Can You Identify This Vintage Lens Mