Pentax K-mount

Pentax K-mount

Pentax K1000 without lens, showing the original K mount
Type	bayonet
Tabs	3
Connectors	electrical pins, drive shaft for focus.

The Pentax K-mount, sometimes referred to as the "PK-mount", is a bayonet lens mount standard for mounting interchangeable photographic lenses to 35 mm single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras. It was created by Pentax in 1975,^[1] and has since been used by all Pentax 35 mm and digital SLRs (with the exception of the medium format 645D and 645z), as well as the MILC Pentax K-01. A number of other manufacturers have also produced many K-mount lenses and K-mount cameras.

Mounts

The Pentax K-mount has undergone a number of evolutions over the years as new functionality has been added. In general, the term K-mount may refer to the original K-mount, or to all its variations.

Originally designed by Zeiss for an alliance with Pentax , it was intended to be a common lens mount for a proposed series of cameras and lenses. However, the plan failed to work out and the two firms parted company amicably, but Pentax retained the lens mount and at least one Zeiss lens design for its own use.

K-mount

The original K-mount is a simple bayonet connection with three tabs. It was introduced with the K series of cameras. The lens is locked into the camera with an approx. 70° clockwise turn (when looking at the front of the camera).

The only linkage with the camera is mechanical and involves the aperture. A slot between two of the bayonet tabs on the lens allows the stop-down coupler from the camera to sense the aperture setting on the lens and adjust the light meter display accordingly. Opposite this is the diaphragm release from the lens which extends into the camera body and holds open the spring-loaded diaphragm of the lens. When setting up a shot this keeps the diaphragm fully open. When the shutter is released, so is this lever. It allows the diaphragm to close to the desired setting while the film is being exposed, and opens it again after the shutter closes.

Both of these linkages are arranged so that they are aligned and spring-loaded by the act of inserting the lens and turning it until it locks.

Bodies equipped with the original K-mount include the K series, the M series except the ME F, and the LX. Lenses that support it include those labelled 'SMC Pentax', 'SMC Pentax-M' and 'SMC Pentax-A'. These K-mount bodies cannot use lenses that lack an aperture ring, such as FAJ or DA.

K-mount lenses can be used on all Pentax bodies, but are restricted to stopped down mode when used with "crippled" K_AF-mount bodies (see below).

K_F-mount

The K_F-mount was Pentax's first attempt at an autofocus system. This autofocus system used sensors in the camera body and a motor in the lens. The two were connected via five new electrical contacts on the bayonet mount itself. One permitted the lens to turn on the camera's metering and focus sensors, two focused the lens (towards and away from infinity) and two appear to have been unused and may have been reserved for future functionality.

The K_F-mount was largely a failure. Only one camera and one lens ever used this mount, the Pentax ME F and SMC Pentax-AF 35-70/2.8. The lens was somewhat large and cumbersome since it had to enclose both the focusing motor (with gears) and batteries to power it. K_F and the ME-F are similar in many ways to the system used by Canon in the ill fated Canon T80, introduced several years later.

The ME F can use all Pentax K-mount lenses which feature an aperture ring. The 35–70 mm lens can be used on all other Pentax K-mount bodies in manual focus mode, but it must be used stopped down on "crippled" K_AF bodies.

K_A-mount

The K_A-mount is derived from the original K-mount. It allows the lens's aperture to be set by the body, and thus permits shutter priority and program auto exposure modes. It was introduced in 1983, and is supported by A-series and P-series bodies; Pentax lenses that support it are marked 'SMC Pentax-A'. It is completely backward-compatible with the original K-mount.

The aperture on the lens is set from the body by the same stop-down lever found on the original K-mount, but on K_A-lenses this lever is proportional to the area of the aperture opening, rather than the diameter as on previous lenses. This allows the body to easily set a specific aperture, since the relationship to F stops is linear. The lenses add an 'A' setting on the aperture dial, which gives the body control of the aperture. Other, numeric settings are used for manual aperture modes—aperture priority and full manual mode.

Six electrical contacts are added to the bayonet ring. One is slightly recessed and allows the lens to indicate whether the aperture ring is set at 'A' or not. If it is, a pin on the lens extends slightly and makes contact, while if the lens is at any other setting the pin is retracted and does not make contact. The other five contacts are used to encode the lens's aperture range. Each contact on the lens is either conducting or non-conducting, providing a binary 1 or 0, respectively. Two contacts encode the lens's minimum aperture—f/16, f/22, f/32 or f/45; although no Pentax K-mount lens has ever had an f/16 minimum aperture, OEM lenses often have. The other three contacts encode the lens's maximum aperture; their meaning is dependent on the minimum aperture indicated by the lens.

K_AF-mount

The K_AF-mount was Pentax's second and much improved attempt at adding auto-focus to lenses. It adds a small drive shaft to the K_A-mount, allowing the body to adjust the focus of the lens. This makes the lenses less bulky than the earlier K_F-mount, which had both a motor and batteries inside the lens.

It also adds a seventh electrical contact, this one carrying digital information from the lens to the camera. It carries the following information: focal length, distance to the subject, exact absolute f-stop value, and lens size. This information is used to make better exposure decisions, along with the multi-segmented metering that was introduced in cameras using the K_AF-mount.

The MZ-30/ZX-30, MZ-50/ZX-50, MZ-60/ZX-60, the *ist series and the K100D/K110D lack the mechanical stop-down coupler/indicator. In these cameras – in aperture priority mode – the aperture is set by a dial on the camera body, and no longer on the lens. Pre-A lenses can only be used in manual stop down metering mode and manual flash mode.

K_AF2-mount

The K_AF2-mount is the same as the K_AF-mount except that it adds two extra power contacts to the inside of the mounting ring and transmits modulation transfer function (MTF) data through the digital seventh contact. The power contacts were originally used for power zooming. Since the introduction of the K10D digital SLR model, they are mainly used for powering Silent Drive Motor and DC motor lenses.

The K10D/K100D Super and later cameras do not have a mechanical stop-down coupler/indicator and thus can only use stop-down metering on pre-A lenses.

K_A2-mount

The K_A2 is identical to K_AF, but lacks the autofocus drive shaft. Another way of looking at it is that it adds the seventh contact for digital information to the K_A-mount.

