Topcon

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Topcon (トプコン) Corporation is a Japanese manufacturer of optical equipment for ophthalmology and surveying. Their headquarters are in Itabashi, Tokyo. They are affiliated with Toshiba, which holds 40% of Topcon's stock.

Prior to the end of World War II, Topcon sold optical equipment to the Imperial Japanese Army.

Company history

1932 The surveying instrument division of Hattori Watch Company Seiko-sha became the basis for the new company, at first known as Tokyo Kogaku Kikai Kabushiki-gaisha. Their headquarters were in the Ginza area of what was then known as Tokyo City (presently Chuo).
1947 The company listed its shares on the Tokyo and Osaka Stock Exchanges.
1960 They affiliated themselves with Tokyo Shibaura (now called Toshiba).
1989 Tokyo Kogakuku changed its name to Topcon.

Cameras

Tokyo Kogaku produced cameras, beginning with a 6×4.5 cm medium format model in 1937. A 127 film camera followed the next year. After the war, the Primoflex I twin-lens reflex camera came out in 1951. The Topcon 35A was born in 1953. In 1960, the company produced a 6x9 press camera on order from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. It initially used a Mamiya lens; civilian models became available with Topcon lenses.

With the 35 mm Topcon RE Super of 1963, the company pioneered full-aperture metering. Tokyo Kogaku continued to innovate until leaving that line of business in 1981.

In 2003, Cosina released a photographic lens bearing the Topcor brand.

External link

[Topcon web site (in English)]

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