Nikon is quickly approaching its 100th anniversary, and the company is celebrating this incredible achievement by releasing a limited-edition collection of top-tier products and accessories with unique finishes and collectible items. So, if you are a die-hard Nikon fan, have been waiting to pick up that new camera or lens, or just love photographic history, this is your chance to get your hands on collectible cameras, lenses, and other gear from one of the world’s most respected camera and optics companies.
Leading the pack in more ways than one is the 100th Anniversary Edition D5 DSLR. As Nikon’s current flagship camera, it offers nearly unmatched performance and signifies the dramatic advancements in imaging the company has made over many decades of engineering and innovation since the release of the Nikon F in 1959. This version comes with dual XQD card slots and sports a metallic-gray finish, along with the Nikon 100th-anniversary logo, an exclusive body cap, and a commemorative message signifying Nikon’s contribution to space exploration. Owners can also get a personalized engraving if they so choose, and the camera comes with a premium Italian leather strap, a booklet about Nikon’s work with space projects, and a metal travel case that is engraved with your camera’s serial number.
While not as storied as the full-frame camera legacy, Nikon has the D500 to represent the power and portability of its DX-format DSLRs. The 100th Anniversary Edition of this camera offers all the speed and performance of the base model, but with a metallic-gray finish, a commemorative logo, and an exclusive body cap. As with its bigger brother, the D5, the D500 comes with its own custom metal travel case and premium Italian leather strap, both customized with 100th-Anniversary logos.
It isn’t just cameras that get the anniversary treatment; you can also pick up the AF-S NIKKOR 70-200m f/2.8E FL ED VR Lens in a 100th Anniversary Edition, which was chosen for its reliability and performance that make it a staple of many professional bags. This model, of course, features the metallic-gray finish and commemorative logo found on the cameras, but also includes a collector’s display that shows off all 22 of the lens’s elements and includes an engraved plate with your lens’s serial numbers.
If one lens just isn’t enough, Nikon is putting together a 100th Anniversary Edition Triple Lens Set that includes the holy trinity of its f/2.8 zooms. NIKKOR existed for over a decade before the first Nikon camera and the company’s optics have always been among the best you could get. This collection provides you with the AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED, AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR, and AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR, all with custom metallic-gray finishes and commemorative logos. And, as is to be expected at this point, all three lenses are packaged in a custom metal travel case with a plate engraved with the serial number that all three lenses share.
Since Nikon was an optics company first, it has made sure to recognize some of its other achievements in the optical world with a few limited editions of its renowned binoculars. The 8x30 EII is among the models getting a 100th Anniversary edition treatment, with a metallic-gray finish and the commemorative logo. This binocular represents the beauty and quality of a classic design, reminiscent of the MIKRON A Type (8x30A) released in 1959; it features a lightweight Porro prism body, made from magnesium alloy, and outstanding ergonomics with a smooth central focus knob. It also comes with its own 100th-Anniversary Soft Case and Strap, but you need to act fast—only 400 copies of this edition will be produced.
While some of Nikon’s cameras have traveled to space, its latest WX series binoculars let us Earth-bound folk look up and see the night sky clearly. Available in WX 7x50 IF and WX 10x50 IF models, these signify some of the absolute best quality possible from a stargazing binocular by using outstanding optics, a wide field of view, and a Field Flattener Lens System, all developed over a century of optical engineering. They each feature a metallic-gray finish and a 100th-Anniversary logo, as well as a commemorative leather strap. But, with only 100 being made of both sizes combined, these will become true collector’s items extremely quickly.
You don’t need to buy brand new equipment to get some 100th-Anniversary Nikon flair, however, because they are making available a Premium Camera Strap for you to personalize your existing equipment. Made from a premium Italian leather that is designed to wear with grace, this strap will offer comfort, in addition to style. The strap also sports both the 100th-Anniversary logo and a classic company logo along with an embossed Nikon across the center. This strap will be available in brown or black. Alongside this strap is a brown Premium Leather Bag that will be sure to hold your gear secure and protected.
Along with all this gear, Nikon has a couple of items geared specifically to the collector looking for some items for the desk or to display on a wall. This includes a Miniature Nikon F Camera, which is an incredibly accurate 1/2-scale replica made from die-cast metal. The camera was Nikon’s first SLR in 1959 and, here, it is equipped with the classic NIKKOR-S Auto 50mm f/1.4 lens—and some parts can even be moved. It also comes with a black resin display plate with a clear acrylic cover and includes a replica of the original user manual cover. If you are looking for more style, Nikon has developed the Crystal Creation Nikon Model 1, which is a near life-size Swarovski crystal model of the first camera with the Nikon name.
