Based on the concepts of "superb image quality" "ultra-high speed" and "ease of use," the Nikon D1 was a lens-interchangeable AF digital SLR camera that was revolutionary in various aspects such as image quality, speed, dimensions, weight and price.

This project was launched in 1996 directly under the president, and was intended to develop a new and genuine digital camera product within two years. The challenge was taken up by about 10 people from design and other divisions. Initially, team leaders asked for three years on the grounds that two years was insufficient since the company did not possess much accumulated digital technology at that time. However, the response was "Nikon does not have that much time right now" and the company endeavored to make it happen in just two short years. In 1998 Nikon released the COOLPIX 900 compact digital camera and the professional D1 digital SLR camera in September the following year. This was a ground-breaking device that offered the comprehensive strengths of excellent image quality, operability and functionality while being only about a third of the price of competitor's products, at JPY 650,000, thereby spurring on the popularization of digital SLR cameras. Since then, Nikon has continued to produce advanced flagship models exceeding professional expectations, right up to the new D5 Nikon digital SLR camera.

Mauna Kea, Hawaii rises at 4,205 meters above sea level. As one of the peaks of the world suitable for astronomical observation, numerous countries have brought many telescopes to this location. One of these is the Subaru Telescope, which features the High Dispersion Spectrograph (HDS) and Faint Object Camera And Spectrograph (FOCAS) devices, developments in which Nikon was involved. Research with optical telescopes usually involves three technologies – observation equipment to take photographs, high-dispersion spectrometer equipment, and high-sensitivity low-dispersion spectrometers. With the Subaru Telescope, these consist of the primary focus camera, high-dispersion spectrometer (HDS), and low-dispersion spectrometer (FOCAS).

HDS is a spectroscope that sorts the spectrum of light arriving from distant celestial objects. High-dispersion spectrography of celestial objects plays a role in clarifying the historical origins of various elements by investigating the elemental composition of ancient stars formed around the time of the beginning of the universe. Nikon was responsible for production of the FOCAS body and its main lenses, a device with the power to discover distant galaxies seemingly at the end of the universe.

FOCAS made its first observations in February of 2000. Not only has this device been employed to discover galaxies 12.8 billion light years distant, but also staked its claim with nine of the ten furthest deep space objects announced in 2006 having been found by the Subaru Telescope's prime focus camera.

Announced in April of 2005, HDS has discovered stars with the lowest iron composition in the history of observation, and has been successful in measuring elemental compositions. These bodies have only 1/250,000th of the iron composition of the sun. This has led to high anticipation of shedding more light on the initial elemental composition of the early universe.

For advanced research in the life sciences, optical microscopes are essential, universally sought-after instruments for observing living cells and tissue in detail. However, to view objects 200 nanometers or smaller, such as protein molecules which are too small to be seen with the resolution of conventional optical microscopes, electron microscopes were used. Two ultra-high resolution microscopes achieve resolution that far surpasses that of the conventional optical microscope, realizing observation of the detailed structure of living cells down to the molecular level.

N-SIM employs technology called structured illumination microscopy. This revolutionary technology uses striped illumination and converts the moiré fringes that result into image data of the micro structure to reproduce detailed structural shapes through spatial frequency analysis, and achieves a resolution (115 nanometers) about twice that of conventional optical microscopy. Thus, this enables more detailed observation of living tissue and cells.

N-STORM probabilistic rebuild optical microscopy. This system reconstructs high-resolution fluorescent images by combining position information of individually dyed molecules detected with high precision from multiple fluorescent images. It attains ultra-high resolution roughly 10 times that of optical microscopy, enabling intracellular observation that is a step further toward the molecular level.

Ultra-high resolution microscopy technologies provide even greater support to cutting-edge research in universities as well as biological, medical and healthcare institutions.

High-accuracy measurement is indispensable in order for advanced processing technologies to attain the extremely strict levels of precision demanded in the precision machining workplace. Conventionally, contact-type measuring equipment was used to inspect machined parts, however this method does not lend itself to quick turnaround, and shortening the time for measurement and reducing measurement points can lead to incomplete evaluation.

Instead, employing lasers to illuminate workpieces to acquire data from many points enables measurement with non-contact 3D measurement. Previously, non-contact 3D measurement equipment was not commercialized in the high-precision field because its accuracy ranged only from several hundred to several tens of micrometers, while the field required higher levels of precision.

The HN-6060 is a non-contact multi-sensor 3D metrology system developed by Nikon that utilizes light-cutting sensors to provide non-contact measurement with a level of precision on a par with contact measurement. Also, with high-speed digital measurement data conversion, the system achieves high efficiency with 120,000 data items acquired per second.

Whereas items such as gears once required a lot of time to measure, this high-speed, high-precision system correctly assesses the form, from gear teeth tips through to gear valleys, in just a few minutes.

The Z 7 is the first FX-format mirrorless camera employing the newly developed Nikon Z mount system.

The development of the Z mount system started with a simple idea:to capture space as it really is. Based on the diverse array of knowledge accumulated during the 59-year history of the F mount, optical design that can transmit light to an image sensor in its purest form was pursued. This resulted in the creation of a new mount featuring a 55-mm inner diameter and 16-mm flange focal distance. As the core of the Z mount system, it provides tremendous possibilities for raising optical performance to a different dimension. With the greatly enhanced flexibility of lens design, advanced lenses that deliver outstanding performance in brightness, resolution and focus accuracy can be created, while unique lenses such as an extremely fast lens, a lens offering an unprecedented focal length, and a lens with individual rendering characteristics have also been made possible.

Adopting a backside illumination CMOS sensor with focal-plane phase-detection AF pixels, the Z 7 provides 45.7 effective megapixels while supporting a standard sensitivity range of ISO 64 to 25600. The 493 focus points enable broad coverage of approximately 90% of the imaging area both horizontally and vertically. An electronic viewfinder that utilizes superior optical and image-processing technologies achieves a clear and natural view. The compact and light body realized by a mirrorless camera ensures secure shooting with an easy-to-hold grip while also providing superb durability.