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stevebrot · 10-04-2018, 09:31 AM

This rumor and/or variations has been floating around for a couple of years now, ever since Zenit started hinting about making cameras again in partnership with established names.

Steve

stevebrot · 10-04-2018, 09:37 AM

Originally posted by Saxtonine

If this is true, would Zenit be likely to make K-mount lenses?

If so, it would not be anything new for them, at least for vanilla K with no contacts. I would not hold my breath until it is clear how good a job they do with modern Canon and Nikon support.

Steve

**boriscleto** · 10-04-2018, 09:46 AM

Originally posted by Mistral75

Why would they go into rangefinder cameras?

A good question since Zenit was SLR and Zorki was rangefinder...The first Zenit SLR was just a Zorki rangefinder with a mirror...

Mistral75 · 10-04-2018, 09:57 AM

Indeed, like the Nikon F which was basically a Nikon SP with a grafted-on mirror and prism.

reh321 · 10-04-2018, 10:11 AM

Originally posted by ogl

It's weird rumour. Zenit M will be produced only by limited quantity in 500 pcs. if it would be produced...
I've heard such idea at Russian Penta Club several times - about KMZ and Ricoh cooperation...
But there is no name RICOH in any interview of KMZ's managers.

Is KMZ related to the people who made the Practika?

Mistral75 · 10-04-2018, 10:36 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by reh321

Is KMZ related to the people who made the Practika?

Not exactly. The people who made the Praktica cameras were first Kamera Werk, then Pentacon, both based in Dresden, eastern Germany.

**Larrymc** · 10-04-2018, 10:52 AM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by WillWeaverRVA

But of course I want to control who Pentax does and doesn't work with, so they can stop being DOOMED.

I probably overreacted, but it just rubs me the wrong way to see Pentax involved in a deal to make cameras designed as gifts for oligarchs like the Zenit M was.

Dude, its a deal that might increase Pentax's bottom line, are you mixing politics with business? I see nothing wrong with it at all.

funkythiru · 10-04-2018, 12:05 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Larrymc

Dude, its a deal that might increase Pentax's bottom line, are you mixing politics with business? I see nothing wrong with it at all.

Didn't a bunch of camera makers use the K-mount or rebadge Pentax in the film days? If this can bring forth more exotic glass let it be.

**pres589** · 10-04-2018, 12:10 PM

If Ricoh won't make a 25mm f2.5 k-mount prime, maybe the Russians will.

But probably not.

stevebrot · 10-04-2018, 01:13 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by reh321

Is KMZ related to the people who made the Practika?

No, not even remotely. Praktica was originally a line of cameras from Kamera-Werkstätten (KW) AG in Dresden. KW had a long history from before World War II. KW was eventually absorbed into what became Pentacon after the war and the creation of the DDR (East Germany). KMZ, on the other hand was originally a Soviet state-owned manufacturer that was created during World War II to make optical devices for the Soviet military. After the war, production shifted to include the FED rangefinder camera (FED factory in Karkov, Ukraine was in ruins) as well as the virtually identical Zorki. The Zorki in its various incarnations continued production until 1980 and boasts one of the largest production numbers (perhaps THE largest) of any camera, ever.* While KMZ did produce Soviet versions of pre-war Zeiss products, those did not include cameras nor any product traceable to KW.

Steve

* The Zorki 4/4K alone accounts for 2.2 million units.

stevebrot · 10-04-2018, 01:23 PM

Originally posted by funkythiru

Didn't a bunch of camera makers use the K-mount or rebadge Pentax in the film days?

There has been a Chinese clone of the K1000, but no outright rebadges that I am aware of. Since the original K mount was not proprietary, many makers have made lenses and cameras to that specification. Those include KMZ which made Zenit SLRs in both Pentax-K and Nikon F mounts.

Steve

Val.Ou · 10-04-2018, 03:43 PM

Originally posted by stevebrot

There has been a Chinese clone of the K1000, but no outright rebadges that I am aware of. Since the original K mount was not proprietary, many makers have made lenses and cameras to that specification. Those include KMZ which made Zenit SLRs in both Pentax-K and Nikon F mounts.

Steve

Nikon F (named -H, N in russian) mounts were made by Arsenal in Kiev, never by KMZ, which made only Pentax K.

**THoog** · 10-04-2018, 03:48 PM

Originally posted by D1N0

I find this as ridiculous as the Zenit-m. Why would they go into DSLR's at all?

Maybe they still have a few tonnes of M42 Industar 50-2s lying around, and they need something to put them on...

awscreo · 10-04-2018, 04:35 PM

Hopefully the quality of the 5500 euro camera is better than quality of Lada and GAZ

shiner · 10-04-2018, 05:59 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by clickclick

Maybe we will get some Helios classics redone in native K mount.

Well, I hope they leave a tiny bit of grease on the inside like before, so that crazy bokeh remains as the selling feature.

