Pentax Imaging Co history

1923 Production of lenses for film projectors begins.

1927 World events : Lindbergh realizes the first solo non-stop flight across the Atlantic

1930 World events : The 1st World Cup soccer tournament held in Uruguay World events : C. W. Tombaugh discovers Pluto

1931 The design of the first camera lens produced in Japan is completed Supplies lenses for the "Pearlette" folding camera by Rokuoh-sha (current: Konica Minolta)

1932 Production of camera lenses begins.

In support of this, the company built a new factory outside of Tokyo in 1934.

The installation of a military government in 1937, however, placed Asahi's operations under government supervision, and production was wholly turned over to producing optical equipment for the military.

In 1938, Matsumoto bought a small factory in Tokyo, and renamed it as Asahi Optical Co.

1939 World events : Start of World WarII

1940 Construction of Ohyama Factory completed Manufactures the Promar lens of Chiyoda Kogaku Seiko (current: Konica Minolta)

Asahi managed to resume operations by the summer of 1946, when the company received its first orders for supplying binocular lenses for the United States occupying force.

1948 Releases the "6×15 Jupiter" micron binoculars

Nonetheless, by the end of 1949, the company had succeeded in creating a working prototype.

PENTAX has had a reputation for their lens coating technologies since the 1950's when they were manufacturing lenses for products by other companies.

1951 The first Asahiflex camera is released.

While improving technical precision along with the increase of the number of products manufactured, in 1952, the company released "Asahiflex l" - the first domestically manufactured single-lens reflex camera.

Asahi continued to make improvements to the Asahiflex, such as adding a pre-set aperture ring in 1953.

1954 The "Asahiflex IIB" equipped with the "quick-return mirror mechanism" is launched.

1957 The new "Pentax" SLR camera, featuring a pentaprism, is launched.

1960 The "SPOTMATIC," the world's first SLR camera equipped with a TTL metering system is exhibited for reference at Photokina The "quick-return mirror" is awarded the General Director of Science and Technology Agency Award

By then, Asahi had opened its first distribution subsidiary in Europe, in Belgium, in 1962.

1967 The "Motor Drive System" is launched World events : The European Community (EC) is established

The Asahi Pentax itself was the first Japanese fixed-pentaprism SLR. In 1969 under the sub-brand “Pentax 6×7”, the company started to produce medium format 120 6x7cm cameras.

In 1971, PENTAX made an innovative advancement in optical technology by increasing the number of coating layers from two — the norm at the time — to as many as seven.

1972 "Asahi Carl Zeiss" is established and the company enters the field of eyeglasses

By then, too, Asahi had begun to diversify its operations, entering the computer market with the launch of its Photoplotter automatic drafting system in 1973.

1975 A manufacturing plant in Taiwan is opened.

1976 The company establishes its first United States sales and distribution subsidiary.

1977 PENTAX enters the field of industrial equipment and medical equipment

1978 "Pentax Canada" is established

1979 Reached the production of 8 million SLR cameras

1981 The "PENTAX ME-F," the world's first TTL auto focusing SLR camera is launched The company enters the field of electronic imaging

1982 The "PENTAX PC35AF", the first compact camera by PENTAX is launched

1983 The "PENTAX SuperA" featuring multiple exposure modes is launched and awarded the European Camera of the Year The "smc PENTAX-A Lens" employing the KA mount with a contact point for lens information makes its appearance

1984 The "PENTAX 645" professional-use SLR camera of the 645 format is launched

1985 The SLR cameras, P series, a popularization entry type model with Program and auto exposure (AE) are launched

1986 The "PENTAX ZOOM 70," the world's first compact camera equipped with a zoom lens is launched World events : Single-use cameras (disposable cameras) make their appearance

1987 The "PENTAX SFX," the world's first SLR camera equipped with an internal flash is launched

1990 The "PENTAX ZOOM 105 Super" is launched and awarded the European Compact Camera of the Year World events : German reunification

1994 A manufacturing plant in Vietnam is opened.

1995 The "PENTAX MZ-5," the world's smallest autofocus SLR camera is launched The "PENTAX MZ-5" is launched.

In 1997. amidst significant changes in the world due to the growing trend of IT. PENTAX entered the market for digital cameras.

1998 The "PENTAX 645N" is awarded the Camera Grand Prix '98, EISA in Europe, and TIPA which are the three most prestigious camera awards in the world

1999 Reached the production of 20 million zoom compact cameras World events : Camera-equipped mobile phones make their appearance

PENTAX makes a full-scale entry into the field of digital cameras The "PENTAX EI-2000/EI-200" is launched

2001 Fumio Urano becomes CEO and chairman and leads the company on a strategic review.

2002 Company name changed to "PENTAX Corporation" World events : Unification of European currencies

2003 The "PENTAX *ist D," the first lens interchangeable digital SLR camera by PENTAX is launched The "PENTAX Optio S" compact digital camera that achieved the world's smallest and lightest with a newly developed Sliding Lens System is launched

By 2004, the company had introduced its latest innovation, the *ist DS line of single-reflex digital cameras, which became the smallest and lightest cameras on the market to allow interchangeable lenses.

In 2005, the company posted sales of Y133.56 trillion ($1.2 billion).

On August 6, 2007, Hoya completed a friendly public tender offer for Pentax and acquired 90.59% of the company.

2008 The "PENTAX K-m," the world's smallest digital SLR camera equipped with an image sensor equivalent to the APS-C size format is launched

2010 The "PENTAX 645D," the first medium format digital SLR camera by PENTAX is launched World events : Smartphones become widespread

On October 1, 2011, Ricoh acquired all shares of Pentax Imaging Corp. and renamed the new subsidiary Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company, Ltd.

2012 The "PENTAX Q10" is released as the first camera in the Q series to realize a color variation available in 100 color patterns.

2014 The "PENTAX 645Z" is launched as approx.

2016 PENTAX makes an entry into the field of 35mm full-frame digital SLR cameras The "PENTAX K-1" is released as PENTAX's first 35mm full-frame digital SLR camera