from nano to large scale measurement volumes.Products include Optical Laser Probes, X-ray computed tomography, Coordinate-measuring machine (CMM), Laser Radar Systems (LR), Microscopes, Portable CMMs, Large Volume Metrology, Motion Measurement and Adaptive Robotic Controls, Semiconductor Systems, Metrology Software including CMM-Manager, CAMIO Studio, Inspect-X, Focus, and Automeasure.Measurements are performed using tactile and non-contact probes, measurement data is collected in software and processed for comparison to nominal CAD (Computer-aided design) or part specification or for recreating / reverse engineering physical work pieces.
Origins
The origins of Nikon go back to 1917 when three Japanese optical manufacturers joined to form Nippon Kogaku KK ('Japan Optics'). In 1925 the microscope having revolving nosepiece and interchangeable objectives was produced. Significant growth for the microscopy division occurs over the next 50 years as Nikon pioneers development of polarising and stereo microscopes along with new products for measuring and inspection (Metrology) markets. These new products include devices targeted for industrial use such as optical comparators, autocollimators, profile projector and automated vision based systems. Continued effort through the next three decades yield the release of products including the Optiphot and Labophot microscopes, Diaphot microscope, the Eclipse range of infinity optics, and finally the DS camera series and the Coolscope with the advent of digital sensors. With the acquisition of Metris in 2009 the Nikon Metrology division was born. Nikon Metrology products include a full range of both 2D & 3D, optical, tactile, non-contact, and X-Ray Metrology solutions ranging from nanometer resolution on microscopic samples to μm resolution in volumes large enough to house a commercial airliner.[105]
Products
Coordinate-Measuring-Machines
Bridge, Gantry and Horizontal Arm CMMs
Digital / Analog Tactile and / or Non-Contact Optical sensors
Portable arms – 6 and 7 axis models
Laser Scanning – Optical Line Scanners in single Line and Multi-line (Cross Scanner) configurations
Application Software – several options available depending on specific application and hardware.
CMM-Manager – Multi-sensor 3D Metrology software for third party CMMs, Articulated Arms, and Nikon video-measurement systems[108]
Lithography equipment
Overview
Nikon manufactures scanners and steppers for the manufacture of integrated circuits and flat panel displays, and semiconductor device inspection equipment.The steppers and scanners represent about one third of the income for the company as of 2008.[111]
Nikon developed the first lithography equipment from Japan. The equipment from Nikon enjoyed high demand from global chipmakers, the Japanese semiconductor companies and other major companies such as Intel, and Nikon was the world's leading producer of semiconductor lithography systems from the 1980s to 2002.[112] Nikon saw a sharp drop in its market share from less than 40 percent in early 2000s to no more than 20 percent as of 2013.[49][113] The company has been losing an estimated ¥17 billion a year in its precision instruments unit.
In contrast, ASML, a Dutch company, has grabbed over 80 percent of the lithography systems market as of 2015 by adopting an open innovation method of product development, which includes the acquisition of US-based light source manufacturer Cymer.[114] In 2017, Nikon announced that it would cut nearly 1,000 jobs mainly in the lithography systems business and halt its development of next-generation equipment.[115][116]
Legal disputes
In February 2019, Nikon, ASML and Carl Zeiss AG, a leading supplier to ASML, have entered into a definitive settlement and cross-license agreement relating to multiple disputes over patents for lithography equipment that had been underway since 2001 and agreed to drop all the world-wide lawsuits regarding the issue.[117]
By the latest settlement, ASML and Zeiss paid approximately $170 million to Nikon.[118] The two companies had paid a total of $87 million to Nikon in 2004 for similar legal dispute.[119]
Market position and products
As of February 2018, Nikon held 10.3 percent revenue share in the semiconductor lithography market while the share of ASML was over 80 percent.[120]
As of 2019, Nikon develops and sells the following lithography-related equipment:
Cutting-edge flat panel display lithography equipment (The FX series)
i-line steppers
KrF steppers
ArF steppers
ArF immersion steppers
Inspection and alignment equipment
Other products
Nikon also manufactures eyeglasses, sunglasses, and glasses frames, under the brands Nikon, Niji, Nobili-Ti, Presio, and Velociti VTI.[121] Other Nikon's products include ophthalmic equipment, loupes, monoculars, binocular telescopes, metal 3D printers, material processing equipment, regenerative medicinecontract manufacturing, cell sorting equipment, and cell culture observation systems.[5][6][7][8]
Nikon no longer manufactures its own image sensors as it outsources the manufacturing to Sony.[122]
Since 2019, Sendai Nikon, a Nikon group company, manufactures Lidar sensors for Velodyne as part of a partnership between the two companies.[123]
Contest and sponsorship
Nikon Film and Photo Contest
Nikon Film and Photo Contest, previously the Nikon Photo Contest Internationa (1969-2011) and Nikon Photo Contest (2012-2017), is an international competition organised annually for professionals and amateurs.[124]
Awards and exhibitions
In Japan, Nikon runs the Nikon Salon exhibition spaces, the Nikkor Club for amateur photographers (to whom it distributes the series of Nikon Salon books), the Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition and the Nikon Small World in Motion Competition, and arranges the Ina Nobuo Award, Miki Jun Award and Miki Jun Inspiration Awards.
