Abit About First SLR and Minolta

First SLR created by Minolta in 1958.

1962, first SLR in space is Minolta Hi-Matic used by Astronaut John Glen, Minolta Hi-Matic equipment with rotatable view finder, which was suitable for zero gravity photographing.

"Somebody said that the first SLR is by Pentax?"

Yes, the first SLR was actually created by Pentax, ME-F four years before 1958. But their design was imcomplete. Therefore, a lot of photographer assume Minolta created the first SLR.

Until 1995, Minolta only introdued their first digital camera, RD-175 with 1.7 Megepixels, which was quite late behind other new brand.

After that, Konica Minolta was in the market. If the brand is good, why they need to merge with other brand?

19th January 2006, Minolta officailly closed down their production. March on the same year, they sold their business to Sony. So there's no more Minolta in market since that.

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资料摘自：小雨移花 - 蔡澜