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{{short description|Japanese optics company and brand owned by Ricoh}}
{{distinguish|Pantex}}
{{for|the series of cameras|Asahi Pentax}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Pentax Corporation 
| native_name_lang = ja
| romanized_name = Pentakkusu [[Kabushiki gaisha]]
| former_name = {{plainlist|
* Asahi Kagaku Kogyo ''[[Gōshi gaisha]]'' (1919–1938)
* Asahi Optical Co., Ltd. ''[[Kabushiki gaisha]]'' (1938–2002)
}}
| type = [[Public company|Public]] {{Tyo|7750}} (–2007); [[Subsidiary]] of [[Hoya Corporation]] (2007–2008)
| logo = Pentax Logo.svg
| logo_size = 200px
| image = PENTAX head office tokyo 2009.JPG
| image_size = 250px
| image_caption = Former headquarters in [[Itabashi, Tokyo]]
| native_name = ペンタックス株式会社
| successor = {{plainlist|
* Pentax Life Care Business Division of Hoya<br>(medical endoscope business)
* Ricoh Imaging<br>(digital camera business)
}}
| fate = Merged into [[Hoya Corporation|Hoya]]; digital camera business spun off to [[Ricoh]]
| founded = {{Start date and age|1919|11}}<br />[[Tokyo]], [[Japan]]
| location = Maenochō
| hq_location_city = [[Itabashi, Tokyo]]
| hq_location_country = Japan
| area_served = Worldwide
| num_employees = 1,661 (as of March 31, 2005; non-consolidated Pentax Corp. only)
| revenue = {{profit}} JP¥157.3 billion (Business year ending March 31, 2007)
| net_income = {{profit}} JP¥3.57 billion
| industry = [[Reprography|Imaging]]
| products = [[Camera]]s and photographic equipment; [[binoculars]], [[spotting scope]]s and [[telescope]]s; medical [[fiberscope]]s and [[endoscope]]s; medical fine [[ceramic]]s products; information and communications products; components; industrial products; eyeglass lenses
| homepage = {{URL|http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/index.html|Pentax}}
}}
{{Nihongo|'''Pentax Corporation'''|ペンタックス株式会社|Pentakkusu [[Kabushiki gaisha]]}} was a Japanese camera and optical equipment manufacturer. Currently, it exists as the '''Pentax''' Life Care Business Division of [[Hoya Corporation|Hoya]]'s medical [[endoscope]] business, as well as the digital and film camera brand of Ricoh Imaging, a subsidiary of [[Ricoh]].

Pentax, founded in 1919 as '''Asahi Kogaku Goshi Kaisha''', 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.'''. In the mid-1950s, Asahi Optical Co., Ltd. acquired the German brand Pentax, and '''Asahi Pentax Corporation''' was established in Japan as a sales company. In 2002, Asahi Optical Co. changed its name to Pentax Corporation. By 2006, Pentax's domestic market share in digital cameras had declined to 4%. In 2007, Pentax was acquired by [[Hoya Corporation|Hoya]] and subsequently merged with the company the following year. In 2011, Hoya spun off the Pentax brand's digital camera business, which was then acquired by [[Ricoh]], leading to the establishment of Pentax Ricoh Imaging (currently Ricoh Imaging).

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 camera|half-frame]] film camera.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Niccolls |first=Chris |date=2024-06-17 |title=Pentax 17 Review: A Brand-New Film Experience Worth Having |url=https://petapixel.com/2024/06/17/pentax-17-review-a-brand-new-film-experience-worth-having/ |access-date=2024-06-18 |website=PetaPixel |language=en}}</ref> This launch marks the first Pentax film camera in over two decades.

==Corporate history==
=== Early history ===
The original company was founded as Asahi Optical Co '''Asahi Kogaku Goshi Kaisha''' in November 1919 by Kumao Kajiwara, at a shop in the [[Toshima, Tokyo (ward)|Toshima]] suburb of [[Tokyo]], and began producing [[corrective lenses|spectacle lenses]] (which it still manufactures).<ref>{{cite web | url = http://digilander.libero.it/aohc/selart16e.htm | title = History of Pentax Corporation|publisher = Derek J. White }}</ref> ''Asahi'' means in Japanese "Rising Sun" and was chosen as a symbol of hope. ''Kogaku'' means "optical" or "optics", while ''Goshi Kaisha'' is a Japanese term for a "limited partnership company," which was its original legal structure.