10-04-2018, 01:13 PM - 1 Like	#40
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by reh321 Is KMZ related to the people who made the Practika? No, not even remotely. Praktica was originally a line of cameras from Kamera-Werkstätten (KW) AG in Dresden. KW had a long history from before World War II. KW was eventually absorbed into what became Pentacon after the war and the creation of the DDR (East Germany). KMZ, on the other hand was originally a Soviet state-owned manufacturer that was created during World War II to make optical devices for the Soviet military. After the war, production shifted to include the FED rangefinder camera (FED factory in Karkov, Ukraine was in ruins) as well as the virtually identical Zorki. The Zorki in its various incarnations continued production until 1980 and boasts one of the largest production numbers (perhaps THE largest) of any camera, ever.* While KMZ did produce Soviet versions of pre-war Zeiss products, those did not include cameras nor any product traceable to KW. Steve * The Zorki 4/4K alone accounts for 2.2 million units. Last edited by stevebrot; 10-04-2018 at 01:32 PM.

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10-04-2018, 09:31 AM	#31
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	This rumor and/or variations has been floating around for a couple of years now, ever since Zenit started hinting about making cameras again in partnership with established names. Steve

10-04-2018, 09:37 AM	#32
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by Saxtonine If this is true, would Zenit be likely to make K-mount lenses? If so, it would not be anything new for them, at least for vanilla K with no contacts. I would not hold my breath until it is clear how good a job they do with modern Canon and Nikon support. Steve

10-04-2018, 09:46 AM	#33
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,477	Originally posted by Mistral75 Why would they go into rangefinder cameras? A good question since Zenit was SLR and Zorki was rangefinder...The first Zenit SLR was just a Zorki rangefinder with a mirror...

10-04-2018, 09:57 AM	#34
Mistral75 Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Paris, France Posts: 7,527	Indeed, like the Nikon F which was basically a Nikon SP with a grafted-on mirror and prism.

10-04-2018, 10:11 AM	#35
reh321 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Bend, IN, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,185	Originally posted by ogl It's weird rumour. Zenit M will be produced only by limited quantity in 500 pcs. if it would be produced... I've heard such idea at Russian Penta Club several times - about KMZ and Ricoh cooperation... But there is no name RICOH in any interview of KMZ's managers. Is KMZ related to the people who made the Practika?

10-04-2018, 10:36 AM - 1 Like	#36
Mistral75 Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Paris, France Posts: 7,527	Originally posted by reh321 Is KMZ related to the people who made the Practika? Not exactly. The people who made the Praktica cameras were first Kamera Werk, then Pentacon, both based in Dresden, eastern Germany.

10-04-2018, 10:52 AM - 2 Likes	#37
Larrymc Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Mississippi, USA Posts: 5,252	Originally posted by WillWeaverRVA But of course I want to control who Pentax does and doesn't work with, so they can stop being DOOMED. I probably overreacted, but it just rubs me the wrong way to see Pentax involved in a deal to make cameras designed as gifts for oligarchs like the Zenit M was. Dude, its a deal that might increase Pentax's bottom line, are you mixing politics with business? I see nothing wrong with it at all.

10-04-2018, 12:05 PM - 1 Like	#38
funkythiru Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Chicago Posts: 291	Originally posted by Larrymc Dude, its a deal that might increase Pentax's bottom line, are you mixing politics with business? I see nothing wrong with it at all. Didn't a bunch of camera makers use the K-mount or rebadge Pentax in the film days? If this can bring forth more exotic glass let it be.

10-04-2018, 12:10 PM	#39
pres589 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Wichita, KS Photos: Albums Posts: 4,533	If Ricoh won't make a 25mm f2.5 k-mount prime, maybe the Russians will. But probably not.

10-04-2018, 01:23 PM	#41
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by funkythiru Didn't a bunch of camera makers use the K-mount or rebadge Pentax in the film days? There has been a Chinese clone of the K1000, but no outright rebadges that I am aware of. Since the original K mount was not proprietary, many makers have made lenses and cameras to that specification. Those include KMZ which made Zenit SLRs in both Pentax-K and Nikon F mounts. Steve

10-04-2018, 03:43 PM	#42
Val.Ou Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Near Paris Photos: Gallery Posts: 39	Originally posted by stevebrot There has been a Chinese clone of the K1000, but no outright rebadges that I am aware of. Since the original K mount was not proprietary, many makers have made lenses and cameras to that specification. Those include KMZ which made Zenit SLRs in both Pentax-K and Nikon F mounts. Steve Nikon F (named -H, N in russian) mounts were made by Arsenal in Kiev, never by KMZ, which made only Pentax K.

10-04-2018, 03:48 PM	#43
THoog Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: North Carolina Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,685	Originally posted by D1N0 I find this as ridiculous as the Zenit-m. Why would they go into DSLR's at all? Maybe they still have a few tonnes of M42 Industar 50-2s lying around, and they need something to put them on...

10-04-2018, 04:35 PM	#44
awscreo Veteran Member Join Date: May 2016 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,722	Hopefully the quality of the 5500 euro camera is better than quality of Lada and GAZ

10-04-2018, 05:59 PM - 1 Like	#45
shiner Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: N GA USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,127	Originally posted by clickclick Maybe we will get some Helios classics redone in native K mount. Well, I hope they leave a tiny bit of grease on the inside like before, so that crazy bokeh remains as the selling feature.

Ricoh is working....with Zenit on a K-1 rebadge DSLR???

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