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Digital Camera World
Digital Camera World
David S Young

The secret meaning behind the name Minolta (and how the camera brand evolved before disappearing forever)

Minolta Leica Sony
Line drawing of Minolta SR-2 SLR camera.

Minolta is a storied name in photography, dating back to 1928 when Kazuo Tashima (1899-1985) started Nichidoku Shashinki Shōten ("Japan-German Camera Company") and released the Nifcarette, a folding roll-film camera in a 4x6.5 cm format, with a German-made lens and shutter.

The firm became a leading camera maker and in 1931 adopted the Minolta brand, an acronym for “Mechanism, INstruments, Optics and Lenses by TAshima.”

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