• Company Name: Nikon Corporation
• Founded: 25 July 1917
• Original Name: Nippon Kogaku K.K. (Japan Optical Industries Co., Ltd.)
• Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
• Industry: Optics, Imaging, Precision Equipment, Semiconductor Manufacturing
• Type: Public company
• Stock Exchange: Tokyo Stock Exchange
• Official Website: nikonnikon.com

Nikon’s mission focuses on applying advanced optics and precision technologies to create products that make “the invisible visible and the impossible possible”. Today, its business extends beyond consumer cameras to encompass healthcare, industrial inspection, semiconductor manufacturing, and digital manufacturing solutions.1

Foundation (1917)

Nikon was established on 25 July 1917 following the merger of three Japanese optical manufacturers. Originally named Nippon Kogaku K.K., the company initially focused on producing:

• Microscopes
• Telescopes
• Optical lenses
• Military optical equipment
• Surveying instruments

The establishment of Nippon Kogaku was part of a broader effort to build a domestic optical industry in Japan capable of competing with European manufacturers.1

Birth of the Nikon Brand

In 1946, the company introduced the name “Nikon” for a new compact camera. The name originated from “NIKKO”, an abbreviation of Nippon Kogaku, with the addition of the letter “N”. Due to growing international recognition, Nikon was later adopted as the worldwide corporate identity. In 1988, the company officially changed its corporate name from Nippon Kogaku K.K. to Nikon Corporation.1

Growth in Photography

During the 1950s and 1960s, Nikon gained international respect for its high-quality cameras and lenses. Its products became popular among professional photographers, journalists, war correspondents, and scientific researchers. The launch of the Nikon F in 1959 established Nikon as one of the world’s premier professional camera manufacturers. Its durability, interchangeable lens system, and extensive accessories made it an industry standard for decades.

Although cameras remain Nikon’s most visible products, the company has diversified significantly across several major business segments.

Imaging Products

• Mirrorless cameras
• DSLR cameras
• Interchangeable lenses
• Compact cameras
• Binoculars
• Sports optics

Precision Equipment

Nikon manufactures lithography systems used in semiconductor production, enabling the fabrication of integrated circuits and advanced chips.

Healthcare

Products include:

• Biological microscopes
• Retinal imaging systems
• Cell observation technologies
• Medical imaging solutions

Industrial Solutions

Nikon develops:

• Coordinate measuring machines
• Industrial microscopes
• X-ray inspection systems
• Metrology equipment

Digital Manufacturing

Recent expansion includes additive manufacturing (3D printing), robotics, and advanced manufacturing technologies.1

Over the decades, Nikon has introduced many influential camera lines.

Nikon F Series

Professional film SLR cameras, including:

• Nikon F
• F2
• F3
• F4
• F5
• F6

These cameras became iconic in photojournalism.

Nikon D Series (DSLR)

Digital SLR cameras such as:

• D90
• D750
• D850
• D5
• D6

The D850, in particular, is widely regarded as one of the finest DSLR cameras ever produced.

Nikon Z Series

Introduced in 2018, Nikon’s mirrorless lineup includes models such as:

• Z5
• Z6
• Z7
• Z8
• Z9

The Z system features a larger lens mount that supports advanced optical designs and high-performance autofocus.

NIKKOR is Nikon’s lens brand. The name predates “Nikon” and has become synonymous with high optical quality, sharpness, colour accuracy, and professional reliability. NIKKOR lenses are available for photography, cinematography, industrial imaging, and scientific applications.

Nikon is known for innovations including:

• Precision optical glass manufacturing
• Advanced autofocus systems
• Vibration Reduction (VR) image stabilisation
• EXPEED image processors
• High-resolution CMOS imaging
• Semiconductor lithography systems
• Digital microscopy
• Industrial metrology

These technologies serve industries ranging from photography to electronics and healthcare.1

Nikon’s corporate philosophy is based on two core principles: trustworthiness and creativity. Its brand vision emphasises using light and precision engineering to solve scientific, industrial, and creative challenges, expressed through the idea of making “the invisible visible and the impossible possible”.1

Nikon operates worldwide through subsidiaries and regional offices across Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Oceania, and Africa. Its products are used by professional photographers, filmmakers, scientists, hospitals, manufacturers, semiconductor companies, and research institutions.

In imaging and optics, Nikon competes with companies including Canon, Sony, Fujifilm, OM Digital Solutions, Leica Camera, and Panasonic. In semiconductor equipment and industrial optics, it also competes with firms such as ASML and Canon.

In recent years, Nikon has focused on expanding its mirrorless camera ecosystem and strengthening professional video capabilities, including the acquisition of RED Digital Cinema in 2024. The company continues to invest in semiconductor lithography while growing its healthcare and industrial technology businesses, alongside developing digital manufacturing and advanced production technologies.2

For more than a century, Nikon has been recognised as one of the world’s leading names in optics and imaging. From pioneering film cameras to modern mirrorless systems, microscopes, and semiconductor manufacturing equipment, the company has consistently applied precision engineering and optical science across both consumer and industrial markets. Its long history of innovation has made Nikon a trusted brand for photographers, scientists, engineers, healthcare professionals, and manufacturers worldwide.

1. Corporate Information | Nikon About Us
2. More RED camera tech! Nikon doubles down on video, plans huge billion-dollar investment