Originally posted by wkraus The Zeiss Distagon T* F1.4 35mm lens is available as an industrial version with M42 mount, easy to adapt.
Didn't know that, thanks for the info.
Now I'm curious as to why Zeiss would still have on offer the M42 screw mount, which Pentax discontinued around 1975 or so, but Zeiss discontinued the ZK mount...the Pentax K bayonet mount....which is still very much a current lens mount.
I realize that not enough customers bought the ZK mount, but I would think even less would buy the M42 mount.
Possibilities why the M42 is still on offer, but the ZK is not....I'm thinking may include :
- Pentax popularized the M42 mount when it adopted it and there were other manufacturers who had it before, during the reign of the Pentax M42 screwmount (as it became known) ...and I suppose after. Although I don't think the M42 screwmount could possibly be in much of a demand.
- The fact that it is described as an 'industrial' mount makes me wonder what industrial uses this mount was used for ?
- Zeiss still has M42 mount 'Pentax mount' lenses still available in their stores.
Anyway, very interesting to contemplate. As much as I think Zeiss lenses are great, they do have one disadvantage for me. They're manual focus (I could be wrong) and I've got old eyes which need bifocal assistance. I would much prefer to have a lens with auto focus.