Nikon F3

Type	Single lens reflex
Film format	35 mm
Film size	36 mm × 24 mm
Lens	Nikon F-mount
Flash	hot shoe; synch terminal
Flash synchronization	1/80s
Film advance	manual; automatic with optional motor drive
Film rewind	manual
Shutter	electronically controlled
Exposure metering	silicon photodiode light meter, TTL metering, EV 1 to EV 18 (f/1.4 at 1s to f/16 at 1/1000s at ASA/ISO 100 and with 50 mm f/1.4 lens
Exposure modes	Aperture priority, manual
Metering modes	80/20 percent centerweighted[1]
Focus modes	manual
Viewfinder	interchangeable eye-level pentaprism
List price	$322.50[2][Need quotation to verify]
Released	1982
Compatible lenses	Nikon F-mount lenses supporting automatic indexing (AI) with some exceptions; F3 dedicated auto-focus lenses
Compatible flashes	Dedicated F3 accessory shoe mounted flashes with TTL capability; other hot shoe type flashes with adapter; non-hot shoe flashes with synch cord
Made in	Japan

The Nikon F3 was Nikon's third professional single-lens reflex camera body, preceded by the F and F2. Introduced in 1980, it had manual and semi-automatic exposure control whereby the camera would select the correct shutter speed (aperture priority automation). The Nikon F3 series cameras had the most model variations of any Nikon F camera. It was also the first of numerous Nikon F-series cameras to be styled by Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro, and to include a red stripe on the handgrip – a feature that would later become (with variants of stripes and various other shapes) a signature feature of many Nikon cameras.

The F2AS was a current model when the F3 was introduced, and for a while both were sold concurrently. The earlier Nikons had developed such a sterling reputation for extreme ruggedness and durability that many Nikon F and F2 owners were initially reluctant to transition to the new F3 from the F2 series. The F3 was superseded by the F4 in 1988 and the F5 in 1996. Despite being superseded by the newer cameras, it remained in production through to 2001, with over 751,000 F3s produced through September 1992. It continues to be the longest running professional grade Nikon SLR. Long after production ceased, new bodies in boxes were available throughout the world, so an exact production number is not readily available.

A specially modified F3 was used by Industrial Light and Magic to film POV shots during the mine-car sequence in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.^[3] The camera back was removed to accommodate a custom magazine, and the camera itself was mounted on a miniature gimbal that trailed the mine-car model. The gimbal was programmed to pan and tilt to simulate the point-of-view of a following mine car.

F3 Variants[link]

F3HP and F3/T[link]

Initially, the F3 model with the DE-2 eye-level finder was introduced, soon followed by the popular F3HP, or High Point camera, with the DE-3 High Eyepoint prism/finder. The major advantage of this finder was that the entire viewfinder image could be seen from a distance of 2.5 cm from the viewfinder. This made the F3 more usable by those who wear glasses when shooting, or were forced to shoot in high glare situations while wearing sunglasses. The only down-side to this was a smaller image through the viewfinder compared to the standard prism. With the exception of the "P" spec camera, all viewfinders are completely interchangeable. The F3 and F3HP unfortunately retained the somewhat awkward flash mount on the rewind dial, which (with flash mounted) obstructed that area of the camera.^[1]

A significantly more durable, robust titanium version of the F3HP was also offered, called the "F3/T", initially in a more natural titanium finish or 'champagne' coloring, and later in a less conspicuous black. It weighs 20 grams less than the comparable F3. The champagne offering was introduced in 1982 and was quickly discontinued around 1985, making it the rarer (and costlier on the used market) of the two titanium models. The F3/T featured titanium clad viewfinders (DE-4), titanium back, titanium top and bottom plates. It also benefited from the conformal coating of the internal circuit board. The mechanical specifications between the black finished F3/T and the natural finish F3/T were identical.

F3H[link]

The F3H, a high speed camera, was introduced for action and sports photography. It featured a fixed pellicle semi-transparent mirror, allowing the camera and MD-4H motor drive to achieve up to 13 frames per second. Production was short, official reports from Nikon claiming only around 100 such cameras made, while F3 collectors claim that number could be as high as 500.

