Nikon's first camera — the Nikon I, Contax-derived S-mount rangefinder, cloth shutter, 1948.
The Nikon I is the first camera Nikon (then Nippon Kogaku) sold under the Nikon name, released in 1948. It launched the company's 35mm rangefinder line, whose S bayonet mount was derived from the Contax rangefinder system. The Nikon I is a scarce early body and is regarded largely as a collector's piece today.
It is a 35mm coupled-rangefinder camera using the Nikon S mount, a Contax-derived internal bayonet. It uses a mechanical cloth focal-plane shutter and fires without a battery. There is no built-in meter; exposure is set entirely by hand. A notable early trait is its film frame being slightly shorter than the later full 24x36mm standard.
The Nikon I marks the start of Nikon's rangefinder era and is valued chiefly by collectors and historians rather than as an everyday shooter. Its Contax-derived S mount means it shares the lens standard used across the later S-series bodies, though its non-standard frame size and rarity shape how it is used and priced.
Given its age and scarcity, examine the rangefinder patch for contrast and correct vertical and horizontal alignment, and check the finder for haze. Inspect the cloth focal-plane shutter for pinholes and capping and test all speeds, particularly the slow speeds. Confirm the Contax-type mount and film transport operate correctly, and verify originality and serial details, as these strongly affect value.