Asahi Pentax
Encyclopedia
The Asahi Pentax series, by the , was a pivotal development in modern photography. It was the first model of Pentax camera
.
Single-lens reflex camera
(SLR) camera
which was so well received that it influenced the design of 35 mm SLRs worldwide for years to come.
The Pentax and its later development and likewise classic 1964 Pentax Spotmatic
allowed Asahi Optical Company to develop into a photographic multinational company, eventually leading the company to rename itself "Pentax" after its seminal product.
Moreover, the Pentax placed controls in locations that would become standard on 35 mm SLRs from all manufacturers, such as the right-handed rapid wind lever, the bottom right mounted rewind release, and film speed
reminder around the film rewind crank, a location that remained standard even when the dial went from being merely a reminder to the photographer to actually controlling the light-meter built into later SLRs.
The two photographic giants, Canon and Nikon
did not introduce their own SLR cameras until 1959 with the Canonflex
and the F-series
respectively. By contrast, the Pentax offered these features at a relatively low price, introducing many photographers to 35 mm SLR photography.
The Pentax became so dominant that the 42 mm screw lens mount
used on the Pentax and Pentax Spotmatic
become known as the "Pentax universal screw mount" although it had actually been introduced by Contax
in 1949. Previously most makes of camera used proprietary mounts; the use of this mount by other manufacturers allowed owners of M42-equipped cameras to mount lenses from Zeiss, Yashica
, Soligor
, Vivitar
, Topcon
, Sigma
, Chinon
, and many more as well as Asahi's own highly regarded Takumar
lenses. These lenses had no other communication with the camera than a diaphragm interface which allowed focusing at full aperture, the lens being stopped down to working aperture on pressing the shutter release. Later cameras required more lens-body communication to implement shutter priority
exposure, program auto exposure, and finally, autofocus
sing, and different manufacturers used different interfaces, ending the era of interoperability.
In 1975 Pentax introduced the K mount
to replace the 42 mm screw lens mount
used so successfully until then. Its design has been upgraded so carefully over the years that the latest Pentax DSLR
models, Pentax K-5
, Pentax K-7
, Pentax K-r
and the Pentax K-x
can use any previously available lens for film. Pentax is currently owned by Hoya
. In July 2011 it was announced, that Ricoh
will acquire the PENTAX Imaging System Business and by that all camera related business.
Pentax cameras
This article discusses the cameras – mainly 35 mm SLRs – manufactured by Hoya Corporation's and its predecessors, and .It covers from the first "Asahiflex" models in 1952 and their successor, the pivotal "Asahi Pentax" single-lens reflex camera, to the present time.- Background :The...
.
Background
In 1957, the Asahi Optical Company (later "Pentax") introduced the Pentax, a 35 mm135 film
The term 135 was introduced by Kodak in 1934 as a designation for cartridge film wide, specifically for still photography. It quickly grew in popularity, surpassing 120 film by the late 1960s to become the most popular photographic film format...
Single-lens reflex camera
Single-lens reflex camera
A single-lens reflex camera is a camera that typically uses a semi-automatic moving mirror system that permits the photographer to see exactly what will be captured by the film or digital imaging system, as opposed to pre-SLR cameras where the view through the viewfinder could be significantly...
(SLR) camera
Camera
A camera is a device that records and stores images. These images may be still photographs or moving images such as videos or movies. The term camera comes from the camera obscura , an early mechanism for projecting images...
which was so well received that it influenced the design of 35 mm SLRs worldwide for years to come.
The Pentax and its later development and likewise classic 1964 Pentax Spotmatic
Pentax Spotmatic
The Pentax Spotmatic is a range of 35mm single-lens reflex cameras manufactured by the Asahi Optical Co. Ltd., later known as Pentax Corporation, between 1964 and 1976. The original 1964 Spotmatic was one of the first SLRs to offer a through-the-lens exposure metering system, initially using...
allowed Asahi Optical Company to develop into a photographic multinational company, eventually leading the company to rename itself "Pentax" after its seminal product.