In 1938, it changed its name to {{nihongo|'''Asahi Optical Co., Ltd.'''|旭光学工業株式会社|Asahi Kōgaku Kōgyō Kabushiki-gaisha}}; by this time, it was also manufacturing camera/cine lenses. In the lead-up to World War II, Asahi Optical devoted much of its time to fulfilling military contracts for optical instruments. At the end of the war, Asahi Optical was disbanded by the occupying powers, being allowed to re-form in 1948. The company resumed its pre-war activities, manufacturing binoculars and consumer camera lenses for Konishiroku and Chiyoda Kōgaku Seikō (later [[Konica]] and [[Minolta]] respectively).

===Early 1950s to 2007===
The period around 1950 marked the return of the Japanese photographic industry to the vigorous level of the late 1930s, and its emergence as a major exporter. The newly reborn industry had sold many of its cameras to the occupation forces (having had far more disposable income than the Japanese), which were well received.<ref>{{cite news|last=Deschin|first=Jacob|date=1950-12-10|title=Japanese Camera; 'Pigtails'|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1950/12/10/archives/japanese-camera-pigtails.html|url-access=limited|work=[[The New York Times]]|at=sec.X p.21|location=New York City|access-date=2024-02-22}}</ref> The [[Korean War]] saw a huge influx of journalists and photographers to the [[Far East]], where they were impressed by lenses from companies such as [[Nikon]] and [[Canon (company)|Canon]] for their [[Leica Camera|Leica]] rangefinder cameras, and also by bodies by these and other companies to supplement and replace the Leica and [[Contax]] cameras they were using.

[[File:Technische Sammlungen Dresden - Foto - Spiegelreflexkamera Pentax 1954 - Prototyp - DSC4363.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Zeiss Ikon ''Pentax'' prototype with a Carl Zeiss Jena [[Tessar]] lens]]
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 Germany|East German]] VEB [[Carl Zeiss AG|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, distributed 35mm equipment under the name "Asahi Pentax" and medium format 120 6x7cm equipment under the sub brand "Pentax 6x7" (from 1969 to 1990) and "Pentax 67" (from 1990 to 1999). Equipment was exported to the United States from the 1950s until the mid-1970s; being imported by [[Honeywell]] Corporation and branded as "Heiland Pentax" and later "Honeywell Pentax". The company was renamed Pentax Corporation in 2002. It was one of the world's largest optical companies, producing still [[camera]]s, [[binoculars]], spectacle lenses, and a variety of other optical instruments. In 2004, Pentax had about 6000 employees.

===Merger with Hoya===
In December 2006, Pentax started the process of merging with [[Hoya Corporation]] to form 'Hoya Pentax HD Corporation'.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.hoya.co.jp/data/current/newsobj-368-pdf.pdf | title=HOYA and <!-- [http://pentaxk5.info --> PENTAX Reach Basic Understanding for Management Integration | publisher=[[Hoya Corporation|Hoya]] | date=2006-12-21 | access-date=2007-04-12}}</ref> 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. A stock swap was to be completed by October 1, 2007, but the process was called off on April 11, 2007. Pentax president Fumio Urano resigned over the matter, with Takashi Watanuki taking over as president of Pentax.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200704110074.html | date=2007-04-11 | title=Pentax scraps Hoya deal, picks new boss | publisher=The Asahi shimbun | access-date=2007-04-12 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070929130527/http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200704110074.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-09-29}}</ref> However, despite Watanuki's previously stated opposition to a Hoya merger, on May 16 it was reported that Pentax had accepted "with conditions" a sweetened offer from Hoya, according to a source familiar with the matter.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/innovationNews/idUST29241120070516 | date=2007-05-16 | title=Pentax to accept Hoya offer with conditions: source | work=Reuters | access-date=2007-05-18}}</ref> Pentax was under increasing pressure from its major shareholders, Sparx Asset Management in particular, to accept Hoya's bid.

