Pentacon

Pentacon is a Dresden-based German camera and optical-equipment manufacturer whose history is closely linked to the industrial camera sector of the former German Democratic Republic. The company name was adopted in 1964, after several Dresden-area camera manufacturers had been consolidated into the state-owned Kamera- und Kinowerke Dresden in 1959. The name combines associations with Contax, the Dresden camera brand developed by Zeiss Ikon, and the pentaprism used in single-lens reflex cameras; the prism's cross-section is pentagonal and its development was strongly associated with Dresden's optical industry. During the East German period, VEB Pentacon Dresden became one of the country's most important camera manufacturers. Its best-known products included the Praktica range of 35 mm single-lens reflex cameras, the medium-format Pentacon Six, the Pentacon Super, and cameras in the Exa series. The company also manufactured lenses and slide projectors. In 1968, VEB Feinoptisches Werk Görlitz was incorporated into the organization, bringing the former Meyer-Optik Görlitz lens operation into the Pentacon structure. Lenses previously associated with Meyer-Optik Görlitz were subsequently marketed under the Pentacon name. German reunification created a severe structural and commercial crisis. Like many East German state enterprises, Pentacon was transferred to the Treuhandanstalt for privatization or liquidation. The company was judged to be substantially overstaffed and to be selling cameras at a loss. Liquidation began on October 2, 1990, immediately before formal reunification, and camera production at the original state-owned enterprise ended on June 30, 1991. Employment was reduced from roughly 6,000 before the restructuring to 3,331 by the end of production; almost all of the remaining employees, apart from a small residual workforce, were dismissed shortly afterward. Entrepreneur Heinrich Manderman, who had previously been involved in rebuilding Schneider Kreuznach, acquired the rights to the Pentacon brands and parts of the former company's assets, including a former military-production building in Dresden. Pentacon was then re-established as Pentacon GmbH within the Jos. Schneider group. The post-reunification business retained the Pentacon name and continued in cameras, lenses, and optical products, although camera and lens production was outsourced to South Korea according to the referenced account. The wider estate of the former Pentacon organization was divided among different successor businesses. Assets sold to Noble later became associated with Kamera Werk Dresden, which manufactures panoramic cameras under the Noblex brand and industrial cameras under the Loglux name. Pentacon also expanded beyond conventional photographic cameras into scanner-camera products. The Scan 7000, presented at photokina 2010 in Cologne, was described as operating with SilverFast software and offering a stated resolution of 20,000 by 20,000 pixels. Pentacon's historical importance therefore spans East German mass-market SLR production, Dresden's optical manufacturing tradition, and the post-reunification continuation of a recognizable photographic brand.

Pentacon emerged from the consolidation of Dresden's camera industry during the East German period. In 1959, several camera manufacturers, including VEB Kamerawerke Freital, were brought together in the state-owned Kamera- und Kinowerke Dresden. That organization adopted the name VEB Pentacon Dresden in 1964. The name referred both to Dresden's Contax heritage and to the pentaprism, a key optical component of single-lens reflex cameras whose cross-section is pentagonal. The enterprise became a major East German producer of photographic equipment. Its principal camera families included the Praktica 35 mm SLR series, the Exa line, the medium-format Pentacon Six, and the Pentacon Super. It also produced lenses, slide projectors, and other optical goods. In 1968, VEB Feinoptisches Werk Görlitz was integrated into Pentacon. This linked the Pentacon operation with the former Meyer-Optik Görlitz lens business, whose products were subsequently sold under the Pentacon name. Reunification exposed the company's structural weaknesses. The Treuhandanstalt assumed responsibility for the enterprise and chose liquidation instead of a complete sale. Pentacon was considered heavily overstaffed and commercially uncompetitive, with a workforce of approximately 6,000 and cameras reportedly being sold at a loss. Liquidation began on October 2, 1990. Production ended on June 30, 1991, after employment had already fallen to 3,331. Almost all of those still employed were dismissed the following day, leaving only a small residual group. Heinrich Manderman subsequently purchased the Pentacon trademark rights and portions of the company's assets, including a former military-production facility in Dresden. The brand was relaunched through Pentacon GmbH as part of the Jos. Schneider group. Camera and lens production continued in the reorganized business, with production outsourced to South Korea according to the referenced account. Other former Pentacon assets followed separate paths: businesses sold to Noble later became associated with Kamera Werk Dresden, which manufactures Noblex panoramic cameras and Loglux industrial cameras. The revived Pentacon business also included specialized imaging equipment. Its Scan 7000 scanner camera was introduced at photokina 2010 in Cologne and was described as working with SilverFast software at a resolution of 20,000 by 20,000 pixels. Pentacon's history consequently covers both the large-scale camera manufacturing system of East Germany and the more specialized, privately organized optical and imaging business that followed reunification.