F3P[link]

Next to be introduced was the F3P. Built primarily for use by photojournalists ("P"ress), the F3P included additional weathersealing, O-ring gaskets, the MF-6 Auto Film-Stop Back, Type-B Matte focusing screen, a modified Titanium DE-5 pentaprism with ISO-type accessory shoe and no eyepiece blind, rubber-covered waterproof shutter release with a modified lockout, a round frame counter window with white numerals, and an extended shutter speed operating knob for easier operation in cold or wet environments. The F3P lacked a film door release lock, self-timer and multiple-exposure lever. A variant of the F3P called the 'F3 Limited' was also sold just in Japan, starting in 1993. The Limited has a fixed B screen, and eliminated several less used features of the regular F3, configured similarly to the F3P.

F3AF[link]

Finally there was the rarely seen 'F3AF', a model which included an autofocus (AF) pentaprism finder (DX-1) capable of autofocusing with two special AF Nikkor lenses—the first of their kind, which included focus motors in the lens bodies. Those lenses were the AF-80mm f/2.8 Nikkor and the AF-200mm f/3.5 Nikkor. It was the first autofocus camera to be produced by Nikon.

However, even while the more successful subsequent Nikon AF design for the F4 and other models put the focus motor in the camera body, the F3AF's in-lens approach foreshadowed in-lens autofocus designs that would later come to dominate the market more than 15 years in the future, such as Canon's USM and Nikon's own Silent Wave Motor (SWM) lenses.^{[citation needed]} In addition, the F4's support of the two special F3AF lenses now permits it to work with new Nikon SWM lenses that were designed long after both the F3 and F4 ceased production.

Construction[link]

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2011)

Nikon abandoned the earlier mechanically operated shutter of the F2 for a modern, electronically controlled, horizontally traveled metal curtain design. The new shutter proved to be equally reliable and less maintenance-intensive overall, though the decision to retain the horizontal-travel design significantly limited its top flash sync speed (1/80 sec.) compared to later Nikons, some of which used the Copal shutter. In contrast to the manually operated F2, the F3's electronic shutter required battery power to operate, although the camera included a small backup mechanical release lever that tripped the shutter at 1/60 sec.

The F3 continued the high-quality of its predecessors, in some ways surpassing it. Tolerances were exacting, and typically Nikon – just enough for operation of the camera (with a small allowance for debris), yet not enough to inhibit cold-weather operation at temperatures where lubricants begin to gel. Only the finest quality mechanical and electronic parts were selected, and Nikon insisted that all electronic components be sourced with a guarantee of 20 years of continued supply. Not only did the F3 utilize ball-bearings to mount its shutter and film transport mechanisms, but additional clusters of bearings were added to the film advance to make one of the smoothest operating cameras ever built.^[1] Indeed, resistance is so low when operating the film advance that it is difficult to tell if there is film in the camera.

For the first time, shutter information was displayed via an internal liquid crystal display (LCD) inside the viewfinder. Aperture information was relayed through Nikon's "ADR" (Aperture Direct Readout) which was a window at the top center of the viewfinder that got its information from a micro-prism that read small numbers at the top of the mounted lens, of which type 'AI' (Aperture Indexing) or 'AIS' (Aperture Indexing Shutter Priority) lenses had printed behind the normal aperture numbers. Though widely used today, LCDs were very hi-tech at the time. They proved somewhat difficult to see at night, so Nikon installed a button-operated light for use at night. The LCD is one of the few problem areas of the F3 design, since with age, LCDs lose contrast, blur, and become inoperative after a number of years. Fortunately, unlike modern autofocus cameras with LCD 'Command Center' panels, malfunction of the F3's LCD viewfinder display does not prevent full operation of the camera, since this is accomplished with manual dials and indicators. Many F3 cameras built in the 1980s were never used professionally, and therefore are still in perfect working order, including the LCD.

The Nikon F3 was the last in the Nikon series of manual-focus, professional level 35mm SLR cameras. Its production cycle is generally accepted to be from 1980 to 2000 or 2002, close to a record for a high-volume professional camera. Its successor – the F4 – along with operating the two F3AF lens, featured auto-focus and new optional metering and modes, but retained the ability to mount older manual-focus lenses. The F3 was also the last F-Series camera to be offered without an integrated motor drive, making the camera smaller overall than its successors in the F- series. The lasting appeal of the F3 remains the same as it was at its inception – a precision tool for those who prefer a less complex, extremely well-made camera for continual use in extreme environments.

The optional motor drive for the F3, known as the MD-4 contained either 8 AA batteries or a special NiCd battery pack that would be recharged. Its performance surpassed that of past Nikon models, with a capability of 4 frames per second with uninterrupted reflex viewing, or 6 frame/s with the reflex mirror locked up. The integral seamless design of the MD-4 motor drive made it an extremely popular option for many F3 users. A bulk film back could be fitted in lieu of the normal back to the F3. That bulk back, known as the MF-2, was capable of handling up to 30.5 meters (100 ft) of 35mm film, or 750 exposures.

Gallery[link]

See also[link]

• Kodak DCS-100, an early digital SLR system that used F3 bodies for photographic functions.

Notes[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Nikon F3

• Debut of the Nikon F3, by Nikon
• mir.com
• mir.com
• Nikon F3 at camerapedia
• NikonF3.com Nikon F3 Resource including Manuals

Nikon Corporation
株式会社ニコン

150px
Type	Public (TYO: 7731)
Industry	Consumer electronics
Founded	Tokyo, Japan (July 25, 1917)
Headquarters	Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Michio Kariya (Chairman) Makoto Kimura (President)
Products	Still cameras, camcorders, SLR cameras, binoculars / monoculars, binocular telescope, laser rangefinder, field microscopy, precision equipments, microscopes and instrumental products
Revenue	¥887.5 billion (FY2011)[1]
Operating income	¥54.1 billion (FY2011)[1]
Net income	¥27.3 billion (FY2011)[1]
Employees	24,409 (March 31, 2011)[1]
Parent	Mitsubishi Group
Website	www.nikon.com

West Building of Nikon in NiShiOoi,Tokyo

Nikon Corporation (株式会社ニコン, Kabushiki-gaisha Nikon^?) listen (help·info) (TYO: 7731), also known as just Nikon, is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, specializing in optics and imaging. Its products include cameras, binoculars, microscopes, measurement instruments, and the steppers used in the photolithography steps of semiconductor fabrication, of which it is the world's second largest manufacturer.^[2] The companies held by Nikon form the Nikon Group.^[3] Among its products are Nikkor imaging lenses (for F-mount cameras, large format photography, photographic enlargers, and other applications), the Nikon F-series of 135 film SLR cameras, the Nikon D-series of digital SLR 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, Casio, Kodak, Sony, Pentax, Panasonic, Fujifilm and Olympus.

Founded in 25 July 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 Nikon Corporation, after its cameras, in 1988. Nikon is one of the companies of the Mitsubishi Group.^[4]

History[link]

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 grew to nineteen factories and 23,000 employees, supplying items such as binoculars, lenses, bomb sights, and periscopes to the Japanese military.

Reception outside Japan[link]

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.^[5] Nikon lenses were popularised by the American photojournalist David Douglas Duncan's use at the time of the Korean War. Duncan, who was working in Tokyo when the Korean War began, met a young Japanese photographer, Jun Miki, who introduced Duncan to Nikon lenses. From July 1950 to January 1951, Duncan covered the Korean War.^[6] Fitting Nikon optics to his Leica rangefinder cameras produced high contrast negatives with very sharp resolution at the centre field.^[7]

Names and brands[link]

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, is a merging of Nippon Kōgaku (日本光学: "Japan Optical") and Zeiss' brand Ikon. This would cause some early problems in Germany though as Zeiss complained that Nikon violated its trademarked camera, and so from 1963 to 1968 the Nikon F in particular was labeled 'Nikkor'.^[8]

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^[9] (Nikkō coincidentally means "sunlight" and is the name of a Japanese town.).

Another early brand used on microscopes was Joico,^[10] an abbreviation of "Japan Optical Industries Co"^{[citation needed]}. Expeed is the brand Nikon uses for its image processors since 2007.

