PENTAX
A historic Japanese optical brand best known for SLR cameras, photographic lenses, medium-format systems, and its continuing film and digital camera lines.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
PENTAX is a Japanese optical and imaging brand whose roots reach back to 1919, when Kumao Kajiwara established Asahi Kogaku Goshi Kaisha in Tokyo to polish spectacle lenses. The business later expanded into camera and cine lenses, binoculars, and other optical instruments. After being re-established following the Second World War, it became part of Japan's postwar photographic revival and developed a reputation for technically innovative, durable, and comparatively accessible cameras. The company's first camera was the Asahiflex, introduced in 1952 and widely recognized as Japan's first 35mm single-lens reflex camera. The PENTAX name was acquired from the German VEB Zeiss Ikon in the 1950s and became associated with Asahi Optical's photographic products. During the following decades, the company built an international presence through 35mm SLRs, interchangeable lenses, binoculars, spectacle lenses, and medium-format cameras. Its 6x7 and later 67 systems became particularly important in professional and enthusiast photography. In North America, many products were sold under the Honeywell Pentax name, while Asahi Pentax was used in other markets. Asahi Optical changed its corporate name to Pentax Corporation in 2002, reflecting the importance of the camera brand to the company. By the mid-2000s, however, the company was under pressure from the rapid transition to digital photography and competition from Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus, Panasonic, Fujifilm, and other manufacturers. Pentax's share of Japan's digital-camera market had fallen to approximately 4 percent by 2006, according to the referenced historical account. Hoya Corporation acquired control of Pentax in 2007 and merged the company into Hoya in 2008. Hoya retained businesses associated with medical optics, including endoscopic and ophthalmic technologies, while its camera strategy was later separated. In 2011, Hoya transferred the imaging systems business to Ricoh. Ricoh subsequently acquired the business and established the Ricoh Imaging organization, which continues to market PENTAX digital SLRs, lenses, binoculars, and related products. PENTAX cameras are therefore distinct from PENTAX-branded medical and surveying products, which are associated with other corporate successors. The modern camera brand concentrates on interchangeable-lens digital SLRs, including the full-frame K-1 series and medium-format 645 line, as well as lenses, accessories, binoculars, and compact optical products. Ricoh Imaging has continued to emphasize optical viewfinders, weather resistance, mechanical controls, backward compatibility with the K mount, and the experience of deliberate photography. In response to renewed interest in analog photography, Ricoh Imaging launched the PENTAX 17 in June 2024. The half-frame film camera was the first PENTAX-branded film camera introduced in more than twenty years, linking the brand's historical film identity with a contemporary market for new analog equipment.
History
PENTAX developed from Asahi Kogaku Goshi Kaisha, founded by Kumao Kajiwara in November 1919 in Tokyo. The original workshop specialized in polishing spectacle lenses. In 1938, the business became Asahi Optical Co., Ltd. and expanded into camera and cine lenses. During the prewar period it also supplied optical equipment for military contracts. Following its dissolution by the postwar occupation authorities, the company was allowed to re-form in 1948 and resumed optical production, including binoculars and camera lenses supplied to other Japanese manufacturers. Japan's photographic industry recovered strongly in the early 1950s. Asahi Optical responded by developing its own cameras and introduced the Asahiflex in 1952. The camera used 35mm film and is generally regarded as Japan's first 35mm SLR. The company later acquired the PENTAX trademark, a name derived from the concepts of pentaprism and Contax, and used it for an increasingly important range of photographic equipment. Asahi Pentax cameras and lenses gained international distribution, including sales in North America under Honeywell Pentax branding. The company expanded beyond 35mm equipment into medium format. Its 6x7 system, introduced in 1969, offered a large negative while retaining a camera form familiar to SLR users. The product family was renamed Pentax 67 in 1990 and remained in production until 1999. Alongside cameras, the wider company produced binoculars, spectacle lenses, and other optical products. The success and recognition of the photographic brand contributed to the 2002 corporate renaming from Asahi Optical to Pentax Corporation. The transition from film to digital photography created increasing competitive pressure. Pentax developed digital SLR products and also cooperated with Samsung in the mid-2000s. This relationship produced related camera bodies, including Samsung-branded versions of Pentax designs and jointly developed models such as the Pentax K10D and K20D and their Samsung counterparts. Nevertheless, the company faced declining market share and strategic uncertainty as larger rivals gained scale in digital imaging. Hoya began pursuing a combination with Pentax in 2006. The proposed transaction encountered opposition and management changes before Hoya completed a tender offer in August 2007. Pentax became a Hoya subsidiary and was merged into Hoya effective March 31, 2008. Hoya's primary interest lay in medical and optical technologies, including endoscopy and ophthalmic applications. Manufacturing facilities associated with the former Pentax business were reorganized, including the closure of the Tokyo factory and relocation of production to facilities in the Philippines and Vietnam. In 2011, Hoya announced the sale of the camera business to Ricoh. The imaging systems operation was transferred to Pentax Imaging Corporation and then acquired by Ricoh in October 2011. The business became Pentax Ricoh Imaging and was renamed Ricoh Imaging Company in 2013. Hoya retained the PENTAX name in medical businesses, while TI Asahi became associated with PENTAX-branded surveying equipment. Ricoh Imaging continued the camera brand through digital SLRs, lenses, binoculars, and accessories. In the 2020s, PENTAX maintained a differentiated position in a camera market increasingly dominated by mirrorless systems. Its products continued to emphasize optical viewfinders, mechanical controls, rugged bodies, and compatibility with the K-mount lens ecosystem. Ricoh Imaging also responded to renewed interest in film photography. On June 17, 2024, it introduced the PENTAX 17, a half-frame camera with a fixed zone-focusing lens and magnesium-alloy body. The launch represented the brand's return to new film-camera production after an interval of more than twenty years.
