Text and pictures of photographic equipment of brands other than Nikon/Nikkor I´ve used will be uploaded as soon as possible.
Canon, Zeiss-Ikon, Leica, Contax, Hasselblad etc.
The history of photography started in Europe. Many camera and lens manufacturers were established more than 100 years ago. Probably Johann Christoph Voigtländer, who started his factory in 1756 in Vienna, has been one of the very first. In other European countries other camera and lens makers started a factory. Many of them disappeared rather quickly, others were taken over by larger and stronger competitors. Some well known companies are mentioned below. In Japan the optical industry started much later. A few of the most important companies will be listed below.
The production of cameras and lenses has moved from Europe to Asia since the 1980's. Some famous brand names have come into the possession of companies and/or persons that had/have no experiences in photography. Some are treated like a poor cousin. Some are used for products that do not reflect the quality and/or the emotion the original product once offered. Fortunately most photographic and optical products are fit for the reputation of the brand name on it.
Founded in 1933 as Seiki Kogaku (Precision Optical Research Laboratory), in 1947 name changed in Canon Camera Co.
From its start it produced rangefinder cameras, based on the Leica-design. All cameras were fitted with Nikkor lenses! In 1947 Canon started its own lens production. Canon has become the largest SLR manufacturer in the world, known among many professional photographers. Also as a lens manufacturer famous for its innovations. Canon has become an important manufacturer of office equipment as well.
Founded in 1949 as a factory of a. o. camera shutters.
Nearly all Japanese, and later other, cameras were or are fitted with Copal shutters. Not only Nikon, but also manufacturers as Leitz, Pentax, Mamiya, Konica etc. are making use of the quality products of Copal. The leaf shutters of the Nikkorex cameras weren't a great success, but the shutters fitted in the famous Nikkormat-series were indestructible.
Founded in 1934 as a film and camera factory.
Started as a film industry Fuji also entered the film and digital camera world. Based on Nikon and Canon film SLR's Fuji developed excellent professional digital SLR cameras, before the two largest camera manufacturers came with their own developments!
Founded as Konishiroku Photo Industry in 1921.
This company became famous with its first SLR - Konica Autoreflex T - with an automatic (electronic) shutter (made by Copal) and the possibility to change film format (full frame and half frame format). The Konica Hexar RF camera is still a very much wanted high end camera.
Ernst Leitz working in a small optical shop of C. Kellner in Wetzlar, Germany, took over that company in 1869 and named it Ernst Leitz GmbH (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung = company with limited liability).
No need to explain the reputation of this lens and camera manufacturer. Its rangefinder cameras are the best cameras ever made as well as the lenses. Leitz signed a cooperation agreement with Minolta in the 1970's, of which some results are the very disappointing Leica SLR cameras. Unfortunately the Leica rangefinder cameras - for film or digital - have been flogged to death.
Hasselblad
Victor Hasselblad founded in 1941 in Gothenburg Sweden a company to manufacture aerial cameras. His ancestors were in business since 1841, in photographic equipment since 1887.
Although too slow for reporters the Hasselblad 6x6 cameras (500C, 500C/M, etc.), including the famous Carl Zeiss optics, were and still are the absolute top in mid/large format photography. Hopefully the modern digital backs are competitive.
Takachiho Seisakusho founded in 1919
Famous for its excellent reflex cameras (OM-series and PEN-series) and innovative (Zuiko) lenses Olympus is facing hard times. Its office equipment division may be of help.
Nichi-Doku Shashinki Shokai (Japan-Germany Camera Company) founded in 1928 by Kazuo Tashima
Manufacturer of excellent cameras and lenses but missed the professional camera market rather early. Had to merge with fellow camera manufacturers in order to survive. Has also an interesting office equipment branch.
Asahi Kogaku (Asahi Optical Co.) Tokyo, founded in 1919
Pentax made photography accessible to the general public by introducing the compact SLR Pentax Spotmatic, made excellent cameras for various film formats and is trying hard to keep pace at the digital camera market.
Carl Zeiss Jena (Germany) founded in 1846
Again a German manufacturer with an indestructible reputation when it comes to cameras and - especially - lenses. Carl Zeiss was and still is a leading lens manufacturer. Many of its engineers invented optical formulas - and lens coating techniques - that are still in use by many lens makers. Zeiss-Ikon is a merger of various German camera and lens makers. Hundreds of versions of cameras in various film formats were marketed through the years. Unfortunately Zeiss-Ikon lost competition on the computer market during the early 1970's and had to cease production. The brand name (Zeiss-Ikon) is still marketed. Carl Zeiss has kept up its reputation as one of the best optical industries, after the reunification of Germany