Features and market impact
The Asahi Pentax of 1957 featured:- Rapid-wind film advance lever. Earlier 35 mm SLRs, with the sole exception of ExaktaExaktaThe Exakta is a pioneer brand camera produced by the Ihagee Kamerawerk in Dresden, Germany, founded as the Industrie und Handels-Gesellschaft mbH, in 1912.- Characteristics :Highlights of Exakta cameras include:...
's left-handed lever, had knob winders. - Film rewind crank, likewise a first for 35 mm SLRs.
- Instant mirror return, unique to the Pentax and its immediate predecessor, the Asahiflex IIb
- Microprism focusing aids on the focus screen, unique to the Pentax
Moreover, the Pentax placed controls in locations that would become standard on 35 mm SLRs from all manufacturers, such as the right-handed rapid wind lever, the bottom right mounted rewind release, and film speed
Film speed
Film speed is the measure of a photographic film's sensitivity to light, determined by sensitometry and measured on various numerical scales, the most recent being the ISO system....
reminder around the film rewind crank, a location that remained standard even when the dial went from being merely a reminder to the photographer to actually controlling the light-meter built into later SLRs.
The two photographic giants, Canon and Nikon
Nikon
, also known as just Nikon, is a multinational corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, specializing in optics and imaging. Its products include cameras, binoculars, microscopes, measurement instruments, and the steppers used in the photolithography steps of semiconductor fabrication, of which...
did not introduce their own SLR cameras until 1959 with the Canonflex
Canon Canonflex
The Canonflex is a Canon 35 mm film single-lens reflex camera introduced in May 1959. Its standard lens is the Canon Camera Co. Super-Canomatic R 50mm lens 1.8. The camera was in production for one year before it was replaced by the Canonflex R2000, adding a 1/2000 sec...
and the F-series
Nikon F
The Nikon F camera, introduced in 1959, was Nikon's first SLR camera. It was one of the most advanced cameras of its day. Although most of its concepts had already been introduced elsewhere, it was the first camera to combine them all in one camera. It was produced until October 1973 and was...
respectively. By contrast, the Pentax offered these features at a relatively low price, introducing many photographers to 35 mm SLR photography.
The Pentax became so dominant that the 42 mm screw lens mount
M42 lens mount
The M42 lens mount is a screw thread mounting standard for attaching lenses to 35 mm cameras, primarily single-lens reflex models. It is more accurately known as the M42 × 1 mm standard, which means that it is a metric screw thread of 42 mm diameter and 1 mm thread pitch...
used on the Pentax and Pentax Spotmatic
Pentax Spotmatic
The Pentax Spotmatic is a range of 35mm single-lens reflex cameras manufactured by the Asahi Optical Co. Ltd., later known as Pentax Corporation, between 1964 and 1976. The original 1964 Spotmatic was one of the first SLRs to offer a through-the-lens exposure metering system, initially using...
become known as the "Pentax universal screw mount" although it had actually been introduced by Contax
Contax
Contax was a camera brand noted for its unique technical innovation and a wide range of Zeiss lenses, noted for their high optical quality. Its final incarnation was a line of 35 mm, medium format and digital cameras engineered and manufactured by Kyocera, and featuring modern Zeiss optics...
in 1949. Previously most makes of camera used proprietary mounts; the use of this mount by other manufacturers allowed owners of M42-equipped cameras to mount lenses from Zeiss, Yashica
Yashica
Yashica was a Japanese manufacturer of cameras.-History:The company began in December, 1949 in Nagano, Japan, when the Yashima Seiki Company was founded with an initial investment of $566. Its eight employees originally manufactured components for electric clocks...
, Soligor
Soligor
Soligor was originally the trade mark for the American Allied Impex Corporation, used from 1956 for lenses and later cameras imported from Japan. It imported cameras from Japan and also took control of companies in Japan...
, Vivitar
Vivitar
Vivitar Corporation was a manufacturer, distributor and marketer of photographic and optical equipment originally based in Oxnard, California. Since 2008 the Vivitar name serves as Sakar International's photographic and optical equipment brand.-Products:...
, Topcon
Topcon
Topcon is a Japanese manufacturer of optical equipment for ophthalmology and surveying. Their headquarters are in Itabashi, Tokyo. They are affiliated with Toshiba, which holds 40% of Topcon's stock.-History of Topcon:...