- 2024
PENTAX 17 film camera launches
[2]Ricoh Imaging introduces a new half-frame film camera, marking the brand's return to film-camera production after more than two decades.
- 2013
Pentax Ricoh Imaging becomes Ricoh Imaging
[1]The Ricoh-owned imaging company adopts the Ricoh Imaging Company name.
- 2011
Ricoh acquires the camera business
[1]Ricoh takes over Pentax's imaging systems operation from Hoya.
- 2008
Pentax merges into Hoya
[1]The corporate merger takes effect, while the former Pentax businesses are reorganized within Hoya.
- 2007
Hoya acquires control of Pentax
[1]Hoya completes a public tender offer and makes Pentax a consolidated subsidiary.
- 2002
Asahi Optical changes its corporate name to Pentax Corporation
[1]The corporate identity is changed to reflect the importance of the established PENTAX photographic brand.
- 1969
Pentax 6x7 medium-format system begins
[1]The company introduces a large-format SLR-style film system using 6x7 cm exposures.
- 1957
The PENTAX trademark enters Asahi Optical's camera business
[1]Asahi Optical acquires the PENTAX name and uses it for its photographic products.
- 1952
Asahiflex is introduced
[1]Asahi Optical launches the Asahiflex, recognized as Japan's first 35mm single-lens reflex camera.
- 1938
The company becomes Asahi Optical Co., Ltd.
[1]The renamed company expands its activities to include camera and cine lenses.
Products and positioning
A heritage-focused Japanese photography brand positioned around durable camera bodies, optical viewfinders, weather resistance, long-term lens compatibility, and enthusiast-oriented value. Its modern identity emphasizes distinctive handling and the continuation of both digital SLR and film photography rather than following the market entirely toward mirrorless systems.
35mm film SLR camera · 1952
Asahiflex
The Asahiflex was Asahi Optical's first camera and an important milestone in Japanese SLR development. Introduced in 1952, it used 35mm film and helped establish the technical direction that later made Asahi Pentax a major international camera brand.
medium-format film camera · 1990
Pentax 67
The Pentax 67 is the later name for Asahi Optical's 6x7 medium-format SLR system. It combined a large 6x7 cm film frame with an SLR-style body and became one of the company's best-known professional and enthusiast film-camera families.
full-frame digital SLR camera
PENTAX K-1 Mark II
The K-1 Mark II represents PENTAX's full-frame digital SLR line. It is associated with the brand's emphasis on an optical viewfinder, rugged construction, weather resistance, in-body image stabilization, and compatibility with the long-running K-mount lens system.
medium-format digital camera
PENTAX 645Z
The 645Z is a digital medium-format camera using the Pentax 645 lens system. It extends the company's historical medium-format positioning into digital imaging and is aimed at applications requiring high resolution and a large sensor.
interchangeable photographic lenses · 1975
PENTAX K-mount lenses
PENTAX's K-mount lens family supports the brand's film and digital SLR ecosystem. The long-running mount and backward compatibility are central to the brand's appeal, allowing photographers to use a broad range of PENTAX optics across successive camera generations.
half-frame film camera · 2024
PENTAX 17
The PENTAX 17 is a compact half-frame film camera launched by Ricoh Imaging in 2024. It uses a fixed zone-focusing lens, a magnesium-alloy body, and a vertical half-frame format that produces two images from the area normally occupied by one 35mm frame.
Marketing campaigns
- 2024PENTAX film photography project
Global
Ricoh Imaging's renewed film-camera initiative culminated in the PENTAX 17. The initiative responded to increased interest in film photography and presented a new analog product under the established PENTAX identity.
Outcome. The PENTAX 17 became the brand's first new film camera in more than twenty years.
Brand decisions
2024
Return to new film-camera productionProduct launchBackground
Renewed consumer and enthusiast interest in analog photography created an opportunity for a new film product despite the dominance of digital cameras.
Action taken
Ricoh Imaging launched the PENTAX 17, a half-frame film camera with a fixed zone-focusing lens.
Aftermath
The launch re-established PENTAX as a producer of new film cameras after an absence of more than two decades.
2011
Transfer the imaging business to RicohM&ABackground
Hoya's strategic priorities were centered on medical and optical businesses, while Ricoh sought to expand into cameras and imaging.
Action taken
Hoya transferred the Pentax imaging systems business to a new subsidiary and subsequently sold it to Ricoh.
Aftermath
The transaction created Pentax Ricoh Imaging, later renamed Ricoh Imaging Company. Hoya retained PENTAX-branded medical activities.
2007
Accept Hoya's acquisition offerM&ABackground
Pentax faced competitive pressure in digital imaging and increasing pressure from major shareholders while considering a proposed combination with Hoya.
Action taken
Pentax accepted Hoya's improved offer with conditions, after an earlier merger process had been called off.
Aftermath
Hoya acquired control in August 2007 and merged Pentax into Hoya in 2008. Pentax's medical and optical technologies became more closely integrated with Hoya's healthcare businesses.
Recent events
Reported
PENTAX announces a new 21mm limited-edition lens[3]
Ricoh Imaging announced the HD PENTAX-D FA 21mmF2.4ED Limited DC WR, a new fixed-focal-length lens for K-mount full-frame interchangeable-lens cameras.
- Unconfirmed
Reported
Pentax K-3 Mark III camera launch[4]
Ricoh officially released the Pentax K-3 Mark III DSLR camera.
Reported
Pentax releases HD PENTAX-D FA★ 85mm F1.4 lens[5]
Pentax released the HD PENTAX-D FA★ 85mm F1.4 ED SDM AW lens. The article describes optical, autofocus, and weather-resistant features of the new lens.
Sources5 sources
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