• 2010

  Scan 7000 shown at photokina

  [1]Pentaconen.wikipedia.org

  Pentacon introduced its Scan 7000 scanner camera at the Cologne photokina trade fair.

• 1991

  Original production ended

  [1]Pentaconen.wikipedia.org

  Production at the former VEB Pentacon operation ceased on June 30, following major workforce reductions.

• 1990

  Liquidation initiated

  [1]Pentaconen.wikipedia.org

  The Treuhandanstalt selected Pentacon for closure during the transition from East German state ownership to a reunified German economy.

• 1968

  Integration of Feinoptisches Werk Görlitz

  [1]Pentaconen.wikipedia.org

  The Görlitz optical works joined VEB Pentacon, and lenses associated with Meyer-Optik Görlitz were subsequently marketed under the Pentacon name.

• 1964

  Adoption of the Pentacon name

  [1]Pentaconen.wikipedia.org

  Kamera- und Kinowerke Dresden was renamed VEB Pentacon Dresden.

• 1959

  Formation of Kamera- und Kinowerke Dresden

  [1]Pentaconen.wikipedia.org

  Several Dresden-area camera manufacturers were consolidated into a state-owned enterprise that later became the organizational predecessor of VEB Pentacon.

Historically positioned as a German mass-market and enthusiast photographic-equipment brand, with a strong heritage in East German SLR cameras, medium-format photography, lenses, and optical instruments. Its later portfolio also included specialized scanning equipment.

• 35 mm single-lens reflex cameras

  Praktica

  Praktica was Pentacon's best-known family of 35 mm SLR cameras and became one of the most recognizable photographic product lines associated with East German camera manufacturing. The series served amateur and enthusiast photographers and formed a central part of Pentacon's historical identity.

• Medium-format cameras

  Pentacon Six

  The Pentacon Six was a medium-format camera line produced under the Pentacon name. It represented the company's higher-format photographic offering and extended its portfolio beyond 35 mm SLR cameras.

• 35 mm single-lens reflex camera

  Pentacon Super

  The Pentacon Super was one of the company's named SLR products and formed part of the upper portion of Pentacon's historical 35 mm camera range.

• 35 mm cameras

  Exa

  The Exa series was a camera family associated with Pentacon and its predecessor organizations. It broadened the company's range of Dresden-made photographic cameras and is an important part of its historical product portfolio.

• Scanner camera · 2010

  Scan 7000

  The Scan 7000 was a specialized scanner camera presented at photokina in 2010. The referenced material describes compatibility with SilverFast software and a resolution of 20,000 by 20,000 pixels.

• 1990

  Liquidation selected during privatizationStrategy

  Background

  Following German reunification, the Treuhandanstalt assessed Pentacon as inefficient and commercially uncompetitive.

  Action taken

  The enterprise was selected for closure rather than sale, and liquidation began on October 2, 1990.

  Aftermath

  The original operation ceased production in June 1991 and underwent extensive layoffs.

  Source

• 1968

  Integrated VEB Feinoptisches Werk GörlitzM&A

  Background

  Pentacon expanded its optical manufacturing base by incorporating the Görlitz optical works.

  Action taken

  VEB Feinoptisches Werk Görlitz was integrated into VEB Pentacon, bringing the former Meyer-Optik Görlitz lens operation into the organization.

  Aftermath

  The associated lenses were subsequently marketed under the Pentacon name.

  Source

• 1964

  Adopted the Pentacon corporate identityStrategy

  Background

  The Dresden state-owned camera organization sought a unified identity after the consolidation of several manufacturers.

  Action taken

  It changed its name to VEB Pentacon Dresden, using a name connected with Dresden's Contax heritage and SLR pentaprism technology.

  Aftermath

  The Pentacon name became associated with a broad portfolio of East German cameras, lenses, and optical products.

  Source

• Re-established Pentacon as a private companyM&A

  Background

  After liquidation of the state-owned enterprise, the Pentacon trademarks and selected assets remained commercially valuable.

  Action taken

  Heinrich Manderman acquired the brand rights and parts of the assets and re-established Pentacon GmbH within the Jos. Schneider group.

  Aftermath

  The Pentacon name continued in cameras, lenses, optical products, and specialized imaging equipment, with camera and lens production outsourced to South Korea according to the referenced account.

  Source

1. 1Pentaconen.wikipedia.org