Minolta
Minolta was one of the oldest camera manufacturers in Japan and until 2003, after Canon and Nikon , the third largest in the world.
history
The company's history goes back to 1928, when Kazuo Tashima founded the Nichi documentary Shashinki Shōten ( 日 独 写真 機 商店 , "Japanese-German camera business") on November 11, 1928 . In July 1931, the company was renamed Molta KG ("Mechanism, Optics and Lenses from Tashima") and the brand name Minolta ("Mechanism, Instruments, Optics and Lenses from Tashima") was registered. In 1937 it was renamed Chiyoko (Chiyoda Kogaku Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha) or Chiyoda Kogaku . It was not until July 1962 that the name Minolta Camera Company (Minolta Kabushiki Kaisha) was also used as a company .
In 2000, the printer manufacturer QMS was taken over by Minolta; the company Minolta-QMS was created.
In August 2003, took place merger of Minolta Co., Ltd. with the Konica Corporation to Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc. ( Japaneseコ ニ カ ミ ノ ル タ ホ ー ル デ ィ ン グ ス, Konika Minoruta Hōrudingusu). The merger was completed in January 2004. A cooperation between the two companies in the research and development of certain new products had existed since April 2000. Since then, the company has operated under the name Konica Minolta , which also became the new brand name.
The European headquarters Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe GmbH ( Langenhagen ) and Konica Minolta Photo Imaging Europe GmbH ( Hohenbrunn ) were also combined under the umbrella of the new holding company ; the new companies are the legal successors of the former Konica Business Machines Deutschland GmbH , Konica Europe GmbH and Minolta Europe GmbH . The companies have 26 European branches with around 6,000 employees.
In the summer of 2005 Konica-Minolta announced a strategic partnership with the Sony company , together the two companies wanted to develop high-quality digital cameras . On January 19, 2006, the company announced its withdrawal from the camera business with end customers on March 31, 2006. The photo-film business was finally closed. Sony took over the autofocus SLR system and continues to use it digitally as part of the Alpha system to this day. Konica Minolta relies on other market segments.
Cooperations
Minolta is also known for its collaboration with traditional European manufacturers Leitz ( Leica ) and Hasselblad .
In the 1970s there was a close cooperation between Leitz and Minolta , which officially began in 1972. In 1973 the legendary Leica CL was presented as the Leitz-Minolta CL , a high-quality rangefinder camera with interchangeable lenses. The CL is still the smallest and lightest Leica (with the exception of digital cameras); it became so popular that , according to hearsay , Leitz was forced to pull the emergency brake. Minolta then brought out the greatly improved Minolta CLE on its own in 1981 . Minolta also worked with Leitz on the Leica R3 , which became the first Leica SLR camera with electronic control and largely corresponded to the Minolta XE series (from 1974). These housings use the particularly smooth-running, electronically controlled CLS metal blade shutter developed by Leitz, manufactured by Copal and adapted by Minolta. The Leica R4 (ca. 1980) was based in part on the technically Minolta XD7 (1977). There was also cooperation in both directions with some lenses, for example some Leica lenses from this time are based on Minolta calculations and were produced by Minolta (e.g. the Fish-Eye 2.8 / 16 mm or the mirror telephoto RF 8 / 800 mm), and vice versa there were e.g. For example, the Leitz 6.3 / 800 mm Telyt-S long-range lens with a Minolta SR bayonet, and suitable adapters were offered for the Leitz Photare 12.5 mm and 25 mm. The Minolta MD and AF 4 / 70–210 mm lenses, however, should be based on the Leica R counterpart. However, there was a loose collaboration long beyond the 1970s. B. the Leica angle finder-R (14300) for the Leica SL2 and the Leica R3 to R9 except for the eyepiece connection the Minolta angle finder Vn.
The Leica AF-C1 (1989–1991), the first Leica compact camera, was also developed in collaboration with Minolta. It had an automatic exposure control, built-in motors for film winding and rewinding, a built-in flash and an autofocus.
For the Hasselblad medium format cameras , Minolta further developed its proprietary Acute-Matte screen technology , which Minolta had introduced to the market with the XD7 in 1977, but had been testing in prototypes since 1973. By using these modern focusing screens with micro-honeycomb lenses , the viewfinder image of the Hasselblad cameras of the V and H series was significantly brighter and for the first time evenly illuminated. This makes it easier to focus , especially when there is little ambient light. From 1996/1997 Hasselblad offered the improved Acute-Matte Type D focusing screens. In another documented case of cooperation, the AF cross sensor of the Minolta Dynax 9 was later used in the Hasselblad H1 (2002), which was also marketed in Japan as the Fujifilm GX645AF Professional.