K_AF3-mount

The K_AF3-mount is used on Pentax lenses that solely rely on SDM or DC autofocus motors. It is identical to the K_AF2, but lacks the screw-drive autofocus drive shaft.^[2] Another way of looking at it is that it adds the power zoom/in-lens autofocus motor contacts to the K_A2 mount.

K_AF4-mount

The K_AF4-mount was introduced in June 2016 with the HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE lens. It is identical with K_AF3, apart from the missing aperture control lever. Instead, aperture control information is transmitted digitally through the data pin and the aperture is stopped down through a motor built into the lens. It also introduced a new type of autofocus motor, designated PLM or Pulse Motor. At the time of its introduction, the following Pentax DSLR bodies were compatible with the new mount: K-70, K-50, K-S2, K-S1, K-1, K-3 II, with all but the K-70 requiring a firmware update. Also after a recent firmware update the original K3 can use the new mount.^[2]

“Crippled” K-mount

All digital K-mount Pentax SLR bodies as well as some lower-end film cameras lack the ability to read the position of the aperture simulator. This means that lenses that lack the lens information contacts introduced with the K_A-mount (Pentax K- and M-series lenses as well as some third-party products) do not support open-aperture metering on these bodies. Instead, stop-down metering must be carried out by pushing the “green button” on the camera before taking a shot. This variation of the mount is commonly referred to as the “crippled“ K-mount.^[2]

R-K-mount

The R-K-mount is a variation on the original K-mount by Ricoh. It supports Ricoh's own implementation of shutter priority and auto exposure modes, similar to the K_A-mount but much simpler. The only addition to the original K-mount is a small pin, commonly dubbed Ricoh pin,^[2] at the bottom which tells the body when the aperture ring has been set to the "P" setting (similar to the "A" setting on Pentax K_A lenses). The 'P' setting is not compatible with the 'A' setting as the 'P' pin is in a different location than the 'A' contact on Pentax 'A' lenses and the flange on Pentax bodies.

The R-K-mount is used on Rikenon P lenses, Ricoh bodies that include the letter 'P' in their model number, and some non-Ricoh lenses. It is compatible with all other K-mount cameras and lenses when in manual or aperture-priority exposure modes, however the extra pin needs to be removed for safe use on autofocus Pentax cameras. The reason for this is, that the extra pin is located at the same place as the shaft used for screw-drive auto focus, where it can get locked.^[2] Lenses locked to the camera body this way are difficult to remove and may require complete dismantling.

Adaptors to use on K-mount

L39 / LTM

Adaptors can be found to allow use of lenses with Leica M39 thread (screw) mount. If a lens originally intended for Leica Rangefinder cameras is used, focusing is limited to about 10 cm. However, some SLR lenses were made in LTM 39 mount, mostly by KMZ for use in the early Zenit SLRs which had LT 39 mounts. These "Zenit" TM 39 lenses will focus properly. Or these lenses can be used in conjunction with the M42 to LTM 39 adapter.

M39

Adaptors can be found to allow use of a non-Leica 39 mm mount into the K-mount, typically as a M39-M42 adapter ring that is mounted in a M42-PK adapter; they may focus to infinity.

M42

Pentax supplies adapters to fit M42 screw-mount lenses, as do several third-party manufacturers. The M42 screw-mount system was used by Pentax prior to the introduction of the K-mount. Pentax designed the K-mount wide enough to allow an adapter to fit between the M42 thread and the K bayonet. They also kept the same flange focal distance (also called registration distance or register) as the M42 screw-mount, so that M42 lenses focus correctly using the correct adapter (such as Pentax original^[3] or Bower). There are however other third-party adapters that add to the flange focal distance so that one loses the ability to focus to infinity. The loss of infinity-focus may not be significant in macro or close-up photography.

There is great debate in the Pentax community over the applicability and safety of adapters other than those supplied by Pentax. Many users of third-party infinity-focus adapters, such as Bowers, report difficulty in removing the adapters from camera bodies. Such adapters may require modification before they may be safely used. Official Pentax adapters, and flanged non-infinity-focus adapters, do not provoke such problems.

Many old M42 lenses have a modern-day cult reputation, including the (Pentax) Asahi Takumar range. Some manufacturers, including Carl Zeiss AG, still make lenses in the M42-mount. K-mount cameras have a suitable flange focal distance (45.46 mm) to adapt old M42 lenses without any optical correction or loss of infinity focus/changed close focus distance. Other SLRs with a short flange-focal distance can accept M42 lenses as well: Canon E-mount (44.00 mm), Sony and (Konica) Minolta A-mount (44.50 mm), Sigma (44 mm), Olympus 4/3rd (38.67 mm), and many more, but notably not Nikon F-mount (46.5 mm).

Nikon AI/AIS

Optically corrected adapter to use Nikon AIS AI lenses on K-mount.

Voigtländer Bessamatic / Kodak Retina

Adapter for Voigtländer Bessamatic and Voigtländer Ultramatic lenses, Kodak Retina Reflex, or Kodak Retina IIIs lenses.

Petri

There is also some Petri adapter to K-mount but those do not allow to focus to infinity due to the different flange-to-film-plane distance.

Medium format

Pentax made adapters for its medium-format lenses to use on the K-mount, both the 645 and 6×7, and for the Hasselblad Bayonet type. Also there is a Pentacon-Six (Kiev88 CM) adapter still in production and a shift adapter to use Pentacon lenses as shift lens.

• Pentax 645
• Pentax 6×7
• Hasselblad Bayonet type
• Pentacon Six
• Mamiya 645

T-mount

Mounts used for Telescopes, microscopes and generic optics. The T-mount was initially developed by Tamron (1957) to allow the easy adaption of generic 35 mm SLR optics into multiple mounts. The T-mount is a 42 mm diameter 0.75 mm pitch screw mount with a 55 mm flange focal distance. Later versions (T2, T4, TX) were more advanced and complex. Several other manufacturers besides Tamron have used these mounts. Because the T-mount is still used for many telescopes and microscopes, they are still available new. Note that while both T-mount M42-mount are both 42mm screw-mount screw mount systems, and will mount if they are forced, they are not compatible. The difference in pitch can cause damage to the lens, adapter or camera mount if they are confused.

