Chinon was founded in September 1948 by Chino Hiroshi in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, and was originally known as Sanshin Seisakusho. The name was changed to Sanshin Optics Industrial Co. in 1962 and eventually became Chinon Industries Inc. in 1973.
History
Chinon Industries Inc., a prominent player in the camera and optics industry, has had a rich and significant history marked by innovation and collaboration with another giant in the industry, Kodak. Let’s delve deep into the history and evolution of Chinon Industries:
Early Years and Foundation
Chinon Industries Inc., originally Sanshin Seisakusho, embarked on its journey in 1948 when it was established by Chino Hiroshi in Chino, Nagano Prefecture, Japan. Initially, the company specialized in making camera lens frames and lens barrels, marking its niche in the optics industry. Within a few years, in 1953, the company transitioned into a stock-holding company to further its expansion and growth.
Growth and Development
The 1950s were a period of significant growth for the company, marked by moving its head office to Suwa, Nagano Prefecture in 1954 and beginning the manufacturing of 8mm movie camera lenses in 1956. By 1959, they had pioneered the development and production of the world’s first 8mm zoom lens, showcasing its innovative spirit and technical expertise.
In 1962, the company changed its name to Sanshin Optics Industrial Co. Ltd and began manufacturing and exporting their brand of 8mm movie cameras to Europe and America, signifying its increasing global footprint. The decade also marked the initiation of their 35mm camera manufacturing in 1971, expanding their product range significantly.
Transformation and Innovation
The 1970s were characterized by substantial transformations, including a name change to Chinon Industries Inc. in 1973. The company went public and was listed on the second section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in the same year. Following this, in 1974, it became the first in Japan to manufacture a simultaneous sound recording 8mm movie camera, further enhancing its market standing.
Throughout the 1980s, the company remained a pioneer in innovation. They were the first in Japan to develop a near-infrared auto-focus system in 1981 and introduced the world’s first twin-programmed SLR camera in 1983. The 1980s also marked their entrance into the emerging information device field with the production of information storage devices in 1982.
Collaboration with Kodak
The association with Eastman Kodak Company began in the mid-1980s when Chinon started producing 35mm cameras for Kodak on an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) basis. This collaboration further strengthened in the 1990s when Chinon started supplying digital cameras to Kodak under the same OEM basis in 1993. By 1997, Kodak became a majority shareholder with a 50.1% stake, leading to an augmentation in digital camera design and production operations at Chinon. The company achieved significant milestones in digital camera production, surpassing 1 million units in 1998 and 5 million units in 2002.
Mergers and Acquisitions
The year 2004 marked a significant shift in the company’s trajectory as it was acquired by Kodak Japan Limited, becoming a subsidiary of Eastman Kodak Company. This acquisition led to Chinon focusing more on producing digital cameras for Kodak and offering assistance to Kodak Electronic Products (Shanghai), the manufacturing unit of its cameras.