Nikon is pronounced differently around the world. The Japanese pronunciation is [nikoɴ]; the British pronunciation /ˈnɪkɒn/; the North American pronunciation is /ˈnaɪkɒn/.

The rise of the Nikon F series[link]

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^{[citation needed]} 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^{[citation needed]}, as well as by the U.S. space program.

Nikon popularized many features in professional SLR photography^{[citation needed]}, 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^{[citation needed]}.

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.^[11]

Precision manufacturing equipment[link]

Besides cameras, Nikon Corporation (Nikon) develops and manufactures photolithography equipment. In 1980 the first Nikon stepper, the NSR-1010G, was produced in Japan. Since then Nikon (through the Nikon Instruments Division) has introduced over fifty models of steppers and scanners for the production of semiconductors and liquid crystal displays. Nikon currently designs and manufactures precision equipment for use in semiconductor and liquid crystal display (LCD) fabrication, inspection, and measurement. Nikon also designs and manufactures visual imaging products including cameras; instruments such as microscopes; and other products such as chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) systems, binoculars, surveying instruments, eyewear, sport optics, and optical measuring and inspection equipment.

In 1982, Nikon Precision Inc. (NPI) was established in the United States. NPI is the North American sales and service arm specifically for Nikon Corporation's semiconductor photolithography equipment and is headquartered in Belmont, California. Fueled by a rapidly growing customer base, the company quickly expanded. In 1990, NPI opened its current headquarters and the facility now includes corporate offices, a fully equipped worldwide training centre (WWTC), service operations, applications engineering, technology engineering, quality and reliability engineering, training, technical support, sales, and marketing for Nikon equipment serving the wafer, photomask, flat panel display, and thin-film magnetic head industries. Today, NPI is an industry leader in supplying and supporting advanced photolithography equipment used in the critical stages of semiconductor manufacturing. Nikon also has research and development operations in the U.S. under Nikon Research Corporation of America (NRCA), which directly supports R&D efforts of the Precision Equipment Division in Kagohara, Japan.

Cultural activities[link]

In Japan, Nikon runs the Nikon Salon exhibition spaces, runs the Nikkor Club for amateur photographers (to whom it distributes the series of Nikon Salon books), and arranges the Ina Nobuo Award, Miki Jun Award and Miki Jun Inspiration Awards.

Digital photography[link]

Nikon NASA F4 front view with DA-20 action finder, Electronics Box and lenses. Launched September 1991 on board the Space Shuttle Discovery, mission STS-48.

Nikon created some of the first digital SLRs (DSLRs, Nikon NASA F4) for NASA, used in the Space Shuttle since 1991.^[12] 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.

Through the mid-2000s, Nikon's line of professional and enthusiast DSLRs and lenses including their back 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.^[13] 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.^{[14][unreliable source?]} The mid-range Nikon D90, introduced in 2008, was also the first SLR camera to record video.^[15][16] Since then video mode has been introduced to many more of the Nikon DSLR cameras including the Nikon D3S, Nikon D7000, Nikon D5100, and Nikon D3100.^[17][18][19]

More recently, Nikon has release a photograph and video editing suite called ViewNX to browse, edit, merge and share images and videos.^[20][21][22]

Film camera production[link]

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.^[23] Nevertheless, Nikon is the only^{[citation needed]} major camera manufacturer still making film SLRs. The remaining model is the professional Nikon F6 with the last amateur model, FM10, having been discontinued.

Movie camera production[link]

Although few models were introduced, Nikon made superb 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. Interestingly and contrary to other brands, Nikon never attempted to offer projectors and accessories.

Thai operations[link]

Nikon has shifted much of its manufacturing facilities to Thailand, with some production (especially of Coolpix cameras and some low-end lenses) in China and Indonesia. The company constructed a factory in Ayuthaya north of Bangkok in Thailand in 1991. By the year 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 (208,827 square feet) to 46,200 square meters (497,300 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 format DSLR cameras are produced in Thailand, while their Nikon FX format (full frame) cameras (D700, D3, D3S, D3X, D4 and D800) are built in Japan. The Thai facility also produces most of Nikon's digital "DX" zoom lenses, as well as numerous other lenses in the Nikkor line.