On August 6, 2007, Hoya completed a friendly public [[tender offer]] for Pentax and acquired 90.59% of the company.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.hoya.co.jp/data/current/newsobj-443-pdf.pdf | date=2007-08-07 | title=Notice Regarding the Results of the Tender Offer for the Shares of Pentax Corporation and Change of Subsidiary | publisher=Hoya Corporation | access-date=2007-08-07}}</ref> On August 14, 2007, the company became a consolidated subsidiary of Hoya. On October 29, 2007, Hoya and Pentax announced that Pentax would merge with and into Hoya effective on March 31, 2008.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.pentax.co.jp/english/news/announce/20071029-02.pdf | date=2007-10-29 | title=Public Notice of Execution of Merger Agreement | publisher=Pentax Corporation | access-date=2007-10-31 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081209102255/http://www.pentax.co.jp/english/news/announce/20071029-02.pdf | archive-date=2008-12-09 }}</ref> Hoya closed the Pentax-owned factory in [[Tokyo]], and moved all manufacturing facilities to [[Cebu]], [[Philippines]] and [[Hanoi]], [[Vietnam]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/137-photographic-industry-professionals/390277-info-about-ricoh-s-factory-vietnam.html|title=Info about Ricoh's factory in Vietnam - PentaxForums.com|website=www.pentaxforums.com}}</ref>

===Ricoh Imaging Company===
On July 1, 2011, Hoya stated that it would sell its Pentax camera business to copier and printer maker [[Ricoh]], in a deal the Nikkei business daily reported was worth about 10 billion yen ($124.2 million).<ref>"[https://www.reuters.com/article/ricoh-hoya-idUSL3E7I10G620110701 Reuters Ricoh to buy Pentax]." ''Ricoh to buy Pentax from Hoya''. July 1, Retrieved 2011 July 1, 2011.</ref> On July 29, 2011, Hoya transferred its Pentax imaging systems business to a newly established subsidiary called Pentax Imaging Corporation. On October 1, 2011, Ricoh acquired all shares of Pentax Imaging Corp. and renamed the new subsidiary '''Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company, Ltd.'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ricoh.com/release/2011/1001_1|title=Ricoh Establishes PENTAX RICOH IMAGING|website=www.ricoh.com}}</ref> 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.'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/news/2013/20130702.html|title=COMPANY NAME CHANGE|website=www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp}}</ref>

==Products==
{{Main|Pentax cameras|Pentax (lens)}}
Asahi Optical Co Ltd is best known for Asahi [[Pentax 6x7]] medium format film cameras and the later Pentax Corporation is best known for [[Pentax 67]] medium format film cameras.

In 1990, the Asahi Optical Co. Ltd renamed the sub-brand from "Pentax 6x7" to [[Pentax 67]].  The company produced Pentax 67 cameras until 1999 and ceased trading in 2002.

The success of the "Pentax" series was such that the business eventually renamed itself "Pentax Corporation" after the 35mm product line. Although the corporation ultimately merged into [[Hoya Corporation]], it eventually was purchased by [[Ricoh]], which continues to develop and market digital cameras under the Pentax brand. Currently, Pentax DSLRs are manufactured in [[Cebu]], [[Philippines]], while digital Pentax lenses are manufactured in [[Hanoi]], [[Vietnam]], under Pentax Ricoh Imaging Products.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ricoh.com/release/2011/1001_1|title = Ricoh Establishes PENTAX RICOH I}}</ref>

In June 17, 2024, Pentax launched their latest product, the Pentax 17. The Pentax 17 is a half-frame camera with a fixed zone focusing lens, a magnesium alloy body, and a price tag of $500. The Pentax 17 is the company's first film camera in over two decades.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PENTAX 17 |url=https://pentax.eu/products/pentax-17 |access-date=2024-06-18 |website=PENTAX - Official Store |language=en}}</ref> 

==Corporate cooperation and competition==
In 2005, Pentax Corporation partnered with [[Samsung]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.pentax.co.jp/english/news/2005/i0522.html | title=PENTAX and Korea's Samsung Techwin reach an agreement to jointly develop lens-interchangeable digital SLR cameras | publisher=Pentax | date=2005-10-12 | access-date=2006-01-31 | url-status=bot: unknown | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061013134524/http://www.pentax.co.jp/english/news/2005/i0522.html | archive-date=2006-10-13 }}</ref> to share work on camera technology and recapture market ground from Nikon and Canon.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dpreview.com/news/0510/05101201samsung_pentaxdslrs.asp | title=Samsung and Pentax to co-develop DSLRs | publisher=dpreview.com | date=2005-10-12 | access-date=2011-06-28}}</ref> Pentax and Samsung subsequently released new DSLR siblings from this agreement. The [[Pentax *ist DS]] and [[Pentax *ist DL2|*istDL2]] also appeared as the [[Samsung GX-1S]] and [[Samsung GX-1L|GX-1L]], while the jointly developed (90% Pentax and 10% Samsung) Pentax [[Pentax K10D|K10D]] and [[Pentax K20D|K20D]] gave birth to the [[Samsung GX-10]] and [[Samsung GX-20|GX-20]] respectively. Some Pentax lenses are also rebranded and sold as  [[Samsung]] [[Schneider Kreuznach]] D-Xenon and D-Xenogon lenses for Samsung DSLRs. However, both brands are completely compatible with Pentax and [[Samsung]] DSLRs. In 2017, [[Samsung]] announced its departure of the camera market.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.notebookcheck.net/Samsung-leaving-the-digital-camera-market.211702.0.html|title = Samsung leaving the digital camera market| date=7 April 2017 }}</ref>

