Debut of Nikon F | Camera Chronicle | Nikon Consumer
- Design philosophy of single-lens reflex camera Nikon F system
- Introduction of Nikon F on the market and expansion of F system
- Nikkor lenses supporting the system
- Expanding our market
- Tokyo Olympic Games and Nikon
- Increasing sales of SLR camera Nikomat and interchangeable lenses
Design philosophy of single-lens reflex camera Nikon F system
Limitations of rangefinder camera and evolution into single-lens reflex camera
The 35 mm (135) format rangefinder focal-plane shutter cameras, typified by our Nikon SP (1957) and S3 (1958), featured sophisticated design and greater portability, and nearly reached perfection in terms of mechanism. Especially when combined with standard or wide-angle lenses, they offered the most advantageous features.
However, for combined use with any telephoto lens with a focal length of 135 mm or more, the optional reflex box had to be added rather than using a rangefinder integrated in the body. As a result, telephoto lens models increased, and the 35-mm single-lens reflex cameras (hereafter called SLR cameras) stood out as having the advantages of the reflex box integrated in the cameras.
The 35 mm SLR cameras date back to the Kine-Exakta manufactured and marketed in 1936 by the Ihagee Kamerawerk, Steenbergen & Co. in Germany. The viewfinder on the camera was a waist-level finder providing an inverted image. In addition, the reflex mirror was not of the automatic return type, and once the shutter was pressed the viewfinder remained inactive until the shutter became charged again, which was a drawback because it made it difficult to take a snapshot.
After the Second World War, the camera was equipped with the pentaprism type eye-level (erect image) viewfinder, full-automatic aperture control, quick-return reflex mirror and other enhancements, and the drawbacks of SLR cameras were removed and ease of operation was improved.
We at Nikon also recognized the future potential of SLR cameras in view of the fact that the telephoto lenses with a focal length of 135 mm or more would need a reflex box, and decided in fact around 1955 to launch a program for the development of SLR cameras in conjunction with the development of SP and S3, as the successors to Nikon S2 (1954), and their improved versions.
However, around 1955, the predominant view was that SLR cameras provided advantages not available with rangefinder cameras, although they could not be superior high-performance equipment. Nikon also favored that view because S2, Nikon SP and other popular models were so great. Then, in the development of SLR cameras, we planned to adopt the same body mechanism as in the SP/S3 as a rule (without any change made to the layout and geometry of the shutter button, film wind-up lever and other components), except for the viewfinder and other parts essential for SLR cameras, with the intent to implement parallel production with SP and the basic model S3.
| Lens aperture | Instant-return type, with focal depth monitoring button (stop-down button) |
|---|---|
| Mirror | Automatic instant-return type with lock-up facility available as necessary |
| Viewfinder | Interchangeable with waist-level viewfinder |
| Focusing screen | Split-image type and matt-type as standard, interchangeable with each other |
| Shutter | Titanium foil focal-plane shutter |
| Self-timer | Variable duration type |
| Flash synchronization | Variable according to time lag, sync. with Speedlight at a high speed (1/60 sec.), with JIS B type clip contact |
| Dimensions | Approx. 147x98x89mm (with 5-cm F2 lens) |
| Weight | Approx. 685g (body only) |
Development of Nikon F
Introduction of Nikon F on the market and expansion of F system
Highly regarded F
Expansion of Nikon F system
Afterwards in 1962, Nikon Video Remote Control (TV remote-controlled recording unit) was manufactured by combining the Nikon F, the 250-exposures motor drive, and Auto NIKKOR Telephoto-Zoom 8.5 - 25cm f/4 - 4.5 with the intent to simultaneously provide the supervisory and measurement by TV and the recording and photography by camera, which gave an impression of multifunction Nikon F system.
Nikkor lenses supporting the system
Lens lineup supporting the philosophy of Nikon F system
| 1960 | Fast speed standard lens NIKKOR-S AUTO 5.8cm f/1.4 Retrofocus (inverted telephoto) type wide-angle lens NIKKOR-H 2.8cm f/3.5 Lightweight type telephoto lens NIKKOR-T 10.5cm f/4 |
|---|---|
| 1961 | Micro-NIKKOR Auto 5.5cm f/3.5 for precision copying NIKKOR-Q Auto 20cm f/4 |
| 1962 | Fast speed standard lens NIKKOR-S Auto 5cm f/1.4 Fisheye lens Fisheye-NIKKOR 8mm f/8 PC-NIKKOR 35mm f/3.5 allowing swing & tilt photography Ring light-integrated, medical-use Medical-NIKKOR Auto 200mm f/5.6 |
| 1963 | Standard zoom lens Zoom-NIKKOR Auto 43 - 86mm f/3.5 |
The lenses listed above offered the superior optical performances and also provided a variety of mechanical features. For example, the lens barrels were constructed with highly corrosion-resistant free-cutting light alloy to offer the reduced weight feature, and the focal point adjustments were all linear helicoid design to ensure ease of use.