Adaptall

These are adaptors designed by Tamron to allow the transfer of aperture setting from lens to camera or vice verse, including the Adapt-A-matic (1969), Adaptall (1973) and Adaptall-2 (1979). When Pentax introduced the KA-mount in 1983 Tamron upgraded their Adaptall-2 K-mount into an Adaptall-2 KA-mount. For more details see the Tamron article or the Adaptall-2 web site.^[4]

Adaptors for other cameras to use K-mount

• Four Thirds (Olympus)
• Micro Four Thirds (Olympus and Panasonic)
• Canon EF-mount (EOS)
• Minolta A-mount (Sony Alpha)
• M39 lens mount (Leica)
• Samsung NX-mount
• Sony E-mount (NEX)

Cameras

List of lenses with any K-mount variant

Access

• Access 28 mm f2.8 P-MC Macro (49 mm filter)
• Access 75–300 mm f5.6 PMC Zoom (55 mm filter)

Angenieux

Angenieux a lens manufacturer in France, mainly known for its movie equipment than for photographic lenses, but it has built optics for Leica, Nikon, Canon and a few K-mount lenses.

• Angenieux 70–210 mm f3.5

Agfa

The Agfa K mount cameras were rebadged Chinons.

• Agfa Color 50 mm f1.4 (49 mm filter)

Arsat

Arsat is a trade mark of Ukrainian lens manufacturer Arsenal, Kiev.

• PCS Arsat 35 mm f2.8 Shift Lens

Beroflex

Beroflex seems to have been a German commercial firm of photographic lenses; not too much information is available yet but it appears that it designed lenses made overseas by Japanese companies like Soligor.

• Beroflex 85–210 mm f3.8
• Beroflex 500 mm f8/f22 lens, 5° view ; 72 mm diameter × 42 mm. Adapter fitted for use on M42 screw thread. In 1975 came complete with lens caps and case.

Carl Zeiss Jena

Carl Zeiss of East Germany marketed a number of lenses for the K-mount through its sales network. These lenses were in fact made by Sigma in Japan. The "real" 35 mm East German made Carl Zeiss Jena Lenses where available at the same time but only in Praktica B-mount.

• Carl Zeiss Jena 20 mm f4 (zebra)
• Carl Zeiss Jena II 24 mm f2.8
• Carl Zeiss Jena 28 mm f2.8
• Carl Zeiss Jena 28–70 mm f2.8-4.3 Macro Jenazoom
• Carl Zeiss Jena 70–210 mm f4.5-5.6 Macro
• Carl Zeiss Jena 75–300 mm f4.5-5.6 ED IF MC Macro Jenazoom
• Carl Zeiss Jena 100–500 mm f5.6-8 MC Macro Jenazoom (72 mm filter)

Carl Zeiss

Carl Zeiss is one of the most prestigious names on the photographic world; it re-launched its line of lenses for the K-mount in 2008, mainly due to the growing popularity of both Pentax and Samsung digital SLRs. Carl Zeiss announced in September 2010 that the ZK lenses would be discontinued that year.

• Carl Zeiss 18 mm f3.5 Distagon T* (June 2008)
• Carl Zeiss 21 mm f2.8 Distagon T* (September 2008) (Europe Only)
• Carl Zeiss 25 mm f2.8 Distagon T* ZK (2008)
• Carl Zeiss 35 mm f2 Distagon T* ZK (2008)
• Carl Zeiss 50 mm f1.4 Planar T* ZK (2008)
• Carl Zeiss 50 mm f2 Planar T* ZK (2008)
• Carl Zeiss 50 mm f2 Makro-Planar T* ZK (August 2008)
• Carl Zeiss 85 mm f1.4 Planar T* ZK (2008)
• Carl Zeiss 100 mm f2 Makro-Planar T* ZK

Chinon

• Chinon 24 mm f2.5
• Chinon 28 mm f2.8
• Chinon 35 mm f2.8 AUTO CHINON MULTI-COATED (49 mm filter)
• Chinon 35–70 mm f3.3-4.5 MC Auto Focus (52 mm filter)
• Chinon 35–70 mm f3.5-4.5 MC Macro (55 mm filter)
• Chinon 35–80 mm f3.5-4.9 MC Macro
• Chinon 45 mm f2.8 Auto Multicoated
• Chinon 50 mm f1.4 Auto Multicoated
• Chinon 50 mm f1.7 Auto Multicoated
• Chinon 50 mm f1.7 Auto Multicoated Auto Focus (58 mm filter)
• Chinon 50 mm f1.9 Auto (52 mm filter)
• Chinon 135 mm f2.8 Auto Multicoated
• Chinon 200 mm f3.3 Auto Multicoated
• Chinon Makinon 500 mm f8 catadioptric

Cima Kogaku

Cima Kogaku had a patented^[6] system that allowed them to build common lens bodies, and add the appropriate lens mount at the factory. The Pentax version was only K-mount, not KA-mount. They mostly sold their lenses on an OEM basis, with them sold under a variety of different brands. In the UK, they were sold by Photax as Super-Paragon PMC lenses. Tokyo Kogaku sold them as AM Topcor lenses for their Topcon RM300 camera. Cima Kogaku also sold them directly under the Cimko brand. (Some of the lenses below may not have ever been sold under the Cimko brand.)

• Cimko MT 24 mm f2.8
• Cimko MT 28 mm f2.8
• Cimko MT 35 mm f2.8
• AM Topcor 55 mm f1.7
• Cimko MT 135 mm f2.8
• Cimko MT 200 mm f3.3
• Cimko MT 28–50 mm f3.5-4.5 (two touch)
• Cimko MT 28–50 mm f3.5-4.5 (one touch)
• Cimko MT 35–100 mm f3.5-4.3
• Cimko MT 55–230 mm f3.5-4.5
• Cimko MT 70–200 mm f3.8-4.8
• Cimko MT 80–200 mm f3.8
• Cimko MT 80–200 mm f4.5

Cosina

• Cosina 19–35 mm f3.5-4.5 AF
• Cosina 24 mm f2.8 MC macro (KA-mount)
• Cosina 28 mm f2.8 macro (KA-mount)
• Cosina 28–210 mm f4.2-6.5 Aspherical AF
• Cosina 28–210 mm f3.5 Aspherical AF
• Cosina 28 mm f2.8
• Cosina 35–70 mm f3.5-4.8
• Cosina 40 mm f2.5
• Cosina 50 mm f1.2
• Cosina 50 mm f2
• Cosina 55 mm f1.2
• Cosina 100 mm f3.5 AF macro
• Cosina 100–300 mm f5.6 AF macro
• Cosina 135 mm 1:2,8 MC

Cosmicar

Cosmicar is a division of Pentax, it commercialized video lenses, but some were released for the K-mount.

