Difference between revisions of "Kino Precision Industries"
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| − | Kino Precision is a Japanese manufacturer of lenses known primarily for their Kiron brand and products manufactured for Vivitar. | + | Kino Precision is a Japanese manufacturer of lenses known primarily for their Kiron brand and products manufactured for Ponder & Best and sold with the Vivitar brand. |
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==History== | ==History== | ||
| − | '''Kino Precision Industries, Limited''' was founded in 1959 by Tatsuo Kataoka. It started out making lenses for 8mm movie cameras. In 1965 the company began making | + | '''Kino Precision Industries, Limited''' was founded in 1959 by Tatsuo Kataoka. It started out making lenses for 8mm movie cameras. In 1965 the company began making lenses for [[35mm]] still cameras. In the 1970s Kino began manufacturing lenses for Ponder & Best ([[Vivitar]]) including some of the highest quality Vivitar Series 1 lenses. Kino also manufactured lenses for [[Soligor]]. |
| − | The success of the Kino-designed Vivitar Series 1 lenses convinced Kino that | + | The success of the Kino-designed Vivitar Series 1 lenses convinced Kino that it could market directly to the public. So, in 1980 Kino launched its own brand of lenses in the United States market, called '''Kiron'''. Paul Ellis and Dick Wolf of Kino selected the Chiat/Day advertising agency to handle the launch. A series of five advertisements were created, each of which began with the phrase "How to..." and provided helpful advice on taking good photographs using Kiron lenses. Four of the five won advertising awards. The lenses themselves received good reviews in photography magazines. Within 12 months Kiron sales were 4th in the US market of 64 independent lens brands.<ref>[http://www.kelleyad.com/mktcasehist2.htm Kelley Advertising & Marketing Case History: Kiron Camera Lenses], in [http://www.kelleyad.com/ Kelley Advertising and Marketing].</ref> |
| − | The Kiron trademark was registered on 25 January | + | The Kiron trademark was registered on 25 January 1980. The trademark expired on 13 July 2002.<ref>[http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=serial&entry=73247563 Kiron TradeMark registration], in [http://tarr.uspto.gov/ Trademark Applications and Registrations Retrieval], US Patent and Trademark Office.</ref> |
| − | In 1986, due to increasing production costs and competition from camera companies introducing lower priced lenses, Kino Precision directed its US subsidiary to move out of the 'chaotic and unpredictable' US consumer market. Kino instead wanted to focus on industrial products. All stocks of Kiron lenses were liquidated at that time.<ref>British Journal of Photography, | + | In 1986, due to increasing production costs and competition from camera companies introducing lower priced lenses, Kino Precision directed its US subsidiary to move out of the 'chaotic and unpredictable' US consumer market. Kino instead wanted to focus on industrial products. All stocks of Kiron lenses were liquidated at that time.<ref>''British Journal of Photography'', vol. 133, iss. 27-39, p. 960</ref> |
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| − | ==Kiron | + | By 1989, the company had discontinued the manufacture of camera lenses due to increasing costs and competition with original equipment lenses made by camera companies. Kino Precision merged with Melles Griot Japan in 1989 to form Kino-Melles Griot and began to focus on industrial manufacturing. In 1995 the name was changed to Melles Griot Ltd. In 2007 the company became a member of CVI Melles Griot Group. In 2011 IDEX Corporation aquired CVI Melles Griot Group.<ref>[http://optics.org/news/2/6/14 IDEX Aquires CVI Melles Griot], in [http://optics.org/ Optics.org: The business of photonics], 13 June 2011.</ref> |
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| + | ==Kiron lenses== | ||
* Kiron 24mm f/2.0 | * Kiron 24mm f/2.0 | ||
* Kiron 28mm f/2.0 | * Kiron 28mm f/2.0 | ||
* Kiron 28mm f/2.8 | * Kiron 28mm f/2.8 | ||
* Kiron 105mm f/2.8 Macro | * Kiron 105mm f/2.8 Macro | ||
| − | * Kiron 28 | + | * Kiron 28–70mm f/3.5–4.5 Zoom |
| − | * Kiron 28 | + | * Kiron 28–70mm f/4.0 Zoom |
| − | * Kiron 28 | + | * Kiron 28–85mm f/2.8–3.8 Varifocal Macro Zoom |
| − | * Kiron 28 | + | * Kiron 28–105mm f/3.2–4.5 Varifocal Zoom |
| − | * Kiron 28 | + | * Kiron 28–210mm f/3.8–5.6 Varifocal Zoom |
| − | * Kiron 28 | + | * Kiron 28–210mm f/4.0–5.6 Varifocal Zoom |
| − | * Kiron 30 | + | * Kiron 30–80mm f/3.5–4.5 Varifocal Zoom |
| − | * Kiron 35 | + | * Kiron 35–135mm f/3.5–4.5 Varifocal Zoom |
| − | * Kiron 70 | + | * Kiron 70–150mm f/4.0 Zoom |
| − | * Kiron 70 | + | * Kiron 70–210mm f/4.0 Zoom |
| − | * Kiron 70 | + | * Kiron 70–210mm f/4.5 Zoom |
| − | * Kiron 80 | + | * Kiron 80–200mm f/4.0 Zoom |
| − | * Kiron 80 | + | * Kiron 80–200mm f/4.5 Zoom |
See also: | See also: | ||
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<br style="clear:both;" /> | <br style="clear:both;" /> | ||
| − | == | + | ==Notes== |
<references /> | <references /> | ||
Revision as of 01:39, 15 February 2012
Kino Precision is a Japanese manufacturer of lenses known primarily for their Kiron brand and products manufactured for Ponder & Best and sold with the Vivitar brand.
