Many companies are now venturing into photography with the manufacture of cameras and other gear — yet competing with Nikon and Canon remains a hard nut to crack for the newcomers. Having been in photography a good while, I have picked out the companies that build some of the best tools in the business.
Nikon
Nikon is one of the leading manufacturers of high-end DSLRs. Founded roughly a century ago — in 1917, in Tokyo — Nikon has grown into a truly international brand in cameras, lenses and gear. It keeps its global headquarters in Tokyo and, according to ranker.com, occupies the top spot on the list of photography companies. The D-series cameras and their compatible lenses remain the most in demand. What makes Nikon unique in the photography world is simple: they build cameras and gear for every level of photographer.
- Founded
- 1917 · Tokyo, Japan
- Known for
- D-series DSLRs · NIKKOR lenses
- Official site
- nikon.com
Canon
Canon was founded in 1937, two decades after Nikon, and has grown into one of the world's leading brands. Today Canon manufactures camcorders, digital cameras, computer printers, photocopiers and a host of other gear. In its early years, Canon lacked the technical know-how to produce optical glass — so its first-generation cameras actually used lenses from Nikon Corporation. The PowerShot, EOS and EF-M lens-mount series stand among Canon's elite products.
- Founded
- 1937 · Tokyo, Japan
- Known for
- EOS system · PowerShot · EF-M mount
- Official site
- canon.com
Sony
It is hard to talk about electronics at all without mentioning Sony. From televisions to personal computers, Sony is now a genuine contender for the top spot in photography too. The company came into existence in 1946 and climbed the ladder rapidly on cutting-edge technological design. Its two outstanding photographic lines are Alpha and Cyber-shot — and with the acquisition of Konica Minolta in 2006, Sony began producing DSLRs of its own.
- Founded
- 1946 · Tokyo, Japan
- Known for
- Alpha system · Cyber-shot
- Official site
- sony.com
Leica
The striking thing about Leica cameras is their portability — compact designs married to industry-leading optics. Leica's origin traces back to 1849 in Germany, making it one of the oldest camera companies in existence. In the latter part of the twentieth century, Leica's rangefinder cameras were the cameras to be seen with.
- Origins
- 1849 · Wetzlar, Germany
- Known for
- Rangefinders · M-system optics
- Official site
- leica-camera.com
Olympus
Olympus specialises in a diverse array of products — cameras, but also industrial and medical equipment. Founded in 1919, it has grown tremendously in photography, moving deep into digital single-lens-reflex manufacture. The company now builds compact digital cameras and is credited with designing the Four Thirds System DSLR standard.
- Founded
- 1919 · Tokyo, Japan
- Known for
- Four Thirds standard · compacts
- Official site
- getolympus.com
Pentax
Founded in Tokyo in 1919 — the same year as Olympus — Pentax is today owned by the Ricoh Imaging Company. In its earlier days Pentax was famous for film cameras and lenses, along with rifle scopes, binoculars and CCTV optics. It now ranks among the top manufacturers of SLR cameras and lenses, focusing on high-end digital cameras for enthusiasts and professionals.
- Founded
- 1919 · Tokyo, Japan (Ricoh Imaging)
- Known for
- SLRs · weather-sealed bodies
- Official site
- ricoh-imaging.com
Samsung
Samsung Group keeps its headquarters in Korea, where it was established in 1938. A name to contend with across all of electronics, Samsung churns out high-end digital devices nearly every year. Its market strategy leans toward the young — Android interfaces, Wi-Fi connectivity and selfie modes squarely aimed at the smart generation. Samsung has also produced affordable DSLRs, which lets it compete with the big photography names on price.
- Founded
- 1938 · Seoul, South Korea
- Known for
- NX mirrorless · connected cameras
- Official site
- samsung.com
Panasonic Lumix
Lumix is the top camera brand of the Panasonic family, a company founded in 1918 and headquartered in Japan. The earliest Lumix models hit the market in 2001, and the company has been refining its cameras ever since — steadily pulling level with some of the leading brands in the industry.
- Parent founded
- 1918 · Osaka, Japan
- Known for
- Lumix mirrorless & compacts
- Official site
- panasonic.com/lumix
Other leading companies in the photography industry include Kodak and Fujifilm. And in recent times, whatever brand takes the shot, photographers still reach for photo-editing tools to give their pictures a fine finish. I look forward to the day some of these big names begin developing photo-editing software of their own.