Zeiss Lenses for Pentax K-mount cameras

[Roger Hicks]

We should also bear in mind that Zeiss designed the Pentax K-mount

Mark

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

[Mark Layne]

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

This goes back to my life in Zeiss Historica. I believe it may be in Charlie Barringer's book( as is my 85mm Contarex Sonnar) -I'll have a look.
Mark

[Roger Hicks]

This goes back to my life in Zeiss Historica. I believe it may be in Charlie Barringer's book( as is my 85mm Contarex Sonnar) -I'll have a look.
Mark

Dear Mark,

Thanks. Alas I don't have the book in question.

Cheers,

R.

[Bill Mitchell]

We should also bear in mind that Zeiss designed the Pentax K-mount

Mark

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.

[Anscojohn]

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.

[Roger Hicks]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.