Another collector’s item is the 100th-Anniversary Pin Collection, a set of 25 pewter pins that show off Nikons most important camera models, some of Nikon’s incredible binoculars, and the original company logos. These pins come with a special metal frame engraved with a serial number and a booklet that goes into detail about each featured model. If you want to show your Nikon pride as you go about your day, there is going to be a 100th-Anniversary NIPPON KOGAKU T-Shirt in women’s and men’s sizing.
36 Comments
Felicidades a mi compañia favorita Nikon por su 100º aniversario soy un fanatico de esta marca,mi primera camara fue y seguira siendo Nikon saludos y abrazos fraternos.
Parabens, 100 anos, esperamos muito mais sucessos nos proximos 1000 anos., aceito um pin de presente
ola sou nikonzeiro, des de o ano 2000 então são 17 anos de nikon, gosto da nikon parabéns a Nikon e que ela continue desenvolvendo as melhores cameras para nos!
Gostaria de ganhar um presente da nikon qualquer que seja sera bem vindo obrigado!
A Nikon owner since my first one 50 years ago. Nikkor lenses are some of the best, but Nikon cameras are no longer the industry leader. Nikon's attitude toward their product owners and their prospective market leaves a lot to be desired. The only reason I bought my most recent Nikon is image quality. The way Nikon chose to celebrate their 100 year anniversary (with gray finish and cheap logos) is shameful. And, those pewter trinkets should have been given away free. What Nikon really should be doing is either keeping up with or, better still, leading the rest of the camera and optics industry with the more popular camera features, options, and accessories at competitive prices. Unfortunately Nikon's introspective self-important attitude has relegated them to a far less frequented corner of the photo equipment market. Little wonder Nikon has recently been looking for ways to remain afloat.
Jon,
That was very well stated! I love my D3s and my 8 Nikkor lenses to pair with it. I know exactly my limitations with it and what to expect. I was hoping to take another step forward with pixel size for commercial shoots but there dedication to keeping a profession at it's best is lacking to say the least.
Again, excellent point made.
Gary
Jon and Gary,
I concur - "very well stated!". I currently have a D810. Love what I can do with it and the 3 Nikkor lenses I have. But, though minor, some of the rubber "padding" on the camera's grip portion is "peeling" off slowly after just under 2 years - I had a D300 who's padding stayed in place for at least 5 years. The D300 was a work horse (and still is though it's starting to show its age after 8+ years) through practically all conditions - rain, snow, sleet, high heat and smoke etc. etc. Thus far, with the D800 series one has to be much more careful.
Before the D810, I had a D800 briefly. Once I was shooting an endurance race and got the camera splashed with drops of muddy water in three places. I tried to wipe/dab the stuff off pronto, but it didn't help. When I went to Nikon regarding the sticking "on/off" switch, they refused to fix it under warranty citing water damage - this is even after maintaining that the camera was weather resistant. When I asked what that meant, Nikon couldn't answer. It cost me around $700 to fix it. I got rid of it soon afterward.
I too am waiting to see what Nikon will do with the next gen. of their top end cameras (D800 series, the D5...). This anniversary edition stuff is a bit disappointing. I do not think that "looks" make a camera professional. In the D810, what about a more robust frame rate, built in WiFi, perhaps a built in user switchable GPS, a broader standard focus field (other friends agree that it seems that Nikon shrunk the focus field in the D800 series for some reason - it would be nice if the standard focus system covered more of the area seen through the view finder)? And, what about giving us an option to have a grid that emulates the law of thirds, as opposed to quarters? And what about making the cameras truly weather resistant, or better? If you're going to call something pro, then focus (pardon the pun) on the function, the guts, the reliability, the endurance, the versatility and less on the looks (though good looks are nice too, but not without the guts).
Okay, that's a bit long. I'll close with this - Nikon isn't the only company that appears to be catering to the superficial aspects of their products. Sadly, there appears to be a trend with a number of tech companies to be on the forefront of "thinner, lighter, more colorful and good looking" while forgetting about the professional aspects of their products and yet retaining the "Professional" label.
Hope Nikon kicks the trend soon.
Vic
Indeed. Let somebody save face, and move them on. Time for new leadership, if its not too late.
I'm only surprised at all the Canon fans in here trying to blow up the better equipment. Jealous anyone?
Perhaps I should rush and order the magical pin to improve the quality of my photos! ;)
Forty years ago, I was at an international rally of Airstream owners. Face it, folks who could (and can today) afford to travel in an Airstream "Land Yacht" generally have a fair amount of disposable income. One of the larger Photographic companies ran a photography seminar for the attendees. People showed up with their Nikons, their Canons, their Bronica, Hasselblad, Leica, Yashica, Minolta and just about every brand of camera available at the time. They brought prints and transparencies to be critiqued by the professionals (and, if the truth were known, to show off yo the other attendees)
The folks running the show had slide projectors including a "Cabin Projector for 2 1/4" transparencies. They ran through hundreds of slides in the "Main" show. One set of transparencies in particular were spectacular. Murmers went through the crowd, avaryone was asking "What kind of camera took those photographs?" The folks finished the show and asked the photographer who shot those particular slides to come to the front and bring his camera and everyone except myself was shocked. You see, I recognized a number of the photographs, including ones of my sisters and little brother. No, they weren't my pictures, they were my Grandfather's. He came to stage carrying the camera he used all the time. A Kodak Motoroatic 35F.