Hoya is focusing its main business on the following areas: information technology, eye care, life care, optics, imaging systems. Pentax’s main [[competitor]]s include [[Canon (company)|Canon]], [[Nikon Corporation|Nikon]], [[Olympus company|Olympus]], [[Panasonic Corporation|Panasonic]], [[Sony]] (imaging/camera business), [[Fujifilm]], Sangi, [[Kyocera]] (life care business).

==Europe and Asia==
Asahi Pentax (all 35mm equipment)
Pentax 6x7 (medium format 120 6x7cm equipment from 1969 to 1990)
Pentax 67 (medium format 120 6x7cm equipment from 1990 to 1999)

==North America==
Honeywell Pentax (medium format 120 6x7cm equipment from 1969 to 1990)

==Subsidiaries==
===Asia===
* Pentax Industrial Instruments Co., Ltd.
* Pentax Optotech Co., Ltd.
* Pentax Service, Co., Ltd.
* Pentax Fukushima Co., Ltd.
* Pentax Tohoku Co., Ltd.
* Pentax Trading (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
* Pentax (Shanghai) Corporation
* Pentax Hong Kong Ltd.
* Pentax Cebu Philippines Corporation
* Pentax VN Co., Ltd.

===Europe===
* Pentax Europe GmbH
* Pentax U.K. Ltd.
* Pentax France S.A.
* Pentax Schweiz AG
* Pentax Scandinavia AB
* Pentax Nederland B.V.
* Pentax Europe n.v.

===North America===
* Pentax of America Inc. (Pentax Medical Company)
* Pentax of America Inc. (Pentax Imaging Company)
* Pentax of America Inc.
* Pentax Medical Company
* Pentax Imaging Company
* Microline Pentax Inc.
* Pentax Canada Inc.
* KayPentax (Pentax Medical Company)
* Pentax Teknologies.

==See also==
{{Portal|Companies}}
* [[Asahi Pentax]]
* [[Asahiflex]]
* [[List of digital camera brands]]
* [[List of Pentax products]]
* [[List of photographic equipment makers]]
* [[Pentax cameras]]
* [[Pentax lenses]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|30em}}

==References==
* ''The Japanese Historical Camera.'' 日本の歴史的カメラ (''Nihon no rekishiteki kamera''). 2nd ed. Tokyo: JCII Camera Museum, 2004. <!-- No ISBN -->
* {{cite book| last=Cecchi| first=Danilo| year=1991| title=Asahi Pentax and Pentax SLR 35mm Cameras 1952–1989| publisher= Hove Photo Books| place=Sussex| isbn=978-0-906447-62-8}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Pentax}}
* {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928120832/http://www.pentax.jp/english/index.html |title=Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company (digital cameras, binoculars, etc. – Ricoh)|date=2012-09-28}}
* [https://www.pentaxcanada.ca/ Pentax Canada] (Ricoh Imaging)
* [https://www.pentaxoptical.com/ Pentax Optical] (Hoya Vision Care)
* [https://pentaxsurveying.eu.com/en/ Pentax Surveying Instruments] (TI Asahi)
* [https://www.pentaxmedical.com/pentax/ Pentax Medical Company] (endoscopic imaging devices – Hoya)

{{Electronics industry in Japan}}
{{Ricoh}}
{{Major imaging companies}}

[[Category:Pentax| ]]
[[Category:Fuyo Group]]
[[Category:Companies formerly listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange]]
[[Category:Japanese brands]]
[[Category:Lens manufacturers]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies based in Tokyo]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1919]]
[[Category:Photography equipment manufacturers of Japan]]
[[Category:Technology companies disestablished in 2008]]
[[Category:2008 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:Japanese companies established in 1919]]