There were also various partnerships with Agfa , for example the Agfa Microflex-300 sensor film camera corresponded to the Minolta Pocket Z-8 / Pocket-8 400 from 1973, and behind the Agfa ActionCam from 1995 is the Minolta RD-175, an early one DSLR for the Minolta-A bayonet.
Conversely, the 1990 Minolta Instant Pro instant camera was developed from a sideline of the Polaroid Spectra Pro, and the Minolta video recorders were (at least in part) produced by Hitachi .
Some Minolta digital cameras come from the Taiwanese ODM manufacturer Skanhex , including the Dimage 2300 and 2330 Zoom. The latter camera corresponds to the Skanhex SX-230Z and was with a slightly different housing on the market under other names such as Jenoptik JD 2300 z3, Rollei d23 com, Soligor SX-230z and Maginon SX230z.
For the purpose of adapting the Minolta Telezoom 8 / 100–500 mm and the mirror telescope RF 8/500 mm to Arriflex film cameras, Minolta also cooperated with the Japanese television company NHK around 1980 .
The exact nature of the cooperation with the Chinese camera manufacturer (Shanghai) Seagull has not yet been finally clarified. What is certain, however, is that Seagull manufactured cases with an SR bayonet under its own name as early as the 1960s, which were based on the original Minolta cases (including the SR-1) and also appeared in Germany from around 1971, and that Minolta At the beginning of the 1990s, the production of cases of the Minolta X-300 series was outsourced to Seagull in China and then later completely transferred, whereupon Seagull released various derivatives and further developments based on this Minolta chassis under its own name and that of another. The fact that Seagull also began to offer various accessories some time after Konica Minolta gave up the camera business, which look deceptively similar to parts from the former Minolta delivery program, supports the assumption that these parts were also produced for Minolta at Seagull before that were. So z. B. the Seagull Magnifier of the Minolta viewfinder Vn and the hot shoe adapter Seagull SC-5 appears as a further development of the Minolta FS-1100 with an additional PC socket.
Even after its withdrawal from the photo division, Konica Minolta still produces optical assemblies for other manufacturers, such as lenses for JVC video cameras such as the HD Everio GZ-HD3 from 2007. Clear indications of a (possibly only temporary) cooperation between Konica Minolta as There are also suppliers for components of the Sony α system. For example, the first DSLR in this system, the Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 presented in 2006, is almost entirely based on a Konica Minolta design, as can be seen from an analysis of the firmware and the Konica Minolta code number “2187” in the camera's service manual demonstrate. The second camera in this series, the Sony Alpha DSLR-A700 presented in 2007, is also based on information in the “Service Manual” on a design that Konica Minolta has at least started under the code number “2179”.
Product range
Minolta’s product range included digital cameras , 35mm cameras , binoculars , multifunctional office systems, copier systems, laser printers , fax systems, scanners, and color and light measurement systems. In the company's long history, for example, Minolta has also manufactured medium format , disc , pocket and APS cameras , as well as planetariums for historical reasons . Minolta was the third largest camera manufacturer in the world after Canon and Nikon . Minolta took a leading role in the manufacture of light meters , especially spot light meters and color temperature meters .
photography
The company became known for its products, especially in the optics , camera and film sectors. Minolta developed the first Rokkor lenses as early as 1940 ; this lens designation has been retained in some product lines to this day.
Between 1962 and 1984 Minolta produced a series of 35mm cameras under the name Hi-Matic . The first Hi-Matic became famous when a copy of John Glenn was brought into space in 1962 and made the name Minolta popular.
Minolta set another milestone in 1985 when, with the Minolta 7000, the first SLR camera with an autofocus motor integrated into the housing was brought onto the market. It was part of the newly developed AF system of the Dynax series. The competitors were only able to present comparable products much later; For example, the first AF-SLR from Nikon , the Nikon F-501 , did not appear until August 1986. Canon did not follow until 1987.
In previous years there were only isolated (almost experimental) isolated solutions that were not widely used; the Minolta 7000 , however, opened the market for AF-SLRs at all. While the Minolta 7000 was more aimed at the amateur, the Minolta 9000 , which appeared shortly afterwards, was designed for professional users . At the last analog small picture SLR belonging Dynax 9 and the Dynax 7 .
Digital photography
Digital cameras turned Minolta since 1986 ago; The company is one of the very first providers of digital cameras. A still video back for the Minolta 9000 was presented at photokina 1986 . This was followed, among other things, by the RD-175 (1995) with a resolution of 1.75 megapixels - which was remarkable for the time - and the Dimage RD-3000 with 2.7 megapixels - both digital SLR cameras.
