GOLDEN, Colorado (August 2, 2011)…PENTAX Imaging Company, a leader in the worldwide photographic industry, is pleased to announce plans to relocate its national headquarters to Downtown Denver on October 1, 2011. The headquarters will be located in the Colorado Plaza Towers building at 633 17th Street (corner of 17th and California Streets).

PENTAX is leasing space on the 26th floor of Tower One of Colorado Plaza Towers. The lease was signed for a 68 month term. Colorado Plaza Towers is owned and managed by Toma West Management Corp. Len McBroom and Heidi Martinez of McBroom Company represented PENTAX.

“We are excited to be a part of the vibrant, growing Denver metropolitan hub, which will mean more exposure for PENTAX and a culturally exciting environment for our employees,” said Ned Bunnell, president, PENTAX Imaging Company.

“In addition to the office space, Toma West has offered PENTAX the opportunity to explore leasing a high traffic retail space in the property’s Galleria Area, which was a significant factor in PENTAX choosing this space,” added Bunnell.

The history of PENTAX as a Colorado business dates back to 1958 when Honeywell first sold photography products under the PENTAX brand name in the United States. In 1977, PENTAX Corporation was established in Englewood’s Inverness Business Park. In 2003, PENTAX relocated to the City of Golden.

Effective October 1, 2011, all correspondence for PENTAX Imaging Company may be directed to:

PENTAX Imaging Company
633 17th Street, Suite 2600
Denver, Colorado 80202

The main PENTAX telephone customer service number, individual telephone numbers, email addresses and the www.pentaximaging.com website will remain the same. All shipments directed to the PENTAX Imaging Company Customer Service and Warehouse remain the same. As a reminder, these addresses are:

PENTAX Imaging Company is an innovative leader in the production of a variety of adventure ready digital cameras including weather-resistant digital SLRs and stylish, compact, waterproof cameras, as well as lenses, flash units, binoculars, scopes, and eyepieces. For more than 90 years, PENTAX has developed durable, reliable products that meet the needs of adventurous consumers and businesses. With headquarters in Golden, Colorado, PENTAX Imaging Company is a division of Hoya Corporation.

On July 1, 2011, Hoya announced an agreement to transfer the PENTAX Imaging Systems business to RICOH Corporation. The effective date of the sale is set for October 1, 2011. Additional details may be found here: www.pentaximaging.com/news

# # #

PENTAX Imaging Company Fact & Timeline Sheet

The history of PENTAX is rich with technological innovation. Listed here are just a few of many highlights.

More complete information is available here:
http://www.pentaximaging.com/about/history/

2011
PENTAX Imaging Company announces plans to relocate its US headquarters for marketing, sales and distribution of digital cameras, sport optics and security lenses from Golden, Colorado to Downtown Denver on August 2.

On July 1, Hoya Corporation announces an agreement to transfer PENTAX Imaging Systems to RICOH. The effective date of the sale is set for October 1, 2011.

PENTAX announces the 12th generation adventureproof digital compact camera -- the Optio WG-1.

2010
PENTAX announces the award winning 645D digital medium format camera and the most advanced PENTAX digital SLR to date -- the K-5.

2008
In May, www.PENTAXPhotoGallery.com is nominated and wins a PEOPLE'S VOICE WEBBY AWARD for Best Use Of Photography in a website and is recognized in New York City on June 10, 2008.

2006
PENTAX renames its line of digital SLR cameras to associate with the heritage of the K-mount. The entry-level K100D digital SLR is announced in July followed by the K10D with 10 megapixels, body-based Shake Reduction image stabilization, a PRIME engine processor, and a weather resistant body. The PENTAX K10D goes on to win several national and international awards.

2003
PENTAX introduces one of the world's smallest 3.2 megapixel digital cameras at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January -- the Optio S. The tiny dimensions of the full-featured wonder are made possible by the design incorporation of a unique Sliding Lens system that allows the powerful 3X zoom lens to retract up and away and fully recede inside the camera. The camera is recognized as a BEST OF CES finalist for innovation and design.

