Pentax is a brand of optical equipment used by Hoya Corporation and Ricoh in various market segments. Earlier, before the acquisition in 2008, it was the Japanese company Pentax Corporation, a manufacturer of optical equipment. On March 31, 2008, the company ceased to be independent and became part of Hoya Corporation as PENTAX Imaging Systems Division, retaining the trademark and continuing production under the Pentax brand. Later, on July 1, 2011, a deal was announced between the Hoya Corporation and Ricoh, which would transfer the Pentax Imaging Systems Division of consumer photography equipment to Ricoh on October 1, 2011.

Pentax brand produces cameras, lenses, optical instruments such as binoculars, microscopes, telescopes, endoscopes, glasses for glasses and the like.

In 2010, the Pentax brand closed the top ten manufacturers in the photo equipment market, having a market share of 1,5% (having decreased from 1,7% in 2009). Among the manufacturers of SLR cameras, the brand is not among the top three, behind Canon, Nikon and Sony.

Historical information

The company was founded in 1919 under the name "Asahi Optical Joint Stock Co." and was engaged in the production of eyeglass lenses. In 1938, it changed its name to Asahi Optical Co., Ltd. and its product range expanded to include lenses for photography and cinema. During World War II, production was largely reoriented to fulfill military orders. After the war, it was closed, but production began again in 1948. During this time, Asahi Optical was engaged in the production of binoculars and lenses for the manufacturers of photographic equipment, which later became Konica and Minolta.

In 1952, Asahi Optical introduced its first camera, the Asahiflex I, which was the first 35mm single-lens reflex camera made entirely in Japan. The next (1954) camera, the Asahiflex II, thanks to an innovation such as a quick-return mirror, sharply popularized formerly obsolete SLR cameras as such, and the firm gained a strong position as an industry pioneer (see Asahiflex II for more details). Following this camera, the Asahi Pentax was launched into production, to which the pentaprism, which later became the standard, was added. The Pentax trademark in 1957 was only the name of a specific model of a SLR camera manufactured by Asahi Optical. Until 1954, this brand, composed of the two words Pentaprism and Contax, belonged to the Dresden company VEB Zeiss-Ikon and was bought by Asahi Optical.

The company's products were exported all over the world under the brand name "Asahi Pentax", and in the USA as "Honeywell Pentax" after the name of the distributor company. The name "Pentax Corporation" was adopted in 2002.

In December 2006, a merger with Hoya Corporation was announced. The name of the new firm was to be Hoya Pentax HD Corporation. This was followed by the resignation of the President of Pentax, but the firm continued its course towards the merger.

On March 31, 2008, the company became part of the Hoya Corporation, retaining the trademark and continuing the production of Pentax cameras.

On July 1, 2011, a deal was announced between Hoya Corporation and Ricoh to transfer the Pentax Imaging Systems Division of consumer photography equipment to Ricoh on October 1, 2011.

In October 2011, the Ricoh Company announced that it had completed the takeover of Pentax Imaging Corporation and the name of the acquired company was changed to Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company. The company will develop, manufacture and market consumer optics products and services such as digital cameras and interchangeable lenses, as well as camera accessories, security camcorder products and binoculars.

Key stages in photography

• 1952 Asahiflex I. The first Japanese SLR camera The first mass-produced SLR camera with a quick-return mirror.
• 1954 Asahiflex II. The first production SLR camera with an instant return mirror mechanism.
• 1957 Asahi Pentax. For the first time, pentaprism is introduced into a serial SLR camera Pentax. For the first time equipped with a trigger mechanism for transferring the frame and platoon shutter... Equipped with a tape rewinding unit.
• 1958 Pentax K. The shutter of the camera fulfills shutter speeds up to 1/1000 sec. For the first time for the company, the focusing screen is equipped with a field with a micro-raster.
• 1961 Pentax S3. The emergence of a compact exposure meter mounted on top of the pentaprism and coupled to the camera by shutter speed.
• 1962 Pentax S.V. For the first time a self-timer has been introduced for the company. It is possible to install a compact exposure meter associated with a shutter speed dial.
• 1964 Pentax Spotmatic. First Pentax camera with paired TTL-exposure meter and fully automatic diaphragm mechanism.
• 1966 The company launches its millionth camera.
• 1969 Pentax 6 × 7. Start of production of the company's first medium format SLR camera.
• 1971 Pentax SP II. For the first time for the company, the camera is equipped with a hot shoe mount.
• 1971 Pentax Electro Spotmatic. The world's first mass-produced camera with automatic aperture priority.
• 1975 Pentax K2. The first camera from the firm with a focal plane gateohm vertical stroke. The world's first camera equipped with bayonetom K, which, without changing in essence, exists to this day. Thus, the company ensures full continuity and consistency of all its cameras and optics park, released over the past 40 years.
• 1976 Pentax K1000. Start of twenty-two years of production of a reliable frost-resistant mechanical chamber. More than 2,5 million units were produced in total.
• 1978 Pentax Auto 110. Launch of the world's smallest and lightest interchangeable-lens system SLR camera.
• 1979 Pentax Auto 110. The NASA space agency has selected the Auto 110 for filming in space.
• 1980 Pentax LX. The beginning of twenty years of production of a professional, frost-resistant, extremely reliable system camera. The development was timed to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the company. Hybrid focal plane gate camera fulfills shutter speeds up to 1/2000 sec. For the first time OTF-metering was applied for the company. The company launches its XNUMX millionth camera.
• 1981 Pentax ME F. The world's first SLR camera with a system TTL autofocus
• 1983 Pentax superA, Pentax Super Program. The world's first camera equipped with bayonetom KA shutter priority.
• 1984 Pentax A3, Pentax A3000. For the first time for the company, a motorized tape drive is integrated into an SLR camera.
• 1984 Pentax 645. Launch of a new medium format 6 × 4,5 cm line.
• 1984 Pentax PC35AF, Pentax Sports35. The corporation began to develop the compact camera market.
• 1986 Pentax Zoom70. The world's first compact camera equipped with a zoom lens is created.
• 1987 Pentax SFX, Pentax SF1. The world's first autofocus SLR camera with built-in TTL-photoflash. The world's first camera equipped with bayonetohm KAF. As a result of the change in strategy, the autofocus drive is located in the camera body, and a large line of autofocus optics becomes available.
• 1988 Pentax SFXn, Pentax SF1n. The shutter of the camera fulfills shutter speeds up to 1/4000 sec.
• 1991 Pentax Z-1, Pentax PZ-1. The shutter of the camera fulfills shutter speeds up to 1/8000 sec.
• 1991 The number of compact cameras equipped with a zoom lens released has exceeded 20 million.
• 1993 Pentax Zoom 90WR. The camera is recognized as the best zoom compact camera in Europe (has a waterproof housing)
• 1995 SMC Pentax Fish-Eye zoom 17–28. The world's first fisheye zoom lens.
• 1996 Pentax EI-C90. The company entered the digital camera market.
• 1997 Pentax 645N. The world's first autofocus medium format camera.
• 2000 Pentax MZ-D. Creation of the world's first full-frame digital (6 megapixel) SLR camera. The camera did not go into production for economic reasons.
• 2000 Pentax EI 2000. The first serial digital SLR camera for the company (with non-interchangeable optics).
• 2003 Pentax * ist D. Creation of the first serial digital APS-C SLR camera for the company.
• 2006 Pentax K10D. A semi-professional digital SLR camera.
• 2008 Pentax SMC DA 17-70mm f / 4 AL IF SDM. The first lens of the company with an integrated SDM motor. The introduction of SDM motors did not affect compatibility.
• 2009 Pentax K-7. The first SLR camera of the company with the possibility of video filming.
• 2010 Pentax 645D. The company's first autofocus medium format digital single-lens camera.
• 2010 PENTAX-D FA 645 55mm F2.8 AL IF SDM AW. The company's first medium format lens with an integrated SDM motor.
• 2011 Pentax Q. Digital mirrorless single-lens camera with bayonetohm Q, the world's smallest and lightest digital camera with interchangeable lensMi.
• 2012 Pentax K-01. Digital mirrorless single-lens camera with bayonetohm K.
• 2016 Pentax K-1. Creation of the first serial full-frame digital SLR camera for the company.

