Ricoh buys Pentax camera production

Ricoh has announced plans to acquire Pentax Imaging Systems and a new family of products in the segment of users of digital cameras. The transaction will be implemented between the current owner of brands Pentax Corporation Hoya Corporation, which will retain the manufacture of medical equipment also included in the current business Pentax. Accordingly Hoya will produce medical equipment under the brand Pentax, Ricoh and gain control over the production of similar cameras. Named brand owned by Hoya since 2008. Actually the Japanese concern and was interested in purchasing this production of medical equipment, which had a number of attractive development, and plants producing photographic equipment were simply appendage. Now the company Hoya with one hand, getting rid of non-core businesses, which in recent years and so declined, and Ricoh, on the contrary, buying highly valuable to the company's business. After passing under the control of Pentax Ricoh, the latest plans to begin production of compact and lightweight digital camera with interchangeable lenses. In addition to technology mirrorless camera with interchangeable lens technology, the buyer receives lens development, marketing channels and other features of the Pentax Imaging Systems Division. Actually division of Pentax, and closing will take place in October 2011, after which Ricoh will be able to use all of the development. Currently, the share of Pentax contributes 1.5% of the market of digital cameras. At the same time, Ricoh generally not involved in production of digital SLR cameras, and offered it to market compact solutions are a niche product and not widespread.