Nikon at a glance
Nikon is a Japanese maker of cameras, lenses and optical equipment, founded in Tokyo in 1917 as Nippon Kōgaku. Its F-mount SLR cameras, starting with the Nikon F in 1959, became standard tools for photojournalists for decades. Today Nikon makes Z-mount mirrorless cameras and, since buying the American cinema camera maker RED in 2024, cinema cameras.
History
1917. Nippon Kōgaku was founded as an optical company.
1948. The first Nikon-branded camera, the rangefinder Nikon I, was released.
1950s. Nikkor lenses became known in the West after photojournalists such as David Douglas Duncan used them in the Korean War.
1959. The Nikon F introduced the F mount, used on Nikon SLRs for more than 60 years.
1988. The company was renamed Nikon Corporation.
1999. The Nikon D1 was one of the first digital SLRs made for professionals.
2018. The Z 6 and Z 7 introduced the Z mount for mirrorless cameras.
2024. Nikon acquired RED Digital Cinema.
Systems and mounts
Z mount. Mirrorless cameras, full frame (FX) and APS-C (DX). The mount has a 55mm diameter and a 16mm flange distance, much shorter than the F mount, so F-mount lenses can be used with the FTZ adapter.
F mount. SLR cameras from 1959, film and digital. Today the DSLRs are mainly of historical interest, though many are still in use.
Cinema. The ZR and RED cameras for video production.
Current Z cameras
Z-series cameras listed on Nikon’s global lineup page (imaging.nikon.com), checked on November 3, 2026:
Professional full frame: Z9, Z8.
Enthusiast full frame: Z6III, Z5II, Zf (with retro controls).
APS-C: Z50II, Zfc, Z30.
Some earlier models, such as the Z7II and Z6II, may still be listed or on sale in some regions.
Photographers who used Nikon
Photographers in Photopedia who have worked with Nikon include David Douglas Duncan, Nick Ut, Neil Leifer, Walter Iooss, Thomas Hoepker and Jerry Ghionis.
Sources: Nikon (Wikipedia), Nikon Z-mount (Wikipedia), imaging.nikon.com (current range, November 2026).
Last updated: November 2026
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