Nikon Unveils New Vending Machine Miniature Cameras in Japan
Nikon has teamed up with Bandai Namco to bring miniature Nikon camera figurines to Japanese gashapon (sometimes called gachapon) vending machines. The miniature cameras are surprisingly detailed, highly collectible, and even feature detachable lenses.
The Nikon Miniature Collection, initially spotted by Nikon Rumors, includes four Nikon cameras and lenses. There are two old-school film SLRs, the Nikon F with a Nikkor-S Auto 55mm f/1.2 lens and the Nikon SP with a W-Nikkor 3.5cm f/1.8 prime. There are also two modern Nikon Z System cameras, the Nikon Z fc with a Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR lens and the flagship Nikon Z9 equipped with a Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S pro zoom lens. Each camera is approximately 20 millimeters (0.8 inches) tall, so they’re tiny.
Unlike Tokina’s Mini Pieni II toy camera released in 2022, the Nikon Miniature Collection cameras can’t take photos — but they are still exceptionally excellent collector’s items for photographers.
For those unfamiliar with gashapon machines, they are pretty common in Japan and rely on random chance — much like coin-operated vending machines commonly found in American supermarkets and shops. A customer puts money into the machine, ranging from 100 yen for a low-end “pon,” or toy, to 500 yen for higher-quality products. The new Nikon Miniature Collection falls into this latter category, so each crank of the machine costs around $4, and there’s no way to know what one will receive ahead of time. It’s not unusual for a specific gashapon set to have different drop rates, too, adding more risk to those seeking a complete set.
American Nikon enthusiasts hoping to get their hands on the miniature cameras can locate third-party retailers and resellers online, or try their luck at gashapon machines in the United States. Bandai Namco lists gashapon locations on its official United States website, although specific gashapon series availability varies. Users on Reddit’s r/Gachapon subreddit have also created a custom Google Maps page with confirmed gashapon machine locations. Those in Japan can even play the Bandai x Nikon gashapon machines online. So far, it seems that the Nikon Z fc and Nikon F cameras are the most popular pulls, while the Nikon SP appears to be the rarest drop.
Image credits: Bandai Namco / Nikon