Others
As of November 19, 2013, Nikon is the "Official Camera" of Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort.[125]
Nikon is the official co-sponsor of Galatasaray SK Football Team.[126][127][128]
In 2014 Nikon sponsored the Copa Sadia do Brasil 2014 and the AFC Champions League.[129]
The company sponsors the Nikon-Walkley Press Photographer of the Year award, as well as the Nikon Photography Prizes, which are administered by the Walkley Foundation in Australia.[130]
Cultural references
Singer Paul Simon referenced Nikon Cameras in his 1973 song "Kodachrome."[131]
Dexter Morgan, main character of the Showtime series Dexter, can be seen using a Nikon camera throughout the show.
In the movie Hackers, the character "Lord Nikon" got his alias because of his photographic memory.
In the lyrics to the Oak Ridge Boys song "American Made", a reference to Nikon Cameras is made ( "I got a Nikon camera, a Sony color TV").
In the movie The French Connection, the drug dealer gives his girlfriend a Nikon F camera.
In the film The Most Beautiful by Akira Kurosawa, the "East Asian Optical Company" scenes were filmed at the Nippon Kogaku factory in Totsuka, Yokohama, Japan.[132]
In the TV show Veronica Mars, Veronica, the main character, uses a Nikon Coolpix 8800 throughout season one, and a Nikon DSLR in all other seasons.
Awards and recognition
Nikon was ranked 134th among India's most trusted brands according to the Brand Trust Report 2012, a study conducted by Trust Research Advisory. In the Brand Trust Report 2013, Nikon was ranked 28th among India's most trusted brands and subsequently, according to the Brand Trust Report 2014, Nikon was ranked 178th among India's most trusted brands.[133]
Nikon school
Nikon branches around the world runs photography courses behind the brand Nikon School. The official website of Nikon School[134] offers online photography course since 2016.[135]
12.David Douglas Duncan Harry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin, retrieved 2010-02-05^
13.In German: Peter Braczko, Nikon Faszination, Geschichte – Technik – Mythos von 1917 bis heute, Hückelhoven 1992, ISBN 3-88984-047-7, S. 27ff und Tafel 2.^
Expeed is the brand Nikon uses for its image processors since 2007.
Gemini
and
Apollo
programs, 12 of which are still on the Moon) and later once in 1973 on the
Skylab
and later again on it in 1981.
Nikon popularized many features in professional SLR photography, such as the modular camera system with interchangeable lenses, viewfinders, motor drives, and data backs; integrated light metering and lens indexing; electronic strobe flashguns instead of expendable flashbulbs; electronic shutter control; evaluative multi-zone "matrix" metering; and built-in motorized film advance. However, as autofocus SLRs became available from Minolta and others in the mid-1980s, Nikon's line of manual-focus cameras began to seem out of date.
Despite introducing one of the first autofocus models, the slow and bulky F3AF, the company's determination to maintain lens compatibility with its F-mount prevented rapid advances in autofocus technology. Canon introduced a new type of lens-camera interface with its entirely electronic Canon EOS cameras and Canon EF lens mount in 1987.