For the screw thread for attachment mounting at the leading edge of lens barrel, the diameter of 52 mm was adopted as standard for daily use lenses to allow compatible application of filters and other accessories.
In addition, the aperture-stop graduations were evenly spaced, and the Nikkor Auto series of lenses were provided with our original mechanism to allow coupling to the exposure meter Nikon Meter through the claw on top of the aperture ring.
Expanding our market
Broadening our product range to lower-price models of SLR
Around 1955, the leisure-oriented times started. In addition, as the postwar generation nuclear family increased, cameras became more widely popular and the market expanded focusing on the lower-priced 35 mm (135) format lens shutter cameras offering ease of operation for amateurs and the coupled exposure meter.
Nikon had been based on the corporate strategy of "ensuring superiority in the high-end camera market" and thus, we had no lower-price popular model at that time around 1955 to answer the demand and then failed to increase the sales of camera.
The (front) conversion lens 35mm F4, 90mm F4 was made available optionally to accommodate the wide-angle and telephoto photography.
In actuality, however, in the lower-priced model market, the coupled range finder lens shutter cameras were prevailing, there were many similar products from competitors and we were exposed to hard fight. Then in April 1962, we released the NIKKOREX 35II (35/2) (with Nikkor 50mm f/2.5 (fixed)) by considerably modifying the internal design of NIKKOREX 35 to increase the durability and also by reducing the price to 19,800 yen.
On the other hand, the mainline high-end models shifted to Nikon F and other SLR cameras after the production of 35 mm rangefinder focal-plane shutter cameras reached the peak of 130,000 in 1959.
Introduction of Nikomat
While the 35 mm SLR cameras were enjoying popularity, popular models, lower-priced models, EE integrated models and other new models appeared in succession. Accordingly the sales war became intensified, and the influence spread also to our popular model SLR cameras. Then, in July 1965, we introduced the SLR cameras, Nikomat FT and Nikomat FS, to substitute as the sister versions of Nikon F for NIKKOREX F (1962).
| Viewfinder | Pentaprism fixed type |
|---|---|
| Lens aperture | Full-automatic preset type with stop-down button |
| Mirror | Quick-return type with mirror-up facility |
| Finder | Eye-level type |
| Focusing screen | Micro-prism type |
| Metering system | TTL entire region TTL metering at full aperture, Metering range: f/1.4 at 1/4 sec. to f/11 at 1/1,000 sec. at ASA (the present ISO) 100 |
| Shutter | Vertical running metal focal plane (B, 1 to 1/1,000 sec) |
| Flash sync. | M and X, automatic time-lag adjustment, Speedlight synchronized at 1/125 sec. |
| Dimensions | Approx. 148x95x88mm (with 50 mm f/2) |
| Weight | Approx. 745g (body alone) |
Development of all-weather camera NIKONOS
In May 1961, the French Aqualung (simplified diving apparatus) maker LA SPIROTECHNIQUE developed a new type of 135-format watertight camera Calypso (named for a nymph in Greek mythology), and contacted us out through the then Teikoku Sanso KK (the present Teisan Co.) about production and marketing.
In 1956 we had developed a housing to hold the Nikon S2 for underwater photography, and introduced the underwater camera in May under the brand name of Nikon Marine. Then we made improvements by combining also the bodies of SP and S3 in addition to the body of S2 (No. 66141001 and later) with W-Nikkor 3.5cm f/2.5 and W-Nikkor 2.8cm f/3.5 lenses to allow use of W-Nikkor 3.5cm f/1.8 lens. However, the housing-based Nikon Marine was heavy and expensive, and quite different from Calypso in the technological and functional aspects as well as in marketability.
Realizing that this product involved original ideas, had sufficiently high performance, and its export potential was promising with higher marketability, we formed a technical tie-up with LA SPIROTECHNIQUE in January 1962, and acquired the exclusive production rights and also the exclusive sales rights except in France and EEC (the European Economic Community of that time).
The watertight camera offered a variety of features including those listed below, with the aid of perfect air-tightness by the O-ring and perfect waterproofing in the die-cast sections.
- 1.Compact and lightweight, thereby ensuring easy and simple operation,
- 2.Useful in many application fields as an all-weather camera not only underwater (usable to a water depth of 50 m for photography) but also on land, and
- 3.More cost-effective compared to the conventional housing-based design.
