Camera Brand That Merged With Minolta In 2003 Crossword
As a crossword enthusiast, you might have come across the clue "Camera brand that merged with Minolta in 2003". The answer to this puzzle is Konica. Konica Corporation was a Japanese manufacturer of photographic, imaging, and optical products, including cameras, film, and photocopiers. The company was founded in 1873 and became known for its high-quality cameras and lenses. In 2003, Konica merged with another Japanese camera manufacturer, Minolta, to form a new company called Konica Minolta.
The History of Konica
Konica Corporation was founded in 1873 as Konishi Rokuemon by a Japanese photographer named Rokuemon Sugiura. At first, the company produced photographic materials and accessories. It wasn't until 1903 that Konishi started making cameras under the name "Konica".
Throughout the 20th century, Konica became known for its high-quality cameras and lenses. In the 1970s, the company introduced the Konica Autoreflex, a line of SLR cameras that were popular with amateur photographers. Konica continued to innovate and released the first autofocus camera in 1977, the C35 AF. They also introduced a line of compact cameras, the Konica Big Mini series, which won several design awards.
In the 1990s, Konica shifted its focus to digital cameras and became one of the first manufacturers to produce a camera with a built-in CD burner. Unfortunately, Konica struggled to keep up with the competition in the digital camera market, and sales declined.
The Merger with Minolta
Minolta Corporation was another Japanese camera manufacturer that was founded in 1928. Like Konica, Minolta became known for producing high-quality cameras and lenses. In the 1980s, Minolta introduced the world's first autofocus SLR camera, the Maxxum 7000. They also developed a line of compact cameras, the Minolta AF series.
However, like Konica, Minolta struggled to keep up with the competition in the digital camera market. In 2003, Konica and Minolta announced that they would merge their camera businesses to form a new company called Konica Minolta. The merger was completed on August 5, 2003.
The Legacy of Konica Minolta
After the merger, Konica Minolta became a major player in the camera and office equipment industries. The company continued to produce high-quality cameras and lenses, including the acclaimed Konica Minolta Maxxum digital SLR camera. However, in 2006, Konica Minolta announced that it would no longer produce cameras, focusing instead on its office equipment business.
Today, Konica Minolta is a leading manufacturer of office equipment, including copiers, printers, and scanners. The company is also involved in various other industries, such as healthcare and industrial printing. Although Konica Minolta no longer produces cameras, the legacy of Konica and Minolta lives on through their contributions to the photography industry.
Conclusion
Konica Corporation was a Japanese manufacturer of photographic, imaging, and optical products that merged with Minolta in 2003 to form a new company called Konica Minolta. Konica was known for producing high-quality cameras and lenses, such as the Autoreflex and Big Mini series. Unfortunately, Konica struggled in the digital camera market and decided to merge with Minolta to stay competitive. Although Konica Minolta no longer produces cameras, the legacy of Konica and Minolta lives on through their contributions to the photography industry.