Articles about Pentax on the portal

• Pentax SMC 50-200mm f / 4-5.6 ED
• Pentax SMC 18-55mm f / 3.5-5.6 AL
• Pentax K200D
• Pentax 645D
• Auto-Takumar 55 mm f / 2.0
• SMC Takumar 135 / 2.5
• Asahi Takumar 200mm f / 3.5
• Asahi Pentax Super Takumar 200mm f / 4.0
• Takumar 135mm f / 3.5
• SMC Pentax Soft 85mm f / 2.2
• Super Takumar 2.8 / 105 and Auto Takumar 2.8 / 105

Pentax Lens Reviews

1. Asahi Opt. Co., Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 1: 3.5 / 28 M42 MF
2. Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 1: 3.5 / 35 ASAHI OPT. Co., JAPAN
3. HD PENTAX-D FA * 1: 1.4 50mm SDM AW DFA *
4. Super-Takumar 1: 1.4 / 50 Asahi Opt. Co., Lens made in Japan
5. Super-Takumar 1: 1.4 / 50 Asahi Opt. Co. Lens made in japan
6. Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 1: 1.4 / 50 ASAHI OPT. CO., JAPAN
7. Asahi OPT. CO., SMC Takumar 1: 1.4 / 50
8. Asahi OPT. CO., SMC Pentax-M 1: 1,4 50mm
9. SMC PENTAX-FA 1: 1.4 50mm
10. ASAHI OPT. CO., JAPAN SMC PENTAX-M 1: 1.7 50mm
11. Auto-Takumar 1: 1.8 / 55 ASAHI OPT. CO. Lens made in japan
12. Super-Takumar 1: 1.8 / 55 Asahi Opt. Co. Lens made in japan
13. Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 1: 1.8 / 55 ASAHI OPT. CO., JAPAN
14. Auto-Takumar 1: 2 f = 55mm Asahi Opt. Co., Japan
15. Super-Takumar 1: 2 / 55 Asahi Opt. Co. Lens made in japan
16. SMC TAKUMAR 1: 2/55 ASAHI OPT. CO., JAPAN
17. Asahi Opt. Co. Super-Takumar 1: 1.9 / 85 MF
18. Super-Takumar 1: 3.5 / 135 Asahi Opt. Co.
19. SMC PENTAX-M 1: 3.5 135mm ASAHI OPT. CO., JAPAN MF
20. Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 1: 4 / 200 ASAHI OPT. CO., JAPAN
21. SMC Pentax-DA 1: 3.5-5.6 18-55mm AL WR
22. SMC Pentax-DA 1: 3.5-5.6 18-55mm AL
23. SMC Pentax-DA L 1: 4-5.6 18-50mm DC WR RE
24. SMC Pentax-DA 1: 3.5-5.6 18-135mm ED AL [IF] DC WR. Review from the reader Radozhiva
25. SMC Pentax-DA 1: 2.4 35mm AL
26. SMC Pentax-DA 1: 2.8 40mm Limited
27. SMC Pentax-DA 1: 1.8 50mm
28. SMC Pentax-M MACRO 1: 4 100mm ASAHI OPT. CO., JAPAN
29. SMC PENTAX-DFA MACRO 1: 2.8 100mm WR

Adapters for cameras and lenses