Reinforcing the sales promotion activities
Production of cameras in Japan exceeded 1 million in 1956 and remained active for the decade with a growth rate of over 10%. In 1962, Japan surpassed West Germany (Federal Republic of Germany), the leading camera supplier, in both production and sales, and became the number one camera producer in the world. Japan surpassed West Germany in 1967 in export volume and in 1964 in export amount.
In the domestic market, in response to the reduction of the commodity tax in 1962 to 20% from 30%, the price of cameras also dropped, thereby attracting consumers, which contributed to the earnings of camera makers, leading to consistent increases in revenues and profits for individual makers.
On the other hand, however, sales competition became more intense. Around 1965, discount products from supermarkets and other sources appeared on the end market, and underselling of Japanese cameras occurred also on the international market around 1963 and it was urged to take proper countermeasure.
As the competition to offer new models and reduce the list prices became increasingly fierce, we reinforced the tie-up with retail stores and carried sales promotion campaigns, focusing on the users directly.
As mentioned above, backed up by the high appraisal and reliance from customers of Nikon F and Nikkor lens series, we actively carried out promotional sale and advertising activities and established a footing towards a "World-wide Nikon."
Tokyo Olympic Games and Nikon
Shift of leading news photo equipment to 35 mm camera from Speed Graphic
A battery of Nikon F cameras
The Olympic Games are watched by all the world with keen interest, thus offering a theater of activity for the news cameramen to compete with each other. Therefore, every company in every country focused all its efforts and used new and powerful equipment.
At the Olympic Games at Helsinki (Finland) in 1952, the cameras of the then Nippon Kogaku KK first appeared as the news photography cameras for the Olympics. At that time, Nikon S-type was used only to take snapshots of participants on the spot.
From the Melbourne Olympics (Australia) in 1956, Nikon S2 (1954) came to take an active part in photographing the competitions as a substitute camera for Speed Graphic.
Then, in the Rome Olympics in 1960 (Italy), the leading news-photography role was transferred to the 35 mm camera, and the news cameramen from all parts of the world hung the Nikon SP (1957) or S3 (1958) around their neck, and the F (1959) and Nikkor telephoto lenses were used in the stands, leading to an expanded arena for Nikon cameras.
Especially in cases when the photographic location could not be changed, Auto NIKKOR Telephoto-Zoom 8.5 - 25cm f/4 - 4.5 demonstrated its outstanding performance.
Increasing sales of SLR camera Nikomat and interchangeable lenses
Growing business performance
The recession in 1965 touched bottom in the autumn of 1965 and the economy started taking off again, leading to the five-year "Izanagi" boom.
Our sales averaged annual growth rates of 26.3% from FY 1965 to 1970 through stimulated domestic demand and increased exports, during which the sales exceeded the 10 billion yen mark in March 1959 (100th business term).
During that period, the camera division consistently took the initiative in bolstering profitability, and the domestic sales and exports both kept increasing owing to the robust sales of Nikon F series and also Nikomat series and Nikkor lens.
However, the boom started to decline in the autumn of 1969, and the depression started to hang over the country near the end of the Japan International Exposition EXPO '70 held at Senri, Osaka from March thru September 1970.
Despite the depression, the camera division showed successful growth in sales involving the high-end SLR cameras, and the glass division also made a good showing in the cutthroat competition in the industry, and the camera and glass divisions dealing with durable consumer goods made up for the dullness in the equipment and machinery divisions.
Contributions by Nikomat and interchangeable lenses
The camera industry formed a counter-recession cartel in June 1965 to improve the gap between supply capacity and actual demand, and to take measures to combat the recession such as increasing the exports, promoting the shift to high-end models, developing new models and improving the distribution network for promotion of demand. This was successful. In addition, owing to the special procurement boom caused by the Vietnam War in 1966, the exports grew. As a result, the economy recovered rapidly and then the counter-recession cartel was canceled in March 1966.
| 1963 | 1966 | 1969 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nikon F series | 41 | 58 | 101 |
| NIKKOREX F | 18 | 0 | - |
| Nikomat series | - | 69 | 133 |
| NIKKOREX 35II | 21 | - | - |
| NIKKOREX ZOOM35 | 8 | 0 | - |
| Nikon AUTO35 | (21) | 3 | - |
| Interchangeable lenses for F (standard lens not included) | 59 | 100 | 207 |
Note:
The values in parentheses refer to 1964 data.
Product and company names in this article are trademarks, registered trademarks, or products of their respective owners.
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Camera Chronicle
Archives of corporate history subject matter related to Nikon cameras, including rare materials, as well as product photos of cameras and lenses.