While remaining behind makers like Germany’s Leica in rangefinder production, in the area of single lens reflex cameras, the high precision, durability, and design of Japanese-made cameras has been unsurpassed since the introduction of the Nikon F. Following in the footsteps of Nikon, Japanese makers like Canon, Pentax, Minolta, and Olympus continued to evolve through fierce competition, securing a Japanese monopoly in the global SLR market. Professional photographers worldwide have come to rely on Japanese-made SLRs because of their durability and accuracy. Extremely resistant to weather and shock, with minimal variation between components, it’s no exaggeration to say that there is no area of photography, be it journalism, sports, advertising, or art, that Japanese SLRs aren’t ideally suited to. Their mechanical precision means that older models can remain in use with regular maintenance. Particularly in film cameras, nearly any component, barring electronics, can be repaired, making them popular with camera lovers worldwide to this day.

Although remaining behind Germany’s Leica, Japanese-made rangefinder cameras have made great improvements. With matching Leica, whose cameras were known for their high-optical quality and beautifully designed viewfinders, as their goal they developed uniquely Japanese innovations. Both Nikon and Canon initially produced rangefinder models, but to avoid coemption with the vastly superior Leica, the shifted to SLRs. However, in 1999 the BESSA and ZEISS IKON rangefinders released by COSINA, with their stunning viewfinder optics, reached parity with the German giant. Mechanical shutter examples still fetch high prices and are a significant presence in the used camera market.

Japanese-made cameras have created a place for themselves at the top of the global camera pantheon, not just for SLRs and rangefinders, but also other types of cameras. In the 1970s, inexpensive point-and-shoot cameras for home use took the world by storm, leading to a world where there was a camera in nearly every household. In particular, the OLUYMPUS PEN was a smash hit and still popular on the used camera market. Additionally, Kyocera, having acquired Yashika and entering the camera industry, released their G and T series under the CONTAX brand, which gained worldwide acclaim and established a new genre outside of the SLR category. In particular, the G series was highly praised for its high-quality body, excellent viewfinder, unique autofocus system, and high-fidelity line of CONTAX lenses that was released alongside them, remaining popular to this day. Since then, with the release of new products featuring zoom lenses and sophisticated overall design, they laid the foundation that cemented Japan’s status as a cameral superpower.

The quality of a photograph is more up the quality of the lens than the camera itself. A camara body is essentially a dark box with a shutter that opens to allow in the light from the lens. Beyond a mere path for the light to travel, the lens is the element that determines the color, sharpness, and style of the resulting photograph, making it the most important component for photography. Many excellent lenses are made in Europe and the United States, including those made by Leica, but for SLR cameras, both Nikon and Canon produced not only the bodies, but also a continuous series of ever-improving lenses. Earning praise at international sporting events like the Olympics, where nearly every photographer could be seen with both cameras and lenses from one of the two companies. In addition to their image reproduction capabilities, the hid precision of Japanese-made lenses is unsurpassed by makers from other countries, achieving a degree of perfection that could itself be called a work of art.