So much for disciplene, had a GAS attack

[Uncle Bill]

Well, found a Jupiter 12 on Ebay for my Kiev and I thought everything was going to be fine. Well, no...In a local camera shop in downtown Oakville in their tiny used section there was an ASAHI Pentax K from 1958 with the 55/1.8 Takumar lens and a 135/3.5 telephoto to got with it. The small kit looked like it came out of the box new yesterday, I paid $150 CDn for the camera and both lenses. I think I am developing an early Pentax addiction. I am following an auction on Ebay to see what the value of the Pentax K is worth. Anybody know more about this camera, I paid a visit to the Asahi Historical site and they said it was only made for 2 years in the late 1950's. All I need now is time to try this out.

Bill

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Are you talking about the famed K-mount cameras? My wife happens to have one: the Pentax K-1000. I didn't know the K-mount was older than her camera...

I'll be checking this thread later because I too want to learn about this gear.

 

[ErnestoJL]

Hey!
As far as I know, the pentax K mount was released sometime in the ´80s.... so I never heard of K mounts at a so old date as 1958!
As far as I knew, the Pentax used Pentacon´s Praktica M42 mount for a very long time since they released the Asahiflex sometime in the late ´50s.

Any way, congratulations, Cn 150 for that two lenses and a body is a real good price!!!

 

[wierdcollector]

Hi Bill,
Interestingly enough my 97/98 McKeown's and Magic Lantern Guide, missed the Pentax K and they discuss the K2 as the first K mount Pentax (1975). The Collector's Guide To Japanese Cameras lists it as 1958 but doesn't state the mount and the Japanese 35mm SLR Cameras Guide lists it as 1958 but screw mount rather than K mount. Without going to one of the many Pentax collector sites it seems possible that the original K was a screw mount SLR and the K2 was the first to use the new K mount bayonet. I could be wrong but doesn't OldProf have a "K"? Maybe we could ask him?

 

[wierdcollector]

Should have added I believe the 55 f1.8 and 135 f 3.5 are both screw mount lenses as I have two of each. Don't believe they made a 55mm in K mount although lately I'm feeling a little swamped trying to keep track of all the lens info on so many manufacturers. Before Christmas I believe I'm going to have to cut back my collecting to only M42 screw mount and Pentax K mount. Time to re-evaluate the other brands I have and pare them back to just a few of the more classic Canon/Minolta/Miranda etc.

 

[Uncle Bill]

Allow me to be a little more specific the Asahi Pentax K I have is an M42 screw mount made for one year, 1958 if memory serves correctly. Cosmetic wise it looks like a spotmatic, BUT the there is a separate slow speed knob on the front of the camera. The 55/1.8 Takumar has a two tone black polished steel/chrome/ Alloy finish. Does this help at all?

Bill