• MC Cosmicar 28 mm f2.8 (28 mm filter)
• MC Cosmicar 28–80 mm f3.5-4.5 (Macro at 80 mm end; KA mount)
• Cosmicar 70–200 mm f4

CPC

CPC Lenses are also known as Phase 2 or Phase 2 CCT.

• CPC 28 mm f2.8 Auto A (52 mm filter)
• CPC 28-80 f2.8-4.0 (62 mm filter)
• CPC 28–80 mm f3.5-4.5
• CPC 28–85 mm f3.5-4.5
• CPC 135 mm f2.8 MC Auto A (55 mm filter)

Eikor

• Eikor 80-200mm f4.5 (55mm filter)

Focal

• Focal 28 mm f2.8 MC Auto (52 mm filter)
• Focal 28 mm f2.8 MC Auto (55 mm filter)
• Focal 135 mm f2.8 MC Auto (58 mm filter)

Gemini

• Gemini 28 mm f2.8 (49 mm filter)
• Gemini 1:4.5 80-200mm Macro MC Zoom 55 (55mm filter thread size).

Hanimex

Hanimex was an Australian distributor founded by Jack Hannes after the Second World War.^[7] The name is a contraction of HANnes IMport and EXport and the company imported both European and Japanese lenses, bodies and accessories. Hannes apparently sought low cost providers and Hanimex lenses have a poor reputation among users.

• Hanimex AUTO ZOOM f3.5-4.5
• Hanimex AUTOMATIC-MC-MACRO 135 f2.8

Hervic Zivnon

• Hervic Zivnon 23 mm f3.5(62 mm filter)

Helios

Made for the Zenit cameras by KMZ

• MC Helios 44K-4 58 mm f2 (52 mm filter)
• MC Helios 77K-4 50 mm f1.8

Hoya

Hoya, a leading manufacturer of optical glass, purchased Pentax in 2008.

• Hoya 28 mm f2.8 HMC (52 mm filter)
• Hoya 28–50 mm f3.5-4.5 HMC (55 mm filter)
• Hoya 28–85 mm f4 HMC (72 mm filter)
• Hoya 70–150 mm f3.8 HMC (55 mm filter)
• Hoya 100–300 mm f5 macro HMC (62 mm filter)
• Hoya 135 mm f2.8 macro HMC (52 mm filter)

JC Penney

• JC Penney 135 mm f2.8

Kalimar

Kalimar was an American distributor of camera equipment from 1952 to 1999 when it was acquired by Tiffen, information on lenses and manufacturers is difficult to obtain as it sell rebadged cameras and lenses from the former Soviet Union and Japan and sell it under its own name in the United States.^[8]

• Kalimar 28 mm f2.8 Macro (52 mm filter)
• Kalimar 28–105 mm f3.5-4.5 Macro
• Kalimar 35–70 mm f2.8
• Kalimar 60–300 mm f4-5.6 MC AF (67 mm filter)
• Kalimar 500 mm f8 (72 mm filter) (catadioptric)

Kiron

Kiron was a third party lens manufacturer,^[9] it manufactured lenses for other mounts as well on the decade of 1980-1990

• Kiron 24 mm f2 RL
• Kiron 28 mm f2
• Kiron 28–70 mm f4 Macro (1:4)
• Kiron 105 mm f2.8 Macro (1:1)

LOMO

LOMO is a Russian photographic manufacturer, it made some lenses for the Almaz camera on K-mount, but caution must be used as the Almaz version has some differences with the standard K-mount

• Volna-10K 35 mm f1.8
• Volna 50 mm f1.8, kit lens for Almaz-103 kamera.

Lester A. Dine

• Lester A. Dine Kiron 105 mm f2.8 macro (52 mm filter)

Lensbaby

• Lensbaby 1.0 Selective Focus Lens (2006–2008)
• Lensbaby 2.0 Selective Focus Lens (2008)
• Lensbaby Muse Double Glass Optic
• Lensbaby Muse Plastic Optic
• Lensbaby Composer
• Lensbaby Scout with Fisheye Optic
• Lensbaby Control Freak

Loreo

• Loreo 35 mm f11-22 Shift lens (Lens-In-A-Cap)
• Loreo 38 mm f11 3D (Stereo) (2006–Present)

Luxon

Luxon is a Chinese manufacturer, and there is little information available on the company or its products.

• Luxon 50 mm f2.0 MC (China)

Mir

• Mir-20K 20 mm f3.5 (rear filter)
• Mir-47K 20 mm f2.5 (rear filter), made by VOMZ

Miranda

Miranda was a brand name used by the Dixons group in the UK, mostly for Cosina made products.

• Miranda 28 mm f2.8 (49 mm filter)
• Miranda 28 mm f2.8 MC (52 mm filter)
• Miranda 50 mm f2 (49 mm filter)
• Miranda 70–210 mm f4 Macro (52 mm filter)
• Miranda 70–210 mm f4.5 Macro
• Miranda 75–200 mm f4.5-5.3 Macro (52 mm filter)

Mitakon

• Mitakon 80–200 mm f4.5 MC Zoom (55 mm filter)
• Mitakon 28–200 mm f3.8-5.5

Makinon

Makinon lenses were made by Makina Optical in Japan.

