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Nikkor Lens Produces Reaches 90M Milestone
4 November 2014
Nikon has announced "total production of Nikkor lenses for Nikon interchangeable lens cameras reached 90 million at the end of October." The category includes interchangeable lenses for both its SLR/dSLR cameras and the Nikon 1 system.
Canon reached the 90 million milestone with its EF lenses (which does not include its earlier FD interchangeable mount lenses) in May 2013. In April, the company announced it had surpassed the 100 million milestone.
In the news release below, the company explained the derivation of the name Nikkor:
Nikkor is Nikon's brand of photographic lenses. The Nikkor name arose from adding "r" -- a common practice in the naming of photographic lenses at the time the name was established -- to "Nikko," the Romanized abbreviation for Nippon Kogaku K.K., the original name used when the company was established.
For more information see the news release below.
Total Production of Nikkor Lenses for Interchangeable Lens Cameras Reaches 90 Million
TOKYO -- Nikon Corp. has announced that total production of Nikkor lenses for Nikon interchangeable lens cameras reached 90 million at the end of October. Moreover, total production of Nikkor lenses equipped with the Silent Wave Motor, the autofocus motor developed exclusively by Nikon, reached 50 million.
In 1959, Nikon (then Nippon Kogaku K.K.) released the Nikon F as well as its first Nikkor lenses for Nikon SLR cameras, including the Nikkor-S Auto 5cm f2. The Nikkor tradition has continued over the many years since those first lenses were released.
Nikon continues to actively release new Nikkor lenses utilizing the advanced optical technologies cultivated over its long history and to expand its lineup of interchangeable lenses for Nikon 1, Advanced Cameras with Interchangeable lenses, the first of which was released in October 2011. Total production of Nikkor lenses reached 85 million in January with production continuing at a steady rate since.
In addition, total production of Nikkor lenses equipped with the Silent Wave Motor, the autofocus motor developed by Nikon, has reached 50 million.
Nikon's SWM converts "traveling waves" into rotational energy to focus the optics, which achieves extremely quiet autofocus photography. In just eighteen years since the 1996 release of the Ai AF-S Nikkor 300mm f2.8D IF-ED, one of the first lenses for which the SWM was adopted, total production of Nikkor lenses equipped with the SWM has reached fifty million. To date, a total of 72 zoom lenses, fixed focal length (prime) lenses and Micro lenses covering a broad range of focal lengths, from ultra wide-angle to super telephoto, equipped with the SWM have been released for FX- and DX-format dSLR cameras. In addition, one fast, medium-telephoto, fixed focal length (prime) lens equipped with the SWM has been released for Nikon's Advanced Cameras with Interchangeable Lenses.
All Nikkor lenses for SLR cameras released since 2004, except PC-E lenses, have been equipped with the SWM.
Among the most recent products for which the SWM was adopted is the AF-S Nikkor 400mm f2.8E FL ED VR, released in August. This lens, compatible with Nikon FX-format dSLR cameras, represents a new generation of high-performance super-telephoto lenses with which a significantly lighter weight has been achieved.
In addition, Nikon responded to a variety of user needs in September by adding the ultra wide-angle AF-S Nikkor 20mm f1.8-GB ED to its lineup of fast, f1.8 fixed focal length (prime) lenses for Nikon FX-format cameras. Naturally, the AF-S Nikkor 20mm f1.8-GB ED utilizes the latest optical design technologies to achieve superior resolution. What's more, adoption of Nikon's Nano Crystal Coat lens coating controls generation of flare and ghost and adoption of ED lens elements achieves superior rendering capability with little chromatic aberration. The lens is extremely portable due to its compact size and light weight and it makes photographic expression utilizing a wide-angle and beautiful blur characteristics possible.
In June, Nikon released the 1 Nikkor VR 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 for Nikon 1, Advanced Camera with Interchangeable Lenses. This super-telephoto zoom lens with a maximum focal length equivalent to 810mm (equivalent in 35mm format), is the world's smallest and lightest lens in its class. The current lineup of 1 Nikkor lenses consists of twelve lenses with focal lengths ranging from 6.7mm to 300mm (angles of view equivalent to 18mm to 810mm in 35mm format) for coverage of a broad range of focal lengths, from ultra wide-angle to super-telephoto.
The Nikkor brand
Nikkor is Nikon's brand of photographic lenses. The Nikkor name arose from adding "r" -- a common practice in the naming of photographic lenses at the time the name was established -- to "Nikko," the Romanized abbreviation for Nippon Kogaku K.K., the original name used when the company was established.
Nikon's own high-quality standards are applied to all stages from initial design and development to final product release for design that responds to user needs and production system and inspections that ensure the superior quality of Nikkor lenses.
Nikon's lineup of lenses for cameras with interchangeable lenses currently consists of more than 90 types of lenses, including ultra wide-angle to super-telephoto lenses, fisheye lenses, zoom lenses, Micro lenses and PC-E lenses that support a wide variety of applications, as well as 1 Nikkor lenses for Advanced Camera with Interchangeable lenses.
In 2013, Nikon celebrated the 80th anniversary of Nikkor lenses with a variety of activities conveying the advantages of Nikkor lenses, under the theme of "Art meets Technology makes History including creation of the "Eyes of Nikon" photo collection and cooperation in the creation of "Masters of the Light," a collection of artistic photographs captured with Nikkor lenses. The celebration continued in 2014 with the Eyes of Nikon Photo Exhibition held at Nikon Plaza Shanghai.