Cameras[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Nikon 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.^[24] It continued to sell the low-end FM10 (manufactured by Cosina) until 2009, and still offers the high-end F6 (manufactured by Nikon itself). Nikon has also committed to service all the film cameras for a period of ten years after production ceases.^[25]

[edit] Film 35 mm SLR cameras with manual focus

• Nikon F series (1959–1972, known in Germany for legal reasons as the Nikkor F)

• Nikkorex series (1960–1964)
• Nikkormat F series (1965–1977, known in Japan as the Nikomat F series)
• Nikon F2 series (1971–1980)

A black body Nikon F2-AS with the DP-12 metered prism

• Nikkormat EL series (1972–1977, known in Japan as the Nikomat EL series)
• Nikon EL2 (1977)
• Nikon FM (1977)
• Nikon FE (1978)
• Nikon EM (1979)
• Nikon F3 series (1980–1997)
• Nikon FG (1982)
• Nikon FM2 series (1982–2000)
• Nikon FE2 (1983)
• Nikon FA (1983)
• Nikon FG-20 (1984)
• Nikon F-301 (1985, known in North America as the N2000)
• Nikon F-601M (1990, known in North America as the N6000)
• Nikon FM10 (1995)
• Nikon FE10 (1996)
• Nikon FM3A (2001)

[edit] Film APS SLR cameras

• Nikon Pronea 600i / Pronea 6i (1996)^[26]
• Nikon Pronea S (1997)^[27]

• 

  The Nikon Pronea 600i

• 

  The Nikon Pronea S

[edit] Film 35 mm SLR cameras with autofocus

Nikon AC-2E Data Link System (1993)

• Nikon F3AF (1983, modified F3 body with Autofocus Finder DX-1)
• Nikon F-501 (1986, known in North America as the N2020)
• Nikon F-401 (1987, known in the U.S. as the N4004)
• Nikon F-801 (1988, known in the U.S. as the N8008)
• Nikon F4 (1988)
• Nikon F-401S (1989, known in the U.S. as the N4004S)
• Nikon F-601 (1990, known in the U.S. as the N6006)
• Nikon F-401X (1991, known in the U.S. as the N5005)
• Nikon F-801S (1991, known in the U.S. as the N8008S)
• Nikon F90 (1992, known in the U.S. as the N90)
• Nikonos RS (1992) - for use underwater.
• Nikon F50 (1994, known in the U.S. as the N50)
• Nikon F70 (1994, known in the U.S. as the N70)
• Nikon F90X (1994, known in the U.S. as the N90S)
• Nikon F5 (1996)
• Nikon F60 (1999, known in the U.S. as the N60)
• Nikon F100 (1999)
• Nikon F65 (2000, known in the U.S. as the N65)
• Nikon F80 (2000, known in the U.S. as the N80)
• Nikon F55 (2002, known in the U.S. as the N55)
• Nikon F75 (2003, known in the U.S. as the N75)
• Nikon F6 (2004)

[edit] Rangefinder cameras

Nikon SP rangefinder camera

• Nikon I (1948)^[28]
• Nikon M (1949)^[29]
• Nikon S (1951)^[30]
• Nikon S2 (1954)^[31]
• Nikon SP (1957)^[32]
• Nikon S3 (1958)^[33]
• Nikon S4 (1959)^[34]
• Nikon S3M (1960)^[35]
• Nikon S3 2000 (2000)^[36]
• Nikon SP Limited Edition (2005)^[37]

Compact cameras[link]

Between 1983 and the early 2000s^[38] 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 with titanium body and 3D-Matrix-Metering.

Nikon Expeed, a system on a chip used as image processor in all Nikon DSLRs since 2007 and some compact cameras.