The much faster lens performance permitted by Canon's electronic focusing and aperture control prompted many professional photographers (especially in sports and news) to switch to the Canon system through the 1990s.[21]
Post-millennium film camera production
Once Nikon introduced affordable consumer-level DSLRs such as the Nikon D70 in the mid-2000s, sales of its consumer and professional film cameras fell rapidly, following the general trend in the industry.In January 2006, Nikon announced it would stop making most of its film camera models and all of its large format lenses, and focus on digital models.[22]
Nevertheless, Nikon remained the only major camera manufacturer still making film SLR cameras for a long time. The high-end Nikon F6 and the entry-level FM10[22] remained in production all the way up until October 2020.[23]
All Nikon DSLRs from 1999 to 2007, by contrast, used the smaller DX size sensor.
Then, 2005 management changes at Nikon led to new camera designs such as the full-frame Nikon D3 in late 2007, the Nikon D700 a few months later, and mid-range SLRs.Nikon regained much of its reputation among professional and amateur enthusiast photographers as a leading innovator in the field, especially because of the speed, ergonomics, and low-light performance of its latest models.[26] The mid-range Nikon D90, introduced in 2008, was also the first SLR camera to record video.[27][28] Since the D90, video mode has been introduced to many more of the Nikon and non-Nikon DSLR cameras, including the Nikon D3S, Nikon D3100, Nikon D3200, Nikon D5100, and Nikon D7000.[29][30][31][32][33]
In 2008, Nikon has released a photograph and video editing suite called ViewNX to browse, edit, merge and share images and videos.[34][35][36] Despite the market growth of Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Cameras, Nikon did not neglect its F-mount Single Lens Reflex cameras and have released some professional DSLRs like the D780[37] and the D6[38] in 2020.
Mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras
In reaction to the growing market for mirrorless cameras, Nikon released its first Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Cameras and also a new lens mount in 2011.The lens mount was called Nikon 1, and the first bodies in it were the Nikon 1 J1 and the V1.The system was built around a 1 inch (or CX) format image sensor, with a 2.7x crop factor. This format was pretty small compared to their competitors. This resulted in a loss of image quality, dynamic range and fewer possibilities for restricting depth of field depth of field range.In 2018, Nikon officially discontinued the 1 series, after three years without a new camera body.[39] (The last one was the Nikon 1 J5).
Also in 2018, Nikon introduced a new mirrorless system in its lineup: the Nikon Z system.The first cameras in the series were the Z6 and the Z7, both with a Full Frame (FX) sensor format, In-Body Image Stabilization and a built-in electronicviewfinder.The Z-mount is not only for FX cameras though, as in 2019 Nikon introduced the Z50 with a DX format sensor, without IBIS but with the compatibility to every Z-mount lens.The handling, the ergonomics and the button layout are similar to the Nikon DSLR cameras, which is friendly for those who are switching from them.This shows that Nikon is putting its focus more on its MILC line.
In 2020, Nikon updated both the Z6 and the Z7.The updated models are called the Z6II and the Z7II.The improvements over the original models include the new EXPEED 6 processor, an added card slot, improved video and AF features, higher burst rates, battery grip support and USB-C power delivery.[40]
In 2021, Nikon released 2 mirrorless cameras, the Zfc and the Z9.The Nikon Zfc is the second Z-series APS-C (DX) mirrorless camera in the lineup, designed to evoke the company's famous FM2 SLR from the '80s.It offers manual controls, including dedicated dials for shutter speed, exposure compensation and ISO.[41] The Z9 became Nikon's new flagship product succeeding the D6, marking the start of a new era of Nikon cameras.It includes a 45.7 megapixel Full Frame (FX) format stacked CMOS sensor which is stabilized and has a very fast readout speed, making the mechanical shutter not only unneeded, but also absent from the camera.Along with the sensor, the 3.7 million dot, 760 nit EVF, 20 fps continuous burst at full resolution in raw format and 30 fps continuous burst for full resolution jpegs, with a buffer of 1000+ compressed raw photos, 4K 120 fps ProRes internal recording, the 8K 30 fps internal recording and the 120 hz subject recognition AF system make it one of the most advanced cameras on the market with its main rivals being the Canon EOS R3 and the Sony α1[42] (as of December 2025).[43]
Mirrorless fixed-lens cameras, the cancelled release of DL series
Before the introduction of the Z-series, on February 23, 2016 Nikon announced its DL range of fixed-lens compact cameras. The series comprised three 20 megapixel 1"-type CMOS sensor cameras with Expeed 6A image processing engines: DL18-50 f/1.8-2.8, DL24-85 f/1.8-2.8 black and silver and DL24-500 f/2.8-5.6. Nikon described the range as a premium line of compact cameras, which combines the high performance of Nikkor lenses with always-on smart device connectivity.[44] All three cameras were showcased at CP+ 2016.[45] One year after the initial announcement, on February 13, 2017, Nikon officially cancelled the release and sale of DL-series, which was originally planned for a June 2016 release. They cited design issues (with the integrated circuit for image processing) and profitability as main issues causing the cancellation.[46]
Nikon D3
in late 2007, the
Nikon D700
a few months later, and mid-range SLRs.
