Nikon I, M and S
Nikon S (1951), chrome version | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Maker | Nikon (Nippon Kogaku K. K.) |
| Type | 35 mm rangefinder camera |
| Released | 1948 Nikon I, 1949 Nikon M, 1951 Nikon S |
| Production | 1948-1953 |
| Lens | |
| Lens mount | interchangeable lens, Nikon 'S' bayonet mount |
| Sensor/medium | |
| Film format | 35 mm |
| Film size | 36 mm × 24 mm |
| Focusing | |
| Focus | manual |
| Exposure/metering | |
| Exposure | manual |
| Shutter | |
| Shutter | mechanical |
| General | |
| Made in | Japan |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | Nikon S2 |
Nikon's rangefinder cameras, starting with the Nikon I in 1948, marked the entry of Nippon Kogaku K.K. into the photographic market, following its focus on optical instruments such as lenses and microscopes. These models, including the Nikon I, M, S, and subsequent series, utilized the S-Mount bayonet, inspired by the Contax RF system, and featured a compact design with a rangefinder viewfinder. They helped establish Nikon as a leading brand in professional photography until the shift to reflex cameras in the 1960s.