• Makinon MC Reflex 400m f6.7 Macro
• Makinon MC Reflex 500 mm f8 Macro (catadioptric) (67 mm filter)
• Makinon MC ZOOM 35–70 mm 1:2.8 (62 mm filter)
• Makinon MC 135mm 1:2.8 (55 mm filter) not to be confused with the macro version. Superb sharpness wide open.
• Makinon MC 135mm 1:2.8 (52 mm filter) (non-macro version, good sharpness, built-in hood)

Oberon

• Oberon-11K 200 mm f2.8

Ozunon

• Ozunon 35 mm-75 mm F3.5-4.5

Petri

Petri was a Japanese camera manufacturer, which tried to capitalize on the popularity of the K-mount lens base and made one camera that used the K-mount with one standard lens:

• Petri 28 mm f2
• Petri 50 mm f2
• Petri 135 mm f2.8

Peleng

Peleng is a lens manufacturer based in Belarus, it was founded in the Soviet era and released most of its lenses for the M42 mount, but it has a K-mount lens:

• Peleng 8 mm f2.3 (2008)

Pentax

Good sources of information on Pentax K-mount lenses: Bojidar Dimitrov's Pentax K-mount pages,^[10] Stans Pentax Photography site,^[11] Pentax Forum's lens reviews.^[12] Bold text indicates lenses in current production/stock sale from Pentax.^[13]

Special optics

• Pentax Stereo Adapter I
• Pentax Stereo Adapter II

Accessories

• SMC Pentax Rear Converter K T6-2x
• SMC Pentax Rear Converter-A 1.4x-L Teleconverter
• SMC Pentax Rear Converter-A 2x-L Teleconverter
• SMC Pentax Rear Converter-A 1.4x-S Teleconverter
• SMC Pentax Rear Converter-A 2x-S Teleconverter
• SMC Pentax-F 1.7x AF Adapter
• HD Pentax-DA AF Rear Converter 1.4x AW (2014)

Phoenix

• Phoenix 500 mm f8 Reflex (catadioptric) (2006)
• Phoenix 800 mm f8 Reflex (catadioptric) (2008)

Polar

Polar is a brand of Samyang Optics, a South Korean third party lens manufacturer.

• Polar 800 mm f8 Reflex (catadioptric) (2008)
• Polar 85 mm Portrait Lens f1.4 Aspherical IF (2008)

Porst

• Porst 28 mm f2.8 MC Auto
• Porst 40 mm f2.5 MC Auto
• Porst 55 mm f1.2 Reflex MC Auto (55 mm filter)
• Porst 55 mm f1.2 MC Auto
• Porst 135 mm f2.8 Tele-AS MC E (55 mm filter)^[14]
• Porst 75–260 mm f4.5
• Porst 200 mm f3.5

Promaster

• Promaster 18–200 mm f3.5-6.3 AF XR EDO
• Promaster 18–200 mm f3.5-6.3 AF XR EDO(2007)
• Promaster 19–35 mm f3.5-4.5 AF
• Promaster 24–200 mm f3.5-5.6 AF XLD ASP
• Promaster 28–80 mm f3.5-5.6 AF
• Promaster 28–70 mm f2.8-4.2 MC Auto ZOOM MACRO
• Promaster 28–70 mm f3.9-4.8 Spectrum 7 MC Macro Auto
• Promaster 28–80 mm f3.5-5.6 Spectrum 7 AF
• Promaster 28–105 mm f4-5.6 AF IF
• Promaster 28–200 mm f3.5-5.6 AF XR
• Promaster 28–210 mm f3.5-5.6 Spectrum 7 MC Macro
• Promaster 50 f1.7
• Promaster 60–300 mm f4-5.6 Spectrum 7 (67 mm filter) (2008)
• Promaster 70–210 mm f4-5.6 AF Macro
• Promaster 70–300 mm f4-5.6 Spectrum 7 AF EDO LD Macro (2007)
• Promaster 80–200 mm f3.5 MC (62 mm filter)
• Promaster 80–210 mm f4.5-5.6 AF
• Promaster 85–210 mm f3.8 Auto Zoom Macro MC
• Promaster 135 mm f1:2.8 MC

Revue

• Revue 35 mm f2.8
• Revue 80–200 mm f4.5
• Revue 28–70 mm f3.5-4.5
• Revue 28–50 mm f3.5-4.5
• Revue 70–210 mm f4.5 AF

Revu

• Revu 50 mm f1.2 (1975)

Revuenon

• Revuenon Auto multicouted 28 mm f/2.8
• Revuenon Auto MC 28 mm f/2.8
• Revuenon Auto MC 50 mm f/1.4
• Revuenon Auto MC 50 mm f/1.7
• Revuenon 55 mm f/1.2
• Revuenon 135 mm f/2.8
• Revuenon Auto MC 135 mm f/2.8
• Revuenon 200 mm f/3.3
• Revuenon 200 mm f/3.5
• Revuenon 300 mm f/5.6
• Revuenon 500 mm f/8.0 Mirror

Ricoh - Rikenon - Riconar

This lens uses the Ricoh KR-mount version, Ricoh made both a XR version without the zoom pin, and the P version which has it.^[15]

• Rikenon 24 mm f2.8 (52 mm filter)XR Version
• Rikenon 28 mm f2.8 (52 mm filter)XR Version
• Rikenon 28 mm f3.5 (52 mm filter)XR Version (probably a renamed smc PENTAX-M 28mm f/3.5, very sharp wide-open)
• Rikenon 35 mm f2.8 XR Version
• Rikenon 50 mm f2 L (52 mm filter)XR Version
• Rikenon 50 mm f1.4 (52 mm filter)XR Version
• Rikenon 50 mm f1.7 (52 mm filter)XR Version
• Riconar 55 mm f2.2 (52 mm filter)
• Rikenon 135 mm f2.8 (55 mm filter)XR Version
• Rikenon 200 mm f4 XR
• Rikenon 50 mm f2 (52 mm filter)P Version
• Rikenon 600 mm f8 Reflex XR Version

Rokinon

This lens uses the Ricoh KR-mount version:

• Rokinon 500 mm f6.3 Reflex (catadioptric)

Sakar

Sakar is a commercial American company that used to sell K-mount lenses.^[16]

• 80–210 mm f1:3.8 macro MC (58 mm filter)
• 85–210 mm f1:4.5 macro MC
• 500 mm f/8 macro mirror (catadioptric)