Movie cameras[link]

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)

Underwater (scale-focus) cameras[link]

• Nikonos I (1963, originally known in France as the Calypso/Nikkor)
• Nikonos II (1968)
• Nikonos III (1975)
• Nikonos IV-A (1980)
• Nikonos V (1984)

Digital compact cameras[link]

• Nikon Coolpix series

[edit] Digital single lens reflex cameras

Nikon D3 camera body

Nikon D200 camera with Nikkor lens and Nikon "speedlight" flash

High-end (Professional) - FX/Full Frame sensor

• Nikon D3, August 23, 2007 - Discontinued
• Nikon D3X, December 1, 2008 - Discontinued
• Nikon D3S, October 14, 2009 - Discontinued
• Nikon D4, announced January 6, 2012^[39]

D700 with 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 G-AF-S DX

High-end (Prosumer) - FX/Full Frame sensor

• Nikon D700, July 1, 2008 - Discontinued
• Nikon D800, announced February 7, 2012

High-end (Professional) - DX sensor, high resolution

• Nikon D1, June 15, 1999 - Discontinued
• Nikon D1X, February 5, 2001 - Discontinued
• Nikon D2X, September 16, 2004 - Discontinued
• Nikon D2XS, June 1, 2006

High-end (Professional) - DX sensor, high speed

• Nikon D1H, February 5, 2001 - Discontinued
• Nikon D2H, July 22, 2003 - Discontinued
• Nikon D2HS, February 16, 2005 - Discontinued

High-end (Prosumer) - DX sensor

• Nikon D100, February 21, 2002 - Discontinued
• Nikon D200, November 1, 2005 - Discontinued
• Nikon D300, August 23, 2007 - Discontinued^[40]
• Nikon D300S, July 30, 2009^[41]

Midrange - DX sensor

• Nikon D70, January 28, 2004 - Discontinued
• Nikon D70S, April 20, 2005 - Discontinued
• Nikon D80, August 9, 2006 - Discontinued
• Nikon D90, August 27, 2008^[42]
• Nikon D7000, September 15, 2010^[43]

Upper-entry-level - DX sensor

• Nikon D50, April 20, 2005 - Discontinued
• Nikon D5000, April 14, 2009 - Discontinued
• Nikon D5100, April 5, 2011^[44]

Entry-level (Consumer) - DX sensor

Nikon D40

• Nikon D40, November 16, 2006 - Discontinued
• Nikon D40X, March 6, 2007 - Discontinued
• Nikon D60, January 29, 2008 - Discontinued
• Nikon D3000, July 30, 2009 - Discontinued
• Nikon D3100, August 19, 2010 - Discontinued ^[45]
• Nikon D3200, April 19, 2012^[46]

Nikon's raw image format format is NEF, for Nikon Electronic File. The "DSCN" prefix for image files stands for "Digital Still Camera - Nikon."

[edit] Mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras

Nikon 1 series - CX sensor, Nikon 1 mount lenses

• Nikon 1 J1, September 21, 2011
• Nikon 1 V1, September 21, 2011 ^[47]

[edit] Bridge cameras

• Nikon P500
• Nikon P510, 41.7x optical zoom (24-1000 mm)

Larger sensor compact cameras[link]

• Nikon P7000, 2010-09-08 (CCD, 10.1 megapixels, 7x zoom)
• Nikon P7100, 2011-08-24 (roughly same specifications as predecessor)

Photo optics[link]

[edit] Lenses for F-mount cameras

• See Nikon F-mount → Nikkor

Other lenses for photography and imaging[link]

Electronic Flash Units[link]

Nikon uses the term Speedlight for its electronic flash guns.

• SB-R200
• SB-400
• SB-600
• SB-700
• SB-800
• SB-900
• SB-910
• R1C1

Film scanners[link]

Nikon Coolscan V film scanner

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.

