The automatic assembly of photo products has been developed by Nikon Corp. over more than ten years. Automatic assembly methods are historically classified into three categories: dedicated machines, semi-flexible automatic assembly systems, and universal automatic assembly systems. This paper surveys these types of automatic assembly systems. First, automatic assembly systems for mechanical components of photo products are considered, and their background and design policies discussed. Next, the performances of these assembly systems and the results achieved in practise are described. Finally, the future trends of photo product automation are outlined.