PENTAX introduces a Class 7 water resistant digital camera - the Optio33WR is the first dunkable digital from PENTAX. With 3 megapixels, a 2.8X lens, a movie mode and other advanced features, this is the perfect camera for outdoor enthusiasts in the rain, snow or a day at the beach.

PENTAX U.S.A., Inc. located in Inverness, Colorado and PENTAX Technologies located in Broomfield, Colorado merge and relocate to Golden, Colorado. The company will be renamed PENTAX Imaging Company, a division of PENTAX of America, Inc. in 2004.

2002
Asahi Optical Co., Ltd. (parent company in Japan) officially changes its name to PENTAX CORPORATION effective October 1, 2002.

1999
The IQZoom 105WR makes a splash in the market as the compact zoom camera with the highest water resistance capability (JIS Class 5) of any 35mm zoom compact camera. In addition to its outstanding weather-resistant construction, the IQZoom 105WR offers a 38mm-105mm zoom lens with zoom macro capability.

1994
PENTAX celebrates the 75th anniversary of its parent company, Asahi Optical Co., Ltd.

1986
PENTAX introduces the world's first fully automatic compact 35mm camera with a built-in zoom lens, the IQZoom.

1980
PENTAX's parent corporation, Asahi Optical, becomes the first camera manufacturer to reach the production milestone of 10 million SLR cameras.

1977
PENTAX Corporation opens offices in Englewood, Colorado, and becomes the United States distributor of its own cameras, surveying instruments and specialized optics. Previously, PENTAX products were distributed through Honeywell Corporation.

1976
The K1000 is manufactured for overseas markets only. The camera has a horizontal-run cloth shutter and "center-the-needle" exposure control and goes on to become one of the most popular cameras for student photographers.

1971
PENTAX introduces the Super-Multi Coating (SMC) system for the Asahi Optical Takumar lens series, an important breakthrough in 35mm SLR camera optics. Other manufacturers follow suit, but Asahi Optical's unique SMC system plays an innovative role in reducing lens flare and ghost images and producing bright, crisp photographs.

1966
The one millionth PENTAX 35mm SLR camera is produced after only 14 years of manufacturing.

1964
PENTAX introduces its PENTAX Spot Eye (Spotmatic) camera featuring the first through-the-lens (TTL) metering system in a PENTAX camera. A version of the PENTAX TTL system is now found in virtually all 35mm SLR cameras.

1959
The first mass produced, assembly line PENTAX camera is produced -- the PENTAX H2.

1958
Products sold under the PENTAX trade name become available in the United States. The trade name PENTAX is derived from the words "Pentaprism" and "Reflex." Until the establishment of PENTAX Corporation in Englewood, Colorado (in 1977), products are sold through Honeywell's photographic products division.

1957
The Asahi PENTAX model, stuns the world with its incredible design advances. It is the first time a pentaprism has been utilized in the viewfinder of a PENTAX single-lens reflex (SLR) camera, thus introducing the concept of eye-level viewing. It is the first camera to be marketed under the name PENTAX. It is enthusiastically received with praise for its upright and laterally correct viewfinder image.

1954
The Asahiflex II camera is introduced featuring the world's first instant return mirror system. This innovation solved the problem of mirror blackout -- at the time, the principal drawback of SLR cameras, thus paving the way for major progress in the SLR development in Japan. This innovation is a "PENTAX exclusive."

1952
Asahi pioneers single-lens reflex (SLR) camera development with the Asahiflex I camera, the first Japanese 35mm SLR camera.

1923
Asahi begins to manufacture AOCO lenses for the movie industry, the first lenses of their kind in Japan.

1919
Asahi Optical Joint Stock Co. of Tokyo, Japan is founded. It becomes one of the leading lens suppliers to Japanese camera and optical instrument manufacturers, thanks to its superb lens polishing skills.