3 Interesting Things You Didn’t Know About Pentax
From classic masterpieces to innovative models, Pentax has redefined the power of expression with each of its successor. But did you know that Pentax was originally a manufacturer of lenses for eyeglasses? Yes, Pentax was originally founded in 1919 by Kumao Kajiwara as a manufacturer of projection lenses, binoculars, and camera lenses. Here are 3 interesting things that you probably didn’t know about Pentax:
Pioneer of Single-lens reflex cameras: Did you know that in 1952, Pentax became the first manufacturer of single-lens reflex camera? After its establishment, Pentax garnered a standing for its lens coating technologies. Subsequently, Pentax released a number of products with improved technical precision until 1952, when the company finally released “Asahiflex I”. Ever since its launch, Pentax grew from domestic lens manufacturer to an international brand of single-lens reflex cameras.
Pentax was the first camera of choice for celebrity photographers: If you are a photography enthusiast, it might interest you that some of world’s illustrious photographers began their journey of photography with Pentax cameras. Terence Donovan, an English photographer and film director, recognized for his fashion photography of the ’60s extensively used Pentax 67. Having worked with noted fashion magazines like Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Elle, Donovan used 67 to click pictures that launched thousand faces. Other professional photographers who worked with Pentax cameras are Sam Haskins, Bob Carlos-Clarke, and David Bailey. Bailey, an English fashion and portrait photographer, famous for his use of Pentax, even had his camera featured in one of the ads.
Pentax prototyped world’s first full frame digital SLR: Yes, you read it right! It was years before Nikon and Canon achieved this feat. In 1975, Steven Sasson invented the world’s first digital camera which lacked full frame digital sensor. Grabbing the opportunity, Pentax got on board with Philips electronics corporation to develop world’s first full frame DSLR and created MZ-D. After the first screening of the device at world’s largest trade fair, MZ-D created a lot of buzz in the market. Unfortunately, it never got materialized in production apparently because of Pentax’s discontentment with the performance of Philips sensor. Had the sensor been successful, Pentax would have been the lead in the digital camera industry. That said, Pentax is back in the saddle with its all new Pentax K-1, making an entry into the field of 35mm full-frame digital SLR camera.
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