In 1996 the Dimage V for amateurs appeared , which also founded the model series continued under Minolta Dimage ; The two successor models Dimage EX Wide and Dimage EX Zoom from 1998, which were also designed for the consumer sector , were, like the Dimage V, characterized by a lens that was detachable from the camera housing and connected to the camera by a cable; this practical, unique selling point has remained unique to this day.
In 1999, with the Dimage 3D 1500, a special digital camera for generating 3D models appeared, after which Minolta concentrated largely on digital cameras for the profitable consumer segment, which was reflected in a flood of models. The top consumer models can be found in the Dimage A and Z families (e.g. the Dimage A2 , Dimage A200 , Dimage Z5 and others).
Since the end of 2004, the Dynax 7D , announced immediately before the photokina, was once again on the market - the first SLR camera with a built-in image stabilizer , the so-called anti-shake system (AS). In September 2005 it got a new addition through its smaller sister Dynax 5D . In 2006 finally were from Konica Minolta and from 2005 newly announced cooperation partner Sony several DSLRs with Minolta A - Bayonet (vague) announced but appeared no longer under this Konica Minolta name, because in January 2006 gave Konica Minolta announced that the Company would withdraw from the camera and film business on April 1, 2006. Sony should take over the business with digital SLR cameras of the Dynax system.
The first Sony DSLR Alpha , launched on June 5, 2006 under the name Sony Alpha DSLR-A100, could not deny its Minolta roots in many ways. In a weaker form, this also applies to the Sony Alpha DSLR-A700, which was officially presented on September 6, 2007.
Overview of cameras and model series
Analog cameras
| compact cameras | Rangefinder cameras | 110 cameras | SLR cameras with SR bayonet | SLR cameras with A-bayonet |
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Riva series (35mm film)
Vectis range (APS system)
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Minolta SR range
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Minolta SR-T series
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Minolta X series
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Interchangeable lens cameras
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See also
literature
- Anni Rita Scheibel, Josef Scheibel: 70 years of Minolta camera technology - from the Nifcalette to the Dynax 9 . Lindemanns Verlag, 3rd edition 1999, ISBN 3-89506-191-3
Individual evidence
- ↑ http://www.mi-fo.de/forum/index.php?showtopic=24065&view=findpost&p=253387 Message from Fumio Iwai and Joshikatsu Ota to the Konica Minolta shareholders from August 2003, mentioned in an article in the Minolta- Forum
- ↑ http://www.popphoto.com/Reviews/Cameras/Hasselblad-H1-Hyper-Blad%21 Jason Schneider's report on the Hasselblad H1 with references to cooperation with Minolta and Fujifilm in Popular Photography from September 1, 2003
- ↑ Minolta press spokesman in the New York Times of June 29, 1990 forum post with information regarding the origin of the small Minolta video recorder and the Minolta Instant Pro
- ↑ Forum contribution by Matthias Paul with information on the ODM production of some Minolta digital cameras by Skanhex Origin of the Minolta Dimage 2300 and 2330 Zoom digital cameras
- ↑ Lens labeling on JVC video camera with Konica Minolta lens Forum post with information on the origin of the lens of the JVC HD Everio GZ-HD3
- ↑ Forum contribution from September 8, 2006 by Matthias Paul, administrator in the Minolta forum firmware analysis of the Sony Alpha DSLR-A100
- ↑ Forum contribution from December 19, 2007 by Matthias Paul, administrator in the Minolta forum Overview of some Konica-Minolta code numbers for camera housings
- ↑ Todd knife, Claire Rojstaczer, and Steve Garber: Photography During Apollo. Retrieved August 23, 2018 .
- ↑ History - company information | KONICA MINOLTA . In: KONICA MINOLTA . ( konicaminolta.com [accessed August 23, 2018]).
Web links
- Minolta Germany
- Minolta USA
- Minolta MF (Rokkor) lenses
- The Rokkor Files - Minolta MF Lens Tests and Cameras
- Minolta 35mm cameras and digital cameras .
- mhohner.de - Extensive Minolta private archive
- Lichtbilderwerk.de - listing of Minolta viewfinder cameras
- Artaphot.ch archive on Minolta single lens reflex cameras and lenses with manual focus
- Artaphot.ch archive on Minolta and Sony SLR cameras and lenses with autofocus
- History and technology of the Minolta planetariums
- About the technical cooperation between Leitz and Minolta