Samyang

• Samyang 14 mm f/2.8 IF ED UMC
• Samyang 8 mm f/3.5 Aspherical IF MC Fish-eye
• Samyang/Rokinon 85 mm f/1.4 IF MC Aspherical
• Samyang 100–500 mm f5.6-7.1 Macro Tele Zoom Lens

Samsung

• Samsung 35–135 mm f3.5-4.5
• Samsung 50–200 mm f4-5.6 D-Xenon

Schneider-Kreuznach

All these lenses had been marketed by Samsung and are those present on Samsung's digital SLRs^[17] Schneider-Kreuznach is a traditional optics maker that do still make specialised glass and lenses (today mainly high-quality large-format lenses, enlarger lens and photographic loupes), but not for Samsung. They license their name to Samsung granted that certain minimum quality requirements are fulfilled. All the Schneider branded glass from Samsung is manufactured by Pentax and corresponds directly to Pentax lenses.^[18][19]

• Schneider-Kreuznach D-Xenogon 35 mm f2 (2006-) (rebadged SMC PENTAX-FA 1:2 35 mm AL, 1999-)
• Schneider-Kreuznach D-Xenon 18–55 mm f3.5-5.6 AF (2007- ) (rebadged SMC PENTAX-DA 1:3.5-5.6 18–55 mm AL, 2004- )
• Schneider-Kreuznach D-Xenon 100 mm MACRO 1:2.8 (2007-) (rebadged SMC PENTAX-D FA 1:2.8 100 mm MACRO, 2004-)
• Schneider-Kreuznach D-Xenogon 10–17 mm F3.5-4.5 ED (2007- ) (rebadged SMC PENTAX-DA FISH-EYE 1:3.5-4.5 10–17 mm ED (IF), 2006-)
• Schneider-Kreuznach D-Xenon 12–24 mm f4 ED (2007- ) (rebadged SMC PENTAX-DA 1:4 12–24 mm ED AL (IF), 2005-)
• Schneider-Kreuznach D-Xenon 50–200 mm f/4-5.6 AF (2006-) (rebadged SMC PENTAX-DA 1:4-5.6 50–200 mm ED, 2005-)

Special lenses

The Schneider-Kreuznach lenses feature shift and tilt movements for perspective control; they can be shifted by 12 mm and tilted by 8 degrees simultaneously.^[20]

• Schneider-Kreuznach PC-TS Super-Angulon 4.5/28 28mm f4.5
• Schneider-Kreuznach PC-TS Super-Angulon 2.8/50 50mm f2.8
• Schneider-Kreuznach PC-TS Makro-Symmar 4.5/90 HM 90mm f4.5

Sears

Sears is an American commercial company that sells relabeled lenses and cameras at their own stores in the United States for a number of years. As the objective was mainly commercial, quality is very different among lenses. Quality on construction in some ones is very good and in some others is plain bad. But it seems to be consistent among the same model. Some of the Sears lenses were made to fit Sears Cameras with the Ricoh K-mount version and are identified as KR, but is prudent to verify it before using it on more modern cameras that may be damaged by the Ricoh pin.

• Sears 28 mm f/2.8 Auto MC
• Sears 50 mm f/1.4 Auto MC
• Sears 50 mm f/1.7 Auto MC
• Sears 55 mm f/1.4
• Sears 55 mm f/2
• Sears 28–70 mm f/3.5-4.5 Macro
• Sears 60–300 mm f/4-5.6 Macro (KR-mount)
• Sears 75–260 mm f/4.5 MC Macro
• Sears 80–200 mm f/4-5.6 Auto MC
• Sears MC 135 mm f/2.8
• Sears Auto 2X Teleconverter

Sigma

Sigma is a Japanese manufacturer of cameras and lenses. It has made lenses for the K-mount for a number of years. And quality among them had varied a lot. After the launch of the K10D digital SLR it launched K-mount D series lenses. Such ones are designed to be used with the APS size camera, but older K-mount can be used as well. An increase in model numbers can be seen between 2007 and 2008 due to the success of the K10D, K100D, K100D Super, K110D, K20D and K200D cameras. Use of older Sigma lenses is possible but with caution, some Sigma older K-mount lenses are with the infamous Ricoh pin.

