Another milestone for Nikon, as Nikkor lens production soars

It's only been a year or so since we last reported on Nikon's having passed a landmark 70 million Nikkor lenses produced, but the company has already reached another impressive threshold.

In the 13 months since the company's 70 millionth Nikkor lens left the production line, Nikon's factories have turned out a staggering 10 million more optics, between the Nikon F and 1-mounts. That's sufficient to bring total production past the 80 million point.

The first Nikkor lens -- the F-mount Nikkor-S Auto 5cm f/2 -- shipped way back in 1959, and Nikon has now averaged close to 1.5 million lenses produced per year since the Nikkor line's debut. If the current production rate continues or ramps up even further, Nikon can look forward to passing the 100 million mark in just another couple of years time.

Nikon's announcement comes hot on the heels of one from arch-rival Canon, which recently turned out its 90 millionth EF-mount lens.

 

A mountain of glass: Nikon's selection of Nikkor-branded lenses is vast and impressive.