Minolta Co., Ltd. was a
Japanese worldwide manufacturer of
cameras, camera accessories,
photocopiers,
fax machines, and
laser printers. Minolta was founded in
Osaka, Japan, in 1928 as . It is perhaps best known for making the first integrated
autofocus 35mm SLR camera system. In 1931, the company adopted its current name, an acronym for “Mechanism, Instruments, Optics, and Lenses by Tashima.”