• Sigma 8 mm f/3.5 EX DG Fisheye
• Sigma 8–16 mm f/4.5-5.6 DC HSM
• Sigma 10–20 mm f/4.0-5.6 AF EX DC
• Sigma 10–20 mm F/3.5 EX DC HSM
• Sigma 12–24 mm f/4.5-5.6 EX DG
• Sigma 14 mm f/2.8 EX DG
• Sigma 15 mm f/2.8 EX DG Fisheye
• Sigma 15–30 mm f/3.5-5.6 AF EX DG
• Sigma 17–35 mm f/2.8-4 EX ASP
• Sigma 17–50 mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM
• Sigma 17–70 mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro
• Sigma 17–70 mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro (2007)
• Sigma 17–70 mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM
• Sigma 18–50 mm f/3.5-5.6 DC AF
• Sigma 18–50 mm f2.8-4.5 DC OS HSM
• Sigma 18–125 mm f/3.8-5.6 DC HSM
• Sigma 18–200 mm f/3.5-5.6 DC
• Sigma 18–250 mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM
• Sigma 20 mm f/1.8 EX DG ASP
• Sigma 20–40 mm f/2.8 EX DG ASP
• Sigma 24 mm f/1.8 EX DG
• Sigma 24–70 mm f/2.8 IF EX DG HSM
• Sigma 24–70 mm f/3.5-5.6
• Sigma 24–135 mm f/2.8-4.5 IF ASPH AF
• Sigma 28 mm f/1.8 EX DG
• Sigma 28 mm Mini-Wide f/2.8
• Sigma 28–70 mm f/2.8 EX DF ASP
• Sigma 28–300 mm f/3.5-6.3 DL ASP IF
• Sigma 28 mm f/1.8 EX DG
• Sigma 28–300 mm f/3.5-6.3 CHZ ASP
• Sigma 28–200 mm f/3.5-5.6 DL Macro
• Sigma 28–200 mm f/3.5-5.6
• Sigma 28–105 mm f/2.8-4 ASP
• Sigma 28–80 mm f/2.8 EX DF ASP Macro II
• Sigma 28–80 mm f/2.8 EX DF ASP Macro
• Sigma 28–80 mm f/3.5-5.6
• Sigma 30 mm f/1.4 EX DC
• Sigma 35–70 mm f/2.8-4 Macro 1:6.7(52 mm filter)
• Sigma 50 mm f1.4 EX DG HSM
• Sigma 50 mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro
• Sigma 50–150 mm APO f/2.8 EX DC II
• Sigma 50–200 mm f4-5.6 DC O S HSM
• Sigma 50–500 mm f/4-6.3 EX APO HSM
• Sigma 70 mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro
• Sigma 70–200 mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro
• Sigma 70–200 mm f/2.8 EX APO
• Sigma 70–200 mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM
• Sigma 70–200 mm f/2.8 EX DG APO Macro MkII
• Sigma 75–210 mm f/3.5-4.5 ZOOM-K III MC
• Sigma 70–300 mm f/4-5.6 DG APO Macro
• Sigma 70–300 mm f/4-5.6 DG Macro
• Sigma 70–300 mm f/4-5.6 DG OS
• Sigma 70–300 mm f/4-5.6 DI LD Macro (2008)
• Sigma 70–300 mm f/4-5.6 DL Macro
• Sigma 70–300 mm f/4-5.6 DG Macro
• Sigma 70–300 mm f/4-5.6 EX APO Macro
• Sigma 75–300 mm f4-5.6 AF
• Sigma 85 mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM
• Sigma 100–200 mm f/4.5 Macro
• Sigma 100–300 mm f/4.5-6.7 DL
• Sigma 100–300 mm f/4 EX APO IF
• Sigma 100–300 mm f/4.5-6.7 DL
• Sigma 105 mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro
• Sigma 120–400 mm f/4.5-5.6 APO DG OS HSM
• Sigma 135–400 mm f/4.5-5.6 APO ASP
• Sigma 150–500 mm f/5.0-6.3 DG OS HSM
• Sigma 170–500 mm f/5-6.3 APO ASP
• Sigma 180 mm f/3.5 EX Macro
• Sigma 300 mm f/2.8 EX DG
• Sigma 500 mm f/4 XQ Reflex (catadioptric)
• Sigma 500 mm f/4.5 EX DG
• Sigma 500 mm f/8 Reflex (catadioptric)
• Sigma 600 mm f/8 Reflex (catadioptric)

Soligor

• Soligor 70–210 mm f/4.5
• Soligor MC 80/135 f/4 dualfocal
• Soligor 85–205 mm f/3.8
• Soligor MC 90 mm-230 mm f/4.5
• Soligor 135 mm f/2.8
• Soligor 200 mm f/2.8
• Soligor C/D 28–200 mm f/3.8-5.5 Macro
• Soligor 35-105/3.5 Macro

Spiratone

Spiratone was a company devoted to sell photographic accessories and manage to sell some lenses under their own brand name until it closed, very few were made for the K-mount, and none of them are known to be of good quality.

• Spiratone 400 mm f6.3
• Spiratone 500 mm f8 (72 mm filter)

Sun

• Sun 28–80 mm f3.5-4.5 Macro (62 mm filter)
• Sun 80–200 mm f4.5 Macro (55 mm filter)
• Sun 85–210 mm f4.8 telephoto zoom (55 mm filter)
• Sun 70–140 mm f3.8 auto zoom (49 mm filter)

Sunagor

• Sunagor 75–300 mm F5.6

Suntop

• Suntop 28–135 mm f3.8-5.2 MC (67 mm filter)

Takumar

• Takumar 135 mm f2.5 prime
• Takumar A 28–80 mm f3.5-4.5 Macro

Tamron

Tamron is a third party vendor of photographic lenses, quality among them varies a lot. It is important to distinguish the adaptall versions from everything else, the adaptall is a generic adapter that allowed Tamron to manufacture a single lens design for a wide range of cameras, and commercialize those for specific brands with the use of the Adaptall I and Adaptall II adapters. So there are Tamron Lenses on K-mount, and Tamron Adaptall I and II for K- and KA-mount adapters. More Information on the Adaptall can be found on the Tamron article of Wikipedia. Here the non-Adaptall versions:

• Tamron 10–24 mm f/3.5-4.5 Di II LD AF SP Aspherical (IF)
• Tamron 17–50 mm f/2.8 SP AF XR Di-II LD Aspherical IF
• Tamron 18–250 mm f/3.5-6.3 AF Di-II LD Aspherical IF Macro
• Tamron 18–200 mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di-II LD IF (2008)
• Tamron 28–75 mm f/2.8 SP AF XR Di LD Aspherical IF Macro
• Tamron 28–80 mm f/3.5-5.6 AF
• Tamron 28–300 mm f/3.5-6.3 XR DI LD
• Tamron 70–200 mm f/2.8 SP AF
• Tamron 70–300 mm f/4-5.6 DI LD Macro (2008)
• Tamron 90 mm f/2.8 SP Di Macro (No Adaptall version)
• Tamron 90 mm f/2.5 Macro (Adaptall)
• Tamron 90 mm f/2.8 SP AFDi 1:1 Macro
• Tamron 300 mm f/2.8 DL (Adaptall)
• Tamron 500 mm f/8 SP (Adaptall 2) Reflex (catadioptric)

Tokina

• Tokina 17 mm f3.5
• Tokina 28 mm f2.8
• Tokina 90 mm f2.5 macro AT-X
• Tokina 90 mm f2.8 macro
• Tokina 200 mm f3.5
• Tokina 20–35 mm f2.8 AT-X Pro
• Tokina 28–70 mm f/2.6-2.8 AT-X Pro
• Tokina 28–70 mm f2.8
• Tokina 28–70 mm f3.5-4.5 PKA-mount
• Tokina 28–200 mm f3.5-5.3 zoom, 72 mm filter
• Tokina 35–105 mm f3.5 RMC - close focusing zoom
• Tokina 60–120 mm f2.8 AT-X (portrait lens, 55 mm filter)
• Tokina 70–210 mm f4.5
• Tokina 75–150 mm f3.8
• Tokina 80–200 mm f2.8
• Tokina 80–200 mm f4.5-5.6 SZ-X (49 mm filter)
• Tokina 80–400 mm f4.5-5.6 AT-X
• Tokina 150–500 mm f5.6 AT-X SD
• Tokina 500 mm f8 RMC Reflex (catadioptric)

Tou/Five Star

Tou Five Star was the commercial brand from Toyo Optics; some lenses are labeled as Toyo Optics, Toyo Five Star or Tou Five Star. They were manufactured between 1967 and sometime around 1980, when the company seems to have changed its focus to video lenses.