, Sigma
Sigma Corporation
is a Japanese company founded in 1961, manufacturing cameras, lenses, flashes and other photographic accessories. All Sigma products are produced in the company's own Aizu factory in Bandai, Fukushima, Japan...
, Chinon
Chinon Industries
was a Japanese camera manufacturer. Kodak took a majority stake in the company in 1997, and made it a fully owned subsidiary of Kodak Japan, , in 2004 . As a subsidiary, it continues to develop digital camera models....
, and many more as well as Asahi's own highly regarded Takumar
Takumar
Takumar is the name that Asahi Optical gave to its lenses, notably but not exclusively those for its own SLR cameras. Named after the Japanese-American portrait painter, , whose brother Kumao Kajiware founded Asahi Optical, the name adorned its lenses until 1975, when Asahi switched from the M42...
lenses. These lenses had no other communication with the camera than a diaphragm interface which allowed focusing at full aperture, the lens being stopped down to working aperture on pressing the shutter release. Later cameras required more lens-body communication to implement shutter priority
Shutter priority
Shutter priority refers to a setting on some cameras that allows the user to choose a specific shutter speed while the camera adjusts the aperture to ensure correct exposure...
exposure, program auto exposure, and finally, autofocus
Autofocus
An autofocus optical system uses a sensor, a control system and a motor to focus fully automatic or on a manually selected point or area. An electronic rangefinder has a display instead of the motor; the adjustment of the optical system has to be done manually until indication...
sing, and different manufacturers used different interfaces, ending the era of interoperability.
In 1975 Pentax introduced the K mount
Pentax K mount
The Pentax K mount, sometimes referred to as the "PK mount", is a lens mount standard for mounting interchangeable photographic lenses to 35 mm single-lens reflex cameras. It was created by Pentax in 1975, and has been used by all Pentax 35 mm and digital SLRs since...
to replace the 42 mm screw lens mount
M42 lens mount
The M42 lens mount is a screw thread mounting standard for attaching lenses to 35 mm cameras, primarily single-lens reflex models. It is more accurately known as the M42 × 1 mm standard, which means that it is a metric screw thread of 42 mm diameter and 1 mm thread pitch...
used so successfully until then. Its design has been upgraded so carefully over the years that the latest Pentax DSLR
Digital single-lens reflex camera
Most digital single-lens reflex cameras are digital cameras that use a mechanical mirror system and pentaprism to direct light from the lens to an optical viewfinder on the back of the camera....
models, Pentax K-5
Pentax K-5
The Pentax K-5 is a 16.3-megapixel digital single-lens reflex camera, announced on 20 September 2010. It began shipping in mid-October 2010.Externally, the camera body is almost unchanged from the Pentax K-7...
, Pentax K-7
Pentax K-7
The Pentax K-7 is a 14.6-megapixel digital single-lens reflex camera, announced on 20 May 2009. This is the first new flagship model released by Pentax since its merger with Hoya Corporation on 31 March 2008.- Features :...
, Pentax K-r
Pentax K-r
The Pentax K-r is a 12.4-megapixel digital single-lens reflex camera, announced on September 9, 2010. The K-r is available in 3 body colors in North America, with other colors available only in the Japanese market. The K-r introduces a new SAFOX IX autofocus system and has a 3-inch...
and the Pentax K-x
Pentax K-x
The Pentax K-x is a 12.4 megapixel digital single-lens reflex camera, announced on September 16, 2009. Pentax K-x uses an Exmor, Sony-made sensor . In some cases it even approaches the quality produced by full-frame DSLRs like the Nikon D700 and the Canon 5DMkII, both with larger sensors...
can use any previously available lens for film. Pentax is currently owned by Hoya
Hoya Corporation
is a Japanese company leading in manufacturing of optical products including photomasks, photomask blanks and glass magnetic-memory disks, contact lenses and eyeglass lenses using the wavefront technology, Photonics...
. In July 2011 it was announced, that Ricoh
Ricoh
or Ricoh, is a Japanese company that was established in 1936 on February 6th, as , a company in the RIKEN zaibatsu. Its headquarters is located in Ricoh Building in Chūō, Tokyo....
will acquire the PENTAX Imaging System Business and by that all camera related business.