Konica

Konica was a Japanese photography and imaging company whose history began in 1873, when pharmacist Rokusaburō Sugiura started selling photographic materials through the Tokyo pharmacy business Konishiya Rokubē. Over subsequent generations, the enterprise moved from importing photographic supplies to developing and manufacturing cameras, lenses, film, photographic paper, processing equipment, and other imaging technologies in Japan. It became one of the country’s leading camera businesses before expanding into office equipment, including photocopiers, fax machines, and laser printers. The company’s early development was closely associated with the Konishi family. In 1878, Sugiura succeeded to the family name Rokuemon VI and established Konishi Honten in Tokyo’s Nihonbashi district. In 1882, the business began working to manufacture photographic materials domestically, reducing reliance on imported products. Its 1902 Cherry Portable Camera is generally regarded as the first Japanese-produced camera intended for end users. In 1921, Konishi Honten was reorganized as Konishiroku Honten, a name derived from Konishi Rokuemon. Konishiroku’s camera activities broadened during the twentieth century. The company introduced the Konica I in 1948 and developed a substantial range of 35 mm, medium-format, half-frame, instant, pocket, and later digital cameras. Its lenses were marketed under names such as Hexanon and Hexar. Konica gained particular recognition for practical innovations in exposure automation: the 1965 Auto-Reflex used an external light meter to automate aperture selection, while the 1968 Autoreflex T introduced through-the-lens metering to the company’s automated exposure system. The compact C35 family, the autofocus C35 AF, and the Hexar range became especially prominent products. Film was another central business. Konica film and paper were initially sold under the Sakura name, and the company later marketed multiple generations of consumer color-negative film, including SR, SR-V, SR-G, Super SR, Super XG, VX, and Centuria. Konica also supplied film-processing equipment, photographic chemicals, color paper, and digital minilab systems. In the 1990s, the business increasingly diversified toward office imaging. A major copier-leasing agreement with Los Angeles County and the Los Angeles Superior Court illustrated the shift from selling individual copiers toward managed equipment and service relationships. Konica adopted its modern corporate name in 1987. On August 5, 2003, it merged with Minolta, creating Konica Minolta. The combined group retained businesses spanning office systems, industrial imaging, optical technologies, and photographic products. In 2006, Konica Minolta withdrew from the consumer photography business. Its photo-imaging division, including color film, color paper, photographic chemicals, and digital minilab equipment, was closed, while its digital single-lens reflex camera operations were transferred to Sony. The former Konica brand therefore no longer represents an independent camera manufacturer, but remains historically important and may continue to appear in legacy, specialist, or selected Konica Minolta-related contexts.

Konica’s origins date to 1873, when pharmacist Rokusaburō Sugiura began selling photographic materials through Konishiya Rokubē, a prominent pharmacy business in Tokyo. In 1878, after succeeding to the family name Rokuemon VI, he established a new business called Konishi Honten in Nihonbashi and transferred the original shop to his younger brother. The company’s early importance lay in its effort to develop domestic photographic manufacturing. Beginning in 1882, Konishi worked to produce materials that had previously been imported. The business became an important Japanese camera manufacturer in the early twentieth century. In 1902, it introduced the Cherry Portable Camera, an early Japanese-made consumer-oriented camera. In 1921, Konishi Honten was reorganized as Konishiroku Honten, using a name derived from Konishi Rokuemon. The company subsequently developed cameras, lenses, film, and photographic processing products across a broad range of formats. The Konica I, introduced in 1948, established the naming convention that eventually led to the corporate name Konica. The company also produced the Pearl medium-format camera from 1949 and Koni-Omega medium-format press and rangefinder cameras from the 1960s into the 1970s. Its Hexanon and Hexar lenses became an important part of its reputation for optical engineering. Konica was particularly influential in camera exposure automation. The 1965 Auto-Reflex used an external metering cell to control the lens aperture after the photographer selected shutter speed. The 1968 Autoreflex T advanced the approach with through-the-lens metering while retaining automatic and manual exposure options. The company later produced a long-running range of AR-mount SLR cameras, ending its SLR line in the late 1980s. The compact-camera business expanded through the C35, Z-Up, Big Mini, Off Road, and related families. The C35 AF, introduced in 1977, was marketed as an early autofocus camera and became a major commercial success. Konica also produced instant, pocket, half-frame, and digital cameras, including models in the Revio and Digital Revio ranges. Alongside cameras, it manufactured consumer and professional film, photographic paper, chemicals, processors, and minilab systems. Its film products were first associated with the Sakura name and later included successive SR and Centuria product families. During the 1990s, Konica increasingly developed office-imaging activities. Copier leasing, rather than only copier sales, became an important direction, illustrated by its contract involving Los Angeles County and the Los Angeles Superior Court. The company also made fax machines and laser printers. In 1987, the corporate name changed from Konishiroku to Konica, reflecting the established camera brand. Konica merged with Minolta on August 5, 2003. The resulting Konica Minolta combined the companies’ photographic, office-imaging, optical, and industrial businesses. In 2006, Konica Minolta discontinued its photography business and closed the division responsible for color film, color paper, photographic chemicals, and digital minilab equipment. Its digital SLR activities were transferred to Sony, while the former Konica brand ceased to function as a major independent consumer-camera business. The brand remains significant in the history of Japanese photography and imaging technology.

1. 2006Photography business discontinued

   Konica Minolta closed its photo-imaging division and transferred its digital SLR operations to Sony.

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2. 2003Merger with Minolta

   Konica merged with Minolta on August 5, forming Konica Minolta.

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3. 1987Corporate name changes to Konica

   Konishiroku adopted the Konica corporate name.

