Nikon introduced its first F mount zoom lens, Auto-Telephoto Zoom 85-250 f/4-4.5 (eight-group, fifteen elements) in December, 1959, which was also the first zoom lens in Japan. Following it, Auto-Telephoto Zoom 200-600 f/9.5-10.5 (seven-group, thirteen elements) came on the market in 1961.

The figure above shows Nikon's third zoom lens, Nikkor Zoom 43-86 f/3.5, introduced in 1964.