As opposed to 40 years ago, the cameras today will just about do everything except wipe your ... nose; howev er, they can't think or know what the person using them wants the photograph to be. That the camera sets the stop and shutter speed, turns on the flash, counters camera shake and just about everything else that a skilled photographer of the not-so-recent past needed to master has made us, as communicators lazy, and that shows in our work. Lenses are now, generally better than the digital format can support, unless you are doing a photo-study of resolution graphs and graticules, you aren't going to see a lick of difference when it comes to the typical digital camera, with or without a mirror.
I selected a Nikon DSLR because I could mount the Bellows I use on my old F Photomic T and F Tn camera bodies. I reverse ring my 135mm onto the bellows and can manually focus to greater than a 1:1 ratio or even out to infinity, and I am in control of which stop and shutter speed I am using. I select the focus plane so as much or as little as I wish is either in or out of focus. If I had started with a Breech-lock Canon back in the 1960s, could I still use that bellows on a new Canaon DSLR? How about a micro 4/3rds? I can with my Nikon, no it isn't fully automatic everything, but I rarely use THOSE Settings anyway.
I remain,
The Old Soldering Gunslinger
I have been using Nikon since 1959 when I got my first one from Mr. Ehrenreich. He would be rolling in grave if he knew this was happening.
Nikon is "Jumping the Shark"
I wish today was April 1st, then I would know this was a joke! I cannot believe that Nikon is pulling this crap of "Anniversary Edition" for equipment that is already out, while Canon is blowing by them with new equipment. Unless Nikon comes out with new equipment they are showing no respect for the professionals who rely on their equipment to stay up-to-date and current in the industry! For the frist time in 15 years, I regret going with Nikon and not Canon!!! I have been waiting for the new D800 series camera and now look to convert to Canon.
I felt teh same way during the film era when Canon changed the lens mount of their camera and I felt that I was left holding a bag of bricks with several "L" lenses - switched to to Nikon and have regretted thus far but.... let's see what they do with the replacements of D810 and D5, hoefully soon with significant improvements!
With a smiles on their faces, Sony is watching this grand Limited Edition, 100th Aniversary announcement.
por siempre nikon.
I have had Nikon cameras through a career in photography and I feel sad that today they are in a downtrend. I hope they can pull out fast with the D820! Their csmeras have always had better dynamic range thsn most.
Anyway Congratulations on lasting this long... and many more!
You're kidding.
'Anniversary Editions' of professional equipment?
Pretty silly.
Surely Nikon has more coming for the 100th then 2 repackaged camera bodies and some collecable trinkets. This is like the fashion industry announcing new exictiing new super-models and then unveiling Miranda Kerrwith and Adriana Lima with a spay tan. I'm holding off on further comments for a few weeks. If I don't see a D820, I'll be back :-)
People do know that Nikon will be announcing several cameras and lenses in a few weeks for the 100th anniversay, right? The items in this article are not the big news for the 100th.
Maybe they can bring out a centennial edition of the Nikon "S". It might be a good entry into the micro-4/3 market...complete with matching Leica mount lenses?
Is it that bad...!! i am a big fan of Nikon
Things at Nikon so bad Japan has asked Fuji to buy a stake in it to keep it in Japan. No joke.
If that is true, and if Fuji, or anyone else, should move to assist Nikon, I certainly hope they will insist on having overall policy control. As much Nikon may be in need of financial assistance Nikon is in greater need of a major attitude adjustment.
special savings and price breaks would have been nice for a devoted customer base that helped get Nikon to 100 years.
Nothing here for me. Higher prices for logos just does not do anything for me. I want more functionality or just nothing.
Totaly agree, and there after sales servce is digracful.
Totaly agree, and there after sales service is digracful.
A PIN COLLECTION! Oh my Gaaaawd!
Move along folks,,, nothing to see here.
BIG WOOP!!
What??? Repackaged stuff for 100th anniversary? I was expecting the D820 ....... I am one of many heartbroken Nikonians!
EXACTLY, what a disappointment, (insert sad face here).
Just the old Leica trick of a limited edition offering nothing other than cosmetic benefits at significant price premiums.
As with Leica, I will not be tempted.
Try paying a NIkon price for a Leica. lol.
If you are not happy with Nikon, then go buy something else and quit your crying 😢!
If you are not happy with Nikon, then go buy something else and quit your crying 😢!