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4. 1977C35 AF autofocus compact camera launches

   The C35 AF, also known as Jasupin in some markets, became an important compact-camera product and was reported as selling one million units.

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5. 1968Autoreflex T adds through-the-lens metering

   The Autoreflex T improved Konica’s exposure system with through-the-lens metering and retained manual exposure control.

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6. 1965Auto-Reflex introduces automated exposure

   The Auto-Reflex used an external light meter to automate aperture selection after shutter speed was chosen.

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7. 1948Konica I reaches full production

   The Konica I became the company’s first 35 mm camera to enter full production and supplied the name later adopted by the company.

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8. 1921Konishiroku Honten is formed

   Konishi Honten was reorganized as Konishiroku Honten.

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9. 1902Cherry Portable Camera introduced

   Konishi launched the Cherry Portable Camera, an early Japanese-produced camera designed for end users.

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10. 1882Domestic photographic manufacturing project begins

    Konishi began efforts to manufacture photographic materials in Japan that had previously been imported.

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11. 1878Konishi Honten is established

    Sugiura established Konishi Honten in Tokyo’s Nihonbashi district after succeeding to the family name Rokuemon VI.

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12. 1873Photographic-materials business begins

    Rokusaburō Sugiura began selling photographic materials through the Tokyo pharmacy business Konishiya Rokubē.

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A technically oriented Japanese imaging brand associated with optical quality, camera innovation, practical automation, photographic film, and the transition from consumer photography to broader office and digital-imaging systems.

• Konica C35Compact 35 mm camera1967

  The C35 family was a compact 35 mm camera platform that emphasized portability and straightforward automated photography. It included rangefinder, flash, autofocus, economical, and export variants. The line became one of Konica’s best-known consumer camera families and provided the basis for later models such as the C35 AF and C35 EF.

• Konica C35 AFAutofocus compact camera1977

  The C35 AF was a fixed-lens 35 mm compact camera introduced in 1977. Marketed in Japan under the Jasupin name, it combined compact operation with autofocus and became a commercially important product for Konica. It is frequently identified as an early mass-market autofocus camera.

• Konica Hexar35 mm camera1991

  The Hexar was a premium autofocus 35 mm camera range associated with compact construction and Konica’s optical engineering. Its positioning differed from the company’s mass-market compact cameras by emphasizing lens quality and enthusiast appeal.

• Konica Hexar RFRangefinder camera2000

  The Hexar RF was a later 35 mm rangefinder camera designed for users seeking interchangeable-lens operation in a compact, mechanically distinctive body. It formed part of Konica’s late film-camera portfolio before the company’s photography business was discontinued.

• Konica Autoreflex series35 mm SLR camera1965

  The Autoreflex series was Konica’s principal AR-mount 35 mm SLR family. Beginning with the Auto-Reflex in 1965, it developed through models such as the Autoreflex T, T2, T3, T4, TC, and FT-1. The series was notable for automated exposure and through-the-lens metering, and it ended as Konica left the SLR market in the late 1980s.

• Koni-OmegaMedium-format press camera1964

  Koni-Omega cameras were medium-format press and rangefinder systems manufactured from the 1960s through the 1970s. They used Konica optics and were aimed at professional photographic applications, including press work. Related models were marketed as Konica Press in Japan.

• Hexanon and Hexar lensesCamera lenses

  Hexanon and Hexar were Konica lens names used across camera systems and formats. The company produced conventional prime and zoom lenses, mirror lenses, projector lenses, and optics for mounts including Leica M, Konica F, and Konica AR. These lenses contributed strongly to Konica’s reputation among film-camera users.

• Konica Centuria filmPhotographic film1999

  Centuria was a late consumer film family introduced after earlier SR, SR-V, SR-G, Super SR, Super XG, and VX products. It represented Konica’s continued participation in color photographic film before the company withdrew from photo imaging.

• Konica Digital RevioDigital camera2001

  The Digital Revio range was Konica’s early-2000s digital-camera family. Models such as the KD-200Z, KD-300Z, KD-500Z, KD-410Z, KD-420Z, and KD-510Z covered compact designs with progressively higher resolutions and optical zoom capabilities.

• 2006Exit from consumer photographyStrategy

  The merged company reviewed its photographic activities amid the industry’s shift from film photography toward digital imaging.

  What changed. Konica Minolta closed its photo-imaging division and discontinued products including color film, color paper, photographic chemicals, and digital minilab equipment. Its digital SLR camera business was transferred to Sony.

  Aftermath. The Konica brand no longer represented an active major consumer-camera manufacturer, and Sony’s Alpha system inherited the transferred digital SLR operations.

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• 2003Merge with MinoltaM&A

  Konica and Minolta were Japanese imaging companies with overlapping interests in photography, office equipment, and optical technologies.

  What changed. The companies merged on August 5, 2003, creating Konica Minolta.

  Aftermath. Konica ceased to operate as an independent company, while its activities became part of the combined Konica Minolta group.

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• 2006Konica Minolta exits the photography business

  The merged company closed its photo-imaging division, ending production of products such as color film, color paper, photographic chemicals, and digital minilab equipment. Its digital SLR camera business was transferred to Sony.

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• 2003Konica merges with Minolta to form Konica Minolta

  Konica and Minolta combined their businesses on August 5, 2003, creating Konica Minolta and ending Konica’s existence as an independent company.

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• 1990Konica expands into copier leasing through a Los Angeles County contract

  A major copier-leasing agreement involving Los Angeles County and the Los Angeles Superior Court marked a shift toward leasing and service-based office-imaging business.

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1. Konica