Nikon Museum Holds Special Exhibition “Secrets Behind the Viewfinder — Take a look at the world through the camera's eye”

Visitors Can Touch, Look Through, and Handle Cameras to Experience How Viewfinders Work

September 10, 2026

The Nikon Museum, operated by Nikon Corporation, will hold the special exhibition “Secrets Behind the Viewfinder — Take a look at the world through the camera's eye” beginning October 22, 2026.

Rangefinder, single-lens reflex (SLR), and mirrorless cameras — each camera system offers a different view of the world through the viewfinder. This exhibition consists of three areas where visitors can experience viewfinder mechanisms of each system firsthand. With actual cameras, cutaway models, and demonstration models, visitors can explore the differences in how each system works and how the world appears through them.

By looking through camera viewfinders and experiencing their features, visitors can gain a deeper understanding of different viewfinder systems and rediscover the enjoyment of shooting with cameras.

Exhibition Overview

Area 1: See Inverted Images

When light passes through a camera lens, the image is inverted upside down and reversed from left to right. With large-format cameras, this inverted image can be seen on the ground glass focusing screen at the rear of the camera. Why does the viewfinder show the image in the correct orientation? Using this question as a starting point, this area explores the mechanisms behind the viewfinder.

Area 2: Experience the Secrets of the Viewfinder

Visitors can explore rangefinder, SLR, and mirrorless systems through actual cameras, cutaway models, and demonstration models, learning how each type of viewfinder presents images in the correct orientation. This area also features episodes related to Nikon cameras.

Area 3: Look Inside the Camera

Components from a dismantled Nikon SP rangefinder camera and a Nikon F SLR camera will be on display. By comparing the two cameras, visitors can observe both shared components and parts unique to each system. This comparison provides a deeper understanding of the differences between two systems and how the images are viewed.

Name	“Secrets Behind the Viewfinder — Take a look at the world through the camera's eye”
Period	October 22, 2026 (Thursday) - February 27, 2027 (Saturday)
Venue	Nikon Museum
Admission fee	Free

Details about the exhibition:
https://www.nikon.com/company/corporate/museum/special/002_secrets_behind_the_viewfinder/

Overview of Nikon Museum

Name	Nikon Museum
Address	Nikon Corporation Global Headquarters / Innovation Center 1st Floor 1-5-20, Nishioi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-8601, Japan
Access	Approx. 4 minutes’ walk from Nishioi Station (JR Yokosuka Line/Shonan-Shinjuku Line) Approx. 12 minutes’ walk from Oi-machi Station (JR Keihin-Tohoku Line, Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit Rinkai Line, Tokyu Oi-machi Line) Approx. 10 minutes’ walk from Shimo-shimmei Station (Tokyu Oi-machi Line) *There are no visitor parking facilities at the Nikon Museum. Please visit the museum using public transportation.
Opening hours	10:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m. (last admission at 5:00 p.m.)
Closed days	Mondays, Sundays, public holidays, and other days as determined by the Museum Including national holidays that fall on Saturdays *Closures or changes to the opening hours of the Nikon Museum may occur depending on weather and/or public transport conditions.
Admission	Free
Contact	https://www.nikon.com/company/corporate/museum/form/