Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Ever wonder why the Nikon F is the Nikon"F"?

From the Nikon web site:
In February of 1957, the order was issued for prototyping 3 sets, signaling the start of the development of Nikon F.
At that time, the name of SLR cameras often included the letter R referring to Reflex (reflection), though the letter R sounds different phonetically in areas other than the English-speaking sphere; then, F was selected from Re-Flex for naming the Nikon F since the letter F is pronounced almost the same.

Related to the logic is this:

There's a simple reason why Japanese people can't pronounce R and L correctly. They don't exist in Japanese. It is not, as was asked of me once, a genetic defect. Japanese people who spent their childhood years in an English speaking country can pronounce both sounds fine.

The sounds we differentiate as R and L in English are actually very similar sounds. Japanese doesn't have either sound, but does have something very similar. As with any case where one is trying to pronounce an unfamiliar phoneme that doesn't exist in one's native language, most speakers will replace these with the closest thing found in Japanese.

So the Name will sound the same everywhere. F in Japanese you do not put upper teeth on the lower lip as in English but blow the air between both lips in a similar fasion and sounds nearly the same.

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

Similarly, many Indians can't pronounce 'V's. It was just unfortunate my old boss bought a Wolwo!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

It's the same with native English speakers trying to pronounce some sounds from French, German, etc.

PRETENDER Loc: Micanopy,Florida

Is it possible I am the only English speaking person tht can't understand most UK style English? Just wondering. Maybe my hearing is worse then I want to admit.

jcave Loc: Cecilia, Kentucky

Spent an hour looking for the Arbor Restaurant when in fact my friend from Devonshire was waiting for me at the Harbour Restaurant.

bertloomis Loc: Fort Worth, Texas

Of course this does not explain why Asians interchange R and L when speaking English.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

There are in depth explanations but they are too involved for the scope of this post as to the origin of the Nikon F.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

That was one of my first cameras, the Nikon F2 and it was (and still is) one of my all-time-favorites-in terms of cameras!!

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

Fra Rah Rah, Rah Rah Rah

Duckfart Loc: Olympia, Washington

Thais have an 'R' in their language but it's a rolling R which is like pronouncing 'L' a couple of times real fast. They have no words that end in 'S' or 'L' and usually omit them when speaking western languages. However, they start many words with 'NG' (e.g. ngoo - snake and ngarn - work) which cause some funny expressions on westerner faces who are new to the language.

DGINDIO Loc: INDIO, CALIFORNIA

Still owning a Nikon FTN and related len(s), this discussion interested me. I read years ago that the reason F was chosen in that it engraved nicely.

kymarto Loc: Portland OR and Milan Italy

Just like most Americans can't tell the difference between Mary, marry and merry. They also get in trouble in Italy, where "anno" means year and "ano" means anus. Americans don't hear the different in pronunciation, to the eternal delight of Italians.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

This also as they had a graphic designer on the team.

Reinaldokool Loc: San Rafael, CA

Nice explanation. I speak Japanese and lived there for more than seven years in USAF and later college. Learning Japanese was a revelation--especially the Kanji characters. There are several other differences. In classical Japanese, there is little stress or accent. Japanese will insist that they don't have stress accents, but that is not true. Sometimes the stress is much like English, but sometimes it makes the difference between sake (liquor) and sake (salmon). (Give me a bottle of salmon please. LOL) I haven't lived there for years but visit frequently and love Japan.

oregon don

I have that problem with some Aussies. As I was sitting with an Aussie and chatting in a bar in China, his fellow Aussie started to make a long statement. I told the one I was chatting with that I was sure his fellow Aussie was speaking English but that I did not understand a single word he said.