• (1988) LS-3500 (4096x6144, 4000 dpi) SCSI^[48]
• (1992) Coolscan LS-10 (2700 dpi) SCSI. First to be named "Coolscan" to denote LED illumination.^[49]
• (1994) LS-3510AF (5000x5000, 3500 dpi) SCSI. Fitted with auto-focus lens.
• (1996) Super Coolscan LS-1000 (2592x3888, 2700 dpi) SCSI. scan time cut by half^[50]
• (1996) Coolscan II LS-20 E (2700 dpi) SCSI^[51]
• (1998) Coolscan LS-2000 (2700 dpi, 12-bit) SCSI, multiple sample, "CleanImage" software^[52]
• (1998) Coolscan III LS-30 E (2700 dpi, 10-bit) SCSI^[53]
• (2001) Coolscan IV LS-40 ED (2900 dpi, 12-bit, 3.6D) USB, SilverFast, ICE, ROC, GEM^[54]
• (2001) Coolscan LS-4000 ED (4000 dpi, 14-bit, 4.2D) Firewire^[55]
• (2001) Coolscan LS-8000 ED (4000 dpi, 14-bit, 4.2D) Firewire, multiformat^[56]
• (2003) Coolscan V LS-50 ED (4000 dpi, 14-bit, 4.2D) USB
• (2003) Super Coolscan LS-5000 ED (4000 dpi, 16bit, 4.8D) USB
• (2004) Super Coolscan LS-9000 ED (4000 dpi, 16bit, 4.8D) Firewire, multiformat

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. LaserSoft Imaging's scan software SilverFast features a similar technique (iSRD) since end of 2008, that allows every Nikon film scanner to remove dust and scratches from Kodachrome scans. 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.^[57] 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.

Sport optics[link]

Binoculars[link]

Spotting scopes[link]

• Spotter XL II WP
• Spotting Scopr R/A II
• Spotting Scope 80
• Field Scope III
• Field Scope ED 82

Rifle scopes[link]

• Monarch
• Laser IRT
• Encore
• Coyote Special
• Slughunter
• Buckmaster
• ProStaff
• team REALTREE

Other products[link]

Nikon also manufactures ophthalmic equipment, loupes, monoculars, binocular telescopes, microscopes, laser rangefinders, cameras for microscopy, optical and video-based measurement equipment, scanners and steppers for the manufacture of integrated circuits and liquid crystal displays, and semiconductor device inspection equipment. The steppers and scanners represent about one third of the income for the company as of 2008.^[58] Nikon has also manufactured eyeglasses, sunglasses, and glasses frames, under the brands Nikon, Niji, Nobili-Ti, Presio, and Velociti VTI.^[59]

Cultural references[link]

• Singer Paul Simon referenced Nikon Cameras in his 1973 song "Kodachrome."^[60]

See also[link]

Companies portal

Notes and references[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Nikon

• Nikon Corporation website
• Yahoo! – Nikon Corporation Company Profile
• Nikon Lens specifications table
• Nikon info at "Photography in Malaysia"

Links to related articles v t e Nikon Digital SLR timeline (comparison) 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 Professional Flagship D1 D1X D2X D2Xs D3X D1H D2H D2Hs D3 D3S D4 Compact D700 D800/D800E D100 D200 D300 D300S Consumer Advanced D70 D70s D80 D90 D7000 Mid-range D50 D40X D60 D5000 D5100 Entry-level D40 D3000 D3100 D3200 Early models Nikon Still Video Camera (Prototype, 1986) • Nikon QV-1000C (1988) • Nikon NASA F4 (1991) Nikon E2/E2S (1995) • Nikon E2N/E2NS (1996) • Nikon E3/E3S (1998) Full-frame (FX format) camera. — Without an AF motor (needs lenses with integrated motor for autofocus). — HD video capable (Video AF) v t e Nikon 35mm Film SLR Cameras Manual Focus F series · Nikkorex series · Nikkormat FT series · F2 series · EL series · FM · FE · EM · F3 series · FG · FM2 · FE2 · FA · FG-20 · F-301 · F-601M · FM10 · FE10 · FM3A Autofocus F3AF · F-501 · F-401 · F-801 · F4 · F-401S · F-601 · F-401X · F-801S · F90 · F50 · F60 · F70 · F90X · F5 · F100 · F65 · F80 · F55 · F75 · F6 v t e Electronics industry in Japan Akai Alaxala Networks Alinco Alps Alpine Anritsu AOR Brother Canon Casio Cateye Chinon Citizen Watch Copal Clarion Contec Cosina D&M Holdings Daikin Denon Koppel Inc. 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