Zeiss Lenses for Pentax K-mount cameras

Roger Hicks · Aug 25, 2007

Anscojohn said:
The M-42 lens mount was originally from Praktica. Asahi had been copying Praktica lens mounts from the get-go--first the smaller diameter, then the M-42.

As far as I am aware, the 42x1mm mount first appeared on the Contax S and D in 1948, followed by Edixa in the early 50s. When Pentax later adopted the Contax/Edixa thread it became known as Pentax (inaccurately).

Praktiflex was I think a 40x1mm thread (1938) but I do not know if earlyAsahiflexes were the same. I know they were close, at 40-41mm, but I have not tried interchanging lenses.

Mark Layne · Aug 25, 2007

Bill Mitchell said:
The M-42, yes. But not the K-mount.
When Pentax introdced it, they made a big production about releasing their patent free to all comers.

The K-mount was designed by West German Zeiss and bought or licenced or borrowed from Zeiss by Pentax.
I will find the documentation eventually
Mark

Ian Grant · Aug 26, 2007

This is what you are looking for:

Similarly, Carl Zeiss (the West German guys) negotiated
for several years in the late 1960's with Pentax concerning the possible
production of a 35mm SLR camera should the Zeiss Foundation kill Zeiss
Ikon. The fruits of that effort led to Pentax acquiring the Zeiss-designed
K mount and the rights to the Zeiss T* coating, which Pentax marketed under
the 'SMC' label. (This negotiation, while unsuccessful with Pentax, who
didn't feel up to producing Zeiss lenses to Zeiss standards, later shifted
to Yashica and led to the modern Contax SLR camera.)

Mark Layne · Aug 26, 2007

Ian Grant said:
This is what you are looking for:

Similarly, Carl Zeiss (the West German guys) negotiated
for several years in the late 1960's with Pentax concerning the possible
production of a 35mm SLR camera should the Zeiss Foundation kill Zeiss
Ikon. The fruits of that effort led to Pentax acquiring the Zeiss-designed
K mount and the rights to the Zeiss T* coating, which Pentax marketed under
the 'SMC' label. (This negotiation, while unsuccessful with Pentax, who
didn't feel up to producing Zeiss lenses to Zeiss standards, later shifted
to Yashica and led to the modern Contax SLR camera.)

Ian, this is essentially correct as I remember. I know that the mount was designed in Oberkocken and recollect some speculation that this was the origin of the 'K' designation. As soon as I get hold of Marc Small I will get a bit more info
Mark

sjperry · Aug 26, 2007

Vivitar makes a couple of SLR's which use the K-mount. Seem to be decent basic mechanical SLR's, with TTL meter, much like the classic Minolta SRT's. These are listed on the Freestyle and Calumet websites around $150! The Zeiss lenses might be great additions to this camera. I haven't looked at one of these Vivitars in person, but maybe I will. I couldn't find anything on them on Vivitars US website but they are listed on the UK website. Go figure.

srs5694 · Aug 27, 2007

sjperry said:
Vivitar makes a couple of SLR's which use the K-mount. Seem to be decent basic mechanical SLR's, with TTL meter, much like the classic Minolta SRT's. These are listed on the Freestyle and Calumet websites around $150! The Zeiss lenses might be great additions to this camera. I haven't looked at one of these Vivitars in person, but maybe I will. I couldn't find anything on them on Vivitars US website but they are listed on the UK website. Go figure.

I've got a Vivitar V3800N. I'm not sure if that's the model you're thinking of, but it fits your basic description. It seems like a decent basic camera to me -- but my experience is with fairly inexpensive gear to begin with (there are no Nikon cameras or Zeiss lenses in my collection). It's manual-everything and seems solidly constructed, by modern standards (in other words, it's not built like a tank the way cameras were built a few decades ago). My hunch is that most people who buy $150 Vivitar SLRs would balk at the price tags on the Zeiss lenses described in this thread. Certainly they're outside of my own price range. (I keep reading this thread and hoping I'll win the lottery -- but that's especially unlikely since I don't buy lottery tickets! )

Jon Shiu · Aug 27, 2007

Hi, I think the Vivitar SLR camera may be made by Cosina, which I believe also makes the Contax rangefinder and Voigtlander camera (different lens mounts, of course).

Jon

Mark Layne · Aug 28, 2007

Roger Hicks said:
Really? I didn't know that. Have you any more information? I'm intrigued.

Roger
Marc Small just confirmed to me that The K-mount was part of an attempt to produce an Asahi-Zeiss camera.
It seems Asahi did not feel up to meeting the Zeiss criteria
Mark

Roger Hicks · Aug 28, 2007

Mark Layne said:
Roger
Marc Small just confirmed to me that The K-mount was part of an attempt to produce an Asahi-Zeiss camera.
It seems Asahi did not feel up to meeting the Zeiss criteria
Mark

Dear Mark,

Thanks very much. I'll see if my friends at Oberkochen can add any more to the story.

Cheers,

Roger

Shawn Dougherty · Aug 28, 2007

Jon Shiu said:
Hi, I think the Vivitar SLR camera may be made by Cosina, which I believe also makes the Contax rangefinder and Voigtlander camera (different lens mounts, of course).

Jon

That's what I was thinking as well..... No mirror lock up on that Vivitar v3800n. That's a deal breaker for me. I'll stick with my vintage K2s. And like someone else said, should I win the lottery I'll consider some of these Zeiss lenses for them.

sjperry · Aug 28, 2007

srs5694 said:
I've got a Vivitar V3800N. I'm not sure if that's the model you're thinking of, but it fits your basic description. It seems like a decent basic camera to me -- but my experience is with fairly inexpensive gear to begin with (there are no Nikon cameras or Zeiss lenses in my collection). It's manual-everything and seems solidly constructed, by modern standards (in other words, it's not built like a tank the way cameras were built a few decades ago). My hunch is that most people who buy $150 Vivitar SLRs would balk at the price tags on the Zeiss lenses described in this thread. Certainly they're outside of my own price range. (I keep reading this thread and hoping I'll win the lottery -- but that's especially unlikely since I don't buy lottery tickets! )

Possibly your right, but my point of view is give me a good basis camera that has mechanical film transport and mechanical shutter. Add the best glass, and what more do I need? I do not need or even want auto focus, motor film advance and a bunch of electronics to go bad. Of course I shoot mostly with Rollei TLR's and occasionally a Linhof 4x5, so they are similar concept, different size.

ChrisPlatt · Oct 22, 2007

Mark Layne said:
It seems Asahi did not feel up to meeting the Zeiss criteria

Or perhaps vice versa.

Chris

Zeiss Lenses for Pentax K-mount cameras

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