Nikon regained much of its reputation among professional and amateur enthusiast photographers as a leading innovator in the field, especially because of the speed, ergonomics, and low-light performance of its latest models.[26] The mid-range Nikon D90, introduced in 2008, was also the first SLR camera to record video.[27][28] Since the D90, video mode has been introduced to many more of the Nikon and non-Nikon DSLR cameras, including the Nikon D3S, Nikon D3100, Nikon D3200, Nikon D5100, and Nikon D7000.[29][30][31][32][33]
In 2008, Nikon has released a photograph and video editing suite called ViewNX to browse, edit, merge and share images and videos.[34][35][36] Despite the market growth of Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Cameras, Nikon did not neglect its F-mount Single Lens Reflex cameras and have released some professional DSLRs like the D780[37] and the D6[38] in 2020.
DSLR
cameras, which is friendly for those who are switching from them.
This shows that Nikon is putting its focus more on its MILC line.
In 2020, Nikon updated both the Z6 and the Z7.The updated models are called the Z6II and the Z7II.The improvements over the original models include the new EXPEED 6 processor, an added card slot, improved video and AF features, higher burst rates, battery grip support and USB-C power delivery.[40]
In 2021, Nikon released 2 mirrorless cameras, the Zfc and the Z9.The Nikon Zfc is the second Z-series APS-C (DX) mirrorless camera in the lineup, designed to evoke the company's famous FM2 SLR from the '80s.It offers manual controls, including dedicated dials for shutter speed, exposure compensation and ISO.[41] The Z9 became Nikon's new flagship product succeeding the D6, marking the start of a new era of Nikon cameras.It includes a 45.7 megapixel Full Frame (FX) format stacked CMOS sensor which is stabilized and has a very fast readout speed, making the mechanical shutter not only unneeded, but also absent from the camera.Along with the sensor, the 3.7 million dot, 760 nit EVF, 20 fps continuous burst at full resolution in raw format and 30 fps continuous burst for full resolution jpegs, with a buffer of 1000+ compressed raw photos, 4K 120 fps ProRes internal recording, the 8K 30 fps internal recording and the 120 hz subject recognition AF system make it one of the most advanced cameras on the market with its main rivals being the Canon EOS R3 and the Sony α1[42] (as of December 2025).[43]
In March 2024, it was announced Nikon had acquired Red Digital Cinema, an American camera manufacturer specializing in digital cinematography.[54]
Nikkormat EL series (1972, known in Japan as the Nikomat EL series)
Nikon EL2 (1977)
Nikon FE (1978)
Nikon FE2 (1983)
Nikon FA (1983)
Nikon F-601M (1990, known in North America as the N6000)
Nikon FE10 (1996)
Nikon FM3A (2001)
Nikon EM (1979)
Nikon FG (1982)
Nikon FG-20 (1984)
Nikon F-301 (1985, known in North America as the N2000)
Nikon F-801 (1988, known in the U.S. as the N8008)
Nikon F-801S (1991, known in the U.S. as the N8008S)
Nikon F90 (1992, known in the U.S. as the N90)
Nikon F90X (1994, known in the U.S. as the N90S)
Nikon F80 (2000, known in the U.S. as the N80)
Nikon F100 (1999)
Nikon F-601 (1990, known in the U.S. as the N6006)
Nikon F70 (1994, known in the U.S. as the N70)
Nikon F75 (2003, known in the U.S. as the N75)
Nikon F-401 (1987, known in the U.S. as the N4004)
Nikon F-401S (1989, known in the U.S. as the N4004S)
Nikon F-401X (1991, known in the U.S. as the N5005)
