The Pentax K1 36 MP Camera and Lens Adaptations

[Michael Erlewine]

I am sufficiently interested in the Pentax K1 to have ordered one. As a mostly tripod photographer, one who does a lot of still nature photography, it seems that the sensor-shift feature that produces larger and perhaps cleaner-color files, if it works as advertised, is right up my alley.

There remains the problem of lenses. I don’t have any Pentax K lenses, and probably wouldn’t be that happy with them if I did. What I do know are some of the Voigtlander lenses, and the Voigtlander 90mm f/3.5 SL lens comes in a Pentax K mount, although I understand they are no longer produced.

I managed to find a CV-90 SL for Pentax K mount in japan and ordered one, because I know and have this lens in Nikon F-Mount and it is very sharp and well corrected. I have a couple of questions for those of you who know Pentax lenses.

What other FF lenses of that sharpness and correction are out there that will fit the Pentax?

Is there any way to mount Nikon lenses on the Pentax K1?

Since I have the CV-90 in both Nikon and Pentax mounts, is there any way to get a Pentax K mount and then substitute a Nikon-style lens to the K mount?

What I would most like is to have a CV125mm APO-Lanthar on the K1 mount, which I understand exist, but are rare. I have an extra CF-125mm for Nikon F-Mount. Could it be switched to the K Mount?

Any help on lens advice is appreciated?

[Erik Lund]

If you can find this lens: Voigtlander ULTRON 40mm f/2 in the first version with chrome bayonet for the sunshade, in Pentax mount you can exchange the mount with the APO Lanthar 125mm, there is a chance it will work,,,

Basically I don't know this new Pentax mount,,,

These Voigtlander lenses have a universal design making this possible - the Ais mount reverse the action for the aperture stop down, so I guess it will be the right wrong way around on a Pentax.

Otherwise send two APO Lanthar 125mm in Nikon Ais to me and you will get one Apo Lanthar 125mm in Pentax mount in return

[Michael Erlewine]

If you can find this lens: Voigtlander ULTRON 40mm f/2 in the first version with chrome bayonet for the sunshade, in Pentax mount you can exchange the mount with the APO Lanthar 125mm, there is a chance it will work,,,

Basically I don't know this new Pentax mount,,,

These Voigtlander lenses have a universal design making this possible - the Ais mount reverse the action for the aperture stop down, so I guess it will be the right wrong way around on a Pentax.

Otherwise send two APO Lanthar 125mm in Nikon Ais to me and you will get one Apo Lanthar 125mm in Pentax mount in return

Can you give anymore detail about the mount exchange. I don't see any Voigtlander Ultron 40mm for Pentax, but I have one for  Nikon mount. Any photos of what the Pentax mount Ultron looks like?

[Erik Lund]

My best guess would be this one:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Voigtlander-ULTRON-40mm-F-2-SL-Aspherical-Lens-for-Pentax-K5230-/272069876575?nma=true&si=SnQ9xJtlYn5vGZ1oUrkUC671TbQ%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

[Erik Lund]

Should be a walk in the park for Richard to find one in Japan 

Please do note, the later version, all black - Does not fit!

[Erik Lund]

And for reference; This is how the rear lens end of the Ultron 40mm should look like inside ie identical to the APO Lanthar 125mm

[Michael Erlewine]

Should be a walk in the park for Richard to find one in Japan 

Please do note, the later version, all black - Does not fit!

Ebay has M42 mounts, but no Pentax at the moment. I will look.

Is this the lens shape?

[Michael Erlewine]

And for reference; This is how the rear lens end of the Ultron 40mm should look like inside ie identical to the APO Lanthar 125mm

No image to see?

[Michael Erlewine]

Two small facts that i know:
1.  The Pentax M42 screw mount is adaptable(with correct infinity focus) to the K mount.  I had some of these back in
     the 1980's.
2.  In the first few years of the Zeiss ZF/ZE series lenses, they were also offered in K mount(ZK) and M42 mount(ZS).
     The list may include the 21/2.8, 25/2.8, 35/2, 50/1.4, 50/2 Macro, 85/1.4, and the 100/2.     

Pentax M42 screw mount: Anyone know how that might be done? 

Not interested in the Zeiss, but I know the CV-125 really well and that would allow me to test the new camera properly.

[Michael Erlewine]

Thanks Sten!
Then you buy the Ultron i mentioned but in M42 mount and switch the mount onto the APO Lanthar and use a M42 to K-mount adapter on it

Erik,

I am a novice here. Could you perhaps walk me through the process?

(1) But the Ulton in M43 mount
(2) Switch the mount onto the APO Lanthar (the Lanthar is in F-Mount). I need more detail here.

(30 Us the M43 to K Mount adapter? Which one? Do you have a link?

[Michael Erlewine]

Yes, I have a plan.

The problem with the Pentax K1 camera is there are no lenses, at least that I know and can judge by. I have ordered a Voigtlander 90mm APO lens with Pentax mount. I know that lens well.

What I do have is the Rollei Bellows Camera, which takes all the parts of the Novoflex Balpro bellows. I just ordered an adapter plate to allow me to mount the Pentax K1 camera on the rear.d standard of the bellows, and use my Nkon F-mount lenses on the front. That should give me enough lenses to get a right idea of how useful this camera will be for the work that I do.

[Erik Lund]

Buy the Ultron i mentioned in M42 mount
Remove the M42 mount.
Remove Ais mount from APO
Put the M42 mount onto the APO Lanthar
Buy M42 to K-mount adapter and put it on the APO

[Michael Erlewine]

Buy the Ultron i mentioned in M42 mount
Remove the M42 mount.
Remove Ais mount from APO
Put the M42 mount onto the APO Lanthar
Buy M42 to K-mount adapter and put it on the APO

Done. Lens and adapter ordered.

[Michael Erlewine]

Buy the Ultron i mentioned in M42 mount
Remove the M42 mount.
Remove Ais mount from APO
Put the M42 mount onto the APO Lanthar
Buy M42 to K-mount adapter and put it on the APO

Erik:

Are there any photos, links, suggestions about what exactly is taken off when we remove the M42 mount?

Same with the AIS mount from the APO, is it obvious>

Same when putting the M42 on the APO Lanthar. Are the wholes the same or what?

Any clearer idea would help.

Is this something I can do by myself or should I ask John White if he cane do it?

[arthurking83]

I'm thinking it should be easier to adapt a Nikon mount lens to fit onto a Pentax K mount camera.

Fotodiox make such an adapter ... https://www.fotodioxpro.com/nikon-f-lens-to-pentax-k-camera-fotodiox-lens-mount-adapter.html
It does have a lens element to achieve infinity focus, but they also describe it as removable for the purpose of macro photography .. so at least it should be easily removable.

Alternatively, you could  make your own adapter if Pentax has an equivalent to Nikon's K-1 adapter ring.
If Pentax did have just such an adpater, you could mount your Nikon F mount lenses to a K-3 ring, which has a Nikon F mount to 52mm (male)thread conversion.
If this Pentax K-1 ring had 52mm (female)threads, you'd have yourself a very slight amount of extension for each lens, therefore most likely losing infinity focus.
But as Michael seems to concentrate on close up imagery I doubt that this will be a problem.

question is, what is Pentax's K-1 ring equivalent .. if one exists.

edit:
There are plenty of Pentax K mount to 52mm thread adapters on ebay, but they're all male threaded so as to mount a lens directly onto the adapter.
But you'd need a female thread type .. ie. Nikon K-1 equivalent if you were to use a Nikon K-3 ring for the lens.