About Nikon
Reputation acquired through excellence
Our name says it all
There is a name that's synonymous with 'the world's finest lenses'- and that name is Nikon. A global leader since 1917, Nikon has been giving millions of people a better point of view with the world's most trusted and desired optical products.
While most people link Nikon with superior camera lenses, many do not know that we began manufacturing high quality premium eyeglass lenses in 1946, years before introducing the first Nikon mass-market camera.
From single vision to progressive lenses, Nikon offers everyone proven optical design expertise and the highest quality materials and coatings for superior visual performance.
Proven History of Excellence
1946
First Nikon spectacle lens- 'Pointal'- is marketed to the consumer.
1950
An article in the NY Times starts a 'word of mouth' campaign about the superior clarity of Nikon lenses- insisting that Nikon lenses be used on their photo shoot.
1964
Nikon cameras and high clarity lenses are chosen to chronicle the Antarctic mission.
1971
NASA selects a Nikon camera and high precision lens for the Apollo 15 mission; now standard NASA flight equipment.
1983
Nikon introduces the first anti glare coating with true, built in scratch resistance. This technology becomes immediately popular in Japan, where nearly 100% of lenses now feature this type of coating.
2000
Nikon introduces the highest index material available- 1.74- making Nikon a world leader in thinner,sharper,clearer lenses in the optical lens market.
2007
Nikon introduces SeeCoat, Nikon's most scratch resistant AR to date.


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