• Tou/Five Star MC Auto 28 mm 1:2.8 (to f/22) (52 mm)
• Toyo/Five Star MC Auto 28 mm 1:2.8 (to f/16) (52 mm)
• Tou/Five Star 28–80 mm 1:3.5-4.5 macro
• Tou/Five Star 28–135 mm 1:3.5-5.2 macro (67 mm)
• Tou/Five Star MC Auto 35–75 mm 1:3.5-4.8 macro (55 mm)
• Tou/Five Star 70–210 mm 1:4.5-22 macro (55 mm)
• Tou/Five Star 75–200 mm 1:4.5 macro
• Tou/Five Star MC Auto 200 mm 1:4.5 (52 mm)
• Tou/Five Star 500 mm 1:8

Venus Optics

• Laowa 15 mm f4 Macro
• Laowa 60 mm f2.8 Ultra-Macro

Vivitar

• Vivitar 19–35 mm f3.5-4.5 Series 1
• Vivitar 24 mm f2
• Vivitar 24 mm f2.8
• Vivitar 24–70 mm f3.3-4.8 Series 1
• Vivitar 28 mm f2
• Vivitar 28 mm f2.8
• Vivitar 28–85 mm f2.8-3.8
• Vivitar 28–90 mm f2.8-3.8 Series 1
• Vivitar 28–105 mm f2.8-3.8 Series 1
• Vivitar 35–200 mm f3-4.5 Macro 1:5 (65 mm filter)
• Vivitar 35 mm f2.8 VMC (49 mm filter)
• Vivitar 40 mm f2.5 VMC
• Vivitar 50 mm f1.4 VMC
• Vivitar 50 mm f2 (49 mm filter)
• Vivitar 55 mm f1.2 VMC Series I (58 mm filter)
• Vivitar 70–210 mm f3.5 Macro Zoom Series 1 & f2.8-4 Series 1^[21]
• Vivitar 75–200 mm f4.5
• Vivitar 85–205 mm f3.8
• Vivitar 90 mm f2.5 SL I Macro (2002-?)
• Vivitar 90–180 mm f4.5 Macro
• Vivitar 100–500 mm f5.6-8 (67 mm filter) Series 1
• Vivitar 105 mm f2.5 Macro Series 1
• Vivitar 135 mm f2.8
• Vivitar 135 mm f3.5 VMC (49 mm filter)
• Vivitar 200 mm f3 Series 1 (72 mm filter)
• Vivitar 450 mm f4.5 Series 1 aspherical catadioptric
• Vivitar 600 mm f8 Series 1 solid catadioptric
• Vivitar 800 mm f11 Series 1 solid catadioptric

Cosina Voigtländer

• Cosina Voigtländer Color Skopar 20 mm f3.5 SL-II (2009)
• Cosina Voigtländer 35–70 mm f3.5-4.8 (2004)
• Cosina Voigtländer Ultron Aspherical 40 mm f2 SL-II (2008, limited)
• Cosina Voigtländer Ultron Aspherical 40 mm f2 SL (2007, limited)
• Cosina Voigtländer Nokton 58 mm f1.4 (2008)
• Cosina Voigtländer Nokton 58 mm f1.4 SL-II (2008, SL never available for K-mount)
• Cosina Voigtländer Color-Heliar 75 mm f2.5 (2002-200?)
• Cosina Voigtländer Apo-Lanthar 90 mm f3.5 SL
• Cosina Voigtländer Apo-Lanthar 125 mm f2.5 SL (2002–2006)
• Cosina Voigtländer Apo-Lanthar 180 mm f4 SL (2002–2006)

VOMZ

Vologda Optical-and-Mechanical Plant.

• Mir-47K 20 mm f2.5
• Oberon-11K 200 mm f2.8

Zenitar

Zenitar^[22] is a Russian lens brand, made by KMZ. Most Zenitar lenses are also available in M42-mount. Some of these are sold as K-mount lenses but use an adapter.

• MC Zenitar-K 16 mm f2.8 (2008)
• MC Zenitar-K 1:2.8 20 mm
• MC Zenitar-K 1:2.8 28 mm
• MC Zenitar-К 1:1.4 50 mm
• MC Zenitar-K 1:1.9 50 mm
• MC Zenitar-K2 50 mm f2 (1995-?)
• MC Zenitar-1K 1:1.4 85 mm telephoto
• MC APO Telezenitar-K 1:2.8 135 mm telephoto
• MC APO Telezenitar-K 300 mm f4.5 (2008) telephoto
• MC Variozenitar-K 25–45 mm f2.8-3.5 (1980-? version)(60 mm filter) zoom
• MC Variozenitar-K 25–45 mm f2.8-3.5 (2008) zoom
• MC Variozenitar-K 35–100 mm f2.8 (1980?) zoom
• MC Variozenitar-K 1:3.5-4.5 35–105 mm zoom
• MC Variozenitar-K 1:4.0 70–210 mm zoom

Special lenses

• Zenitar MC 35 mm Tilt & Shift f2.8 (2008)
• Zenitar MC 80 mm Tilt & Shift f2.8 (2008)

References

More information

• The Evolution of the Pentax K-mount – Technical Information and a Little Bit of History
• Bojidar Dimitrov's Pentax K-mount page
• The Pentax Lens Compatibility Chart
• Pentax Lens Review Database and Third-Party PK-mount Lens Review Database: Large database of user reviews at Pentaxforums.com
• Chronological list of cameras with a Pentax K-mount (1975–1994)
• The Pentax Lens Gallery: List of some film-era Pentax K lenses and some comparison on bokeh and flare, also selected non-Pentax ones