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Endpoint: Pentax



11:55
Videos (7)
created on: 26/02/2025
by: bob (9836)
 
 

Brand properties

General info :
Pentax is the brand name used by Ricoh Imaging Company Ltd. (originally Pentax Corp. (Pentakkusu Kabushiki gaisha)), a Japanese camera and optical equipment manufacturer.
Currently, it exists as the Pentax Life Care Business Division of Hoya's medical endoscope business, as well as the digital camera brand of Ricoh Imaging, a subsidiary of Ricoh.

Pentax, founded in 1919 as a town workshop specializing in polishing eyeglass lenses, developed Japan's first single-lens reflex camera, the Asahiflex, in 1952.
In 1938, it changed its name to Asahi Optical Co., Ltd. By this time, it was also manufacturing camera/cine lenses.
In 1952, Asahi Optical introduced its first camera, the Asahiflex (the first Japanese SLR using 35mm film). The name "Pentax" was originally a registered trademark of the East German VEB Zeiss Ikon (from "Pentaprism" and "Contax") and acquired by the Asahi Optical company in 1957.
Since then the company has been primarily known for its photographic products.

The company was renamed Pentax Corporation in 2002. It was one of the world's largest optical companies, producing still cameras, binoculars, spectacle lenses, and a variety of other optical instruments. In 2004, Pentax had about 6000 employees.

By 2006, Pentax's domestic market share in digital cameras had declined to 4%.
In December 2006, Pentax started the process of merging with Hoya Corporation to form 'Hoya Pentax HD Corporation'. Hoya's primary goal was to strengthen its medical-related business by taking advantage of Pentax's technologies and expertise in the field of endoscopes, intraocular lenses, surgical loupes, biocompatible ceramics, etc. It was speculated that Pentax's camera business could be sold off after the merger.

In 2007, Pentax was acquired by Hoya and subsequently merged with the company the following year. Hoya closed the Pentax-owned factory in Tokyo, and moved all manufacturing facilities to Cebu, Philippines and Hanoi, Vietnam.

In 2011, Hoya spun off the Pentax brand's digital camera business to Pentax Imaging Corp., which was then acquired by Ricoh, leading to the establishment of Pentax Ricoh Imaging (current Ricoh Imaging).

On October 1, 2011, Ricoh acquired all shares of Pentax Imaging Corp. and renamed the new subsidiary Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company, Ltd.
Hoya will continue to use the Pentax brand name for their medical related products such as endoscopes. On August 1, 2013, the company name was changed to Ricoh Imaging Company Ltd.

As a response to growing interest in film photography, Pentax launched the Pentax 17 on June 17, 2024. The Pentax 17 is a half-frame film camera. This launch marks the first Pentax film camera in over two decades.
Relations :
Brand name used by [1938 - 2002] : Asahi Optical Co., Ltd.
This endpoint is new to the database, please check he (it) is not in with a similar endpoint name association (and use the ENA function if necessary).
Brand name used by [2007] : Hoya Pentax HD Corp.
This endpoint is new to the database, please check he (it) is not in with a similar endpoint name association (and use the ENA function if necessary).
Brand name used by [2002 - 2007] : Pentax Corp.
This endpoint is new to the database, please check he (it) is not in with a similar endpoint name association (and use the ENA function if necessary).
Brand name used by [2011] : Pentax Imaging Corp.
This endpoint is new to the database, please check he (it) is not in with a similar endpoint name association (and use the ENA function if necessary).
Brand name used by [2011 - 2013] : Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company, Ltd.
This endpoint is new to the database, please check he (it) is not in with a similar endpoint name association (and use the ENA function if necessary).
Brand name used by [2013 -] : Ricoh Imaging Company Ltd.
This endpoint is new to the database, please check he (it) is not in with a similar endpoint name association (and use the ENA function if necessary).
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Submitted by : bob (9836)
on : 26/02/2025
Refined by : bob (9836)
Last updated on: 26/02/2025