In 1959, Nippon Kōgaku introduced the Nikon F, an advanced mechanical single lens reflex ( SLR) camera that proved to be extraordinarily durable and reliable. The quality of these lenses attracted the attention of many professional photographers and photojournalists desiring better results from the small 35mm format. In parallel, the company produced a range of Nikkor lenses both in Leica mount and for its own rangefinder cameras. The Nikon I proved very successful, and was followed by a long line of rangefinder cameras. It was finally released as the Nikon in 1948. It is said that various names were considered, including Pentax, Nicca or Nikorette. The rangefinder camera was inspired by the German Contax and Leica. The TLR, called Nikoflex, was shelved because of problems to find an adequate leaf shutter. Īfter the war, Nippon Kōgaku decided to produce cameras for civil use, and two projects were started: a 6×6cm TLR and a 35mm rangefinder camera. From 1934, the company supplied lenses to Seiki Kōgaku for the early Canon cameras.ĭuring World War II the company expanded significantly, supplying optical equipment to the Japanese military, including various aerial cameras. The first lens mounted on a camera for civil use was the Anytar 12cm f/4.5 made in the early 1930s, renamed Nikkor in 1932. After the departure of Acht, the lens design department was taken over by Sunayama Kakuya (砂山角野). The company's first camera lenses were designed in the 1920s by Heinrich Acht, who was invited with a team of German engineers (see Nippon Kōgaku lenses before 1945). (日本光学工業㈱) with the merger of two Japanese optical firms with military connections. The company was founded in 1917 as Nippon Kōgaku Kōgyō K.K.

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