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| Kiron 28mm lens by Kino Precision image by phollectormo (Image rights) |
Contents
History
Kino Precision Industries, Limited was founded in 1959 by Tatsuo Kataoka. It started out making lenses for 8mm movie cameras. In 1965 the company began making lenses for 35mm still cameras. In the 1970s Kino began manufacturing lenses for Ponder & Best (Vivitar) including some of the highest quality Vivitar Series 1 lenses. Kino also manufactured lenses for Soligor.
The success of the Kino-designed Vivitar Series 1 lenses convinced Kino that it could market directly to the public. So, in 1980 Kino launched its own brand of lenses in the United States market, called Kiron. Paul Ellis and Dick Wolf of Kino selected the Chiat/Day advertising agency to handle the launch. A series of five advertisements were created, each of which began with the phrase "How to..." and provided helpful advice on taking good photographs using Kiron lenses. Four of the five won advertising awards. The lenses themselves received good reviews in photography magazines. Within 12 months Kiron sales were 4th in the US market of 64 independent lens brands.[1]
The Kiron trademark was registered on 25 January 1980. The trademark expired on 13 July 2002.[2]
In 1986, due to increasing production costs and competition from camera companies introducing lower priced lenses, Kino Precision directed its US subsidiary to move out of the 'chaotic and unpredictable' US consumer market. Kino instead wanted to focus on industrial products. All stocks of Kiron lenses were liquidated at that time.[3]
By 1989, the company had discontinued the manufacture of camera lenses due to increasing costs and competition with original equipment lenses made by camera companies. Kino Precision merged with Melles Griot Japan in 1989 to form Kino-Melles Griot and began to focus on industrial manufacturing. In 1995 the name was changed to Melles Griot Ltd. In 2007 the company became a member of CVI Melles Griot Group. In 2011 IDEX Corporation aquired CVI Melles Griot Group.[4]
Kiron lenses
- Kiron 24mm f/2.0
- Kiron 28mm f/2.0
- Kiron 28mm f/2.8
- Kiron 105mm f/2.8 Macro
- Kiron 28–70mm f/3.5–4.5 Zoom
- Kiron 28–70mm f/4.0 Zoom
- Kiron 28–85mm f/2.8–3.8 Varifocal Macro Zoom
- Kiron 28–105mm f/3.2–4.5 Varifocal Zoom
- Kiron 28–210mm f/3.8–5.6 Varifocal Zoom
- Kiron 28–210mm f/4.0–5.6 Varifocal Zoom
- Kiron 30–80mm f/3.5–4.5 Varifocal Zoom
- Kiron 35–135mm f/3.5–4.5 Varifocal Zoom
- Kiron 70–150mm f/4.0 Zoom
- Kiron 70–210mm f/4.0 Zoom
- Kiron 70–210mm f/4.5 Zoom
- Kiron 80–200mm f/4.0 Zoom
- Kiron 80–200mm f/4.5 Zoom
See also:
Photos
|
| Vivitar 20mm f/3.8 by Kino Precision image by rst12 (Image rights) |
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| Kiron 28mm f/2.0 by Kino Precision image by Yumi Abe (Image rights) |
Notes
- ↑ Kelley Advertising & Marketing Case History: Kiron Camera Lenses, in Kelley Advertising and Marketing.
- ↑ Kiron TradeMark registration, in Trademark Applications and Registrations Retrieval, US Patent and Trademark Office.
- ↑ British Journal of Photography, vol. 133, iss. 27-39, p. 960
- ↑ IDEX Aquires CVI Melles Griot, in Optics.org: The business of photonics, 13 June 2011.
Links
- German:
- Kino Precision in www.olypedia.de
- about Kino on Nikon-foto.de
