Searching around a little more it seems that everyone was working on
VR/IS. There are patents by other companies as well.
From the Canon web site:
Canon started development of IS (Image Stabilizer) technology in
1980s and introduced EF75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM in 1995, the world's
first interchangeable lens for 35mm SLR with a built-in image
stabilizer.
From a Nikon model history web site:
The very well received and highly rated TW Zoom 150 QD of 1992 was
selected to give a serious upgrade in 1994 as Nikon Zoom 700 VR -
where I thought it should be called "105VR" to be more appropriate.
However, the US version was more accurate to its spec. as it was
referred as Zoom-Touch 105 VR). On a technical note, Nikon's VR
(Vibration Reduction) technology was used to assist the new 38-105mm
f/4~f/7.8 Nikon zoom to reduce chances of blurry images caused by
unsteady hands during picture shootings.
I think the story that Nikon invented VR and sold the rights to Canon
is probably apocryphal even though they were first to market. A year
would not be enough even for Canon, I think, to develop a successful
lens with an untried technology. Probably, as in other Japanese
industries there was a lot of cross licensing and tacitly granted
"sharing" from the time of the first research into it.
Winsor
Long Beach, California, USA
On Sep 6, 2006, at 9:23 AM, Winsor Crosby wrote:
>
> I can't prove it but Nikon is reputed to have first introduced VR
> which was a small, internal part system on a 35mm film point and
> shoot, but did not develop it further(the purity thing?). Canon saw
> the implications and licensed it from Nikon. Then Nikon jumped on
> later. Both companies have a similar number of patents on it.
>
> http://www.fotabug.com/viewpoints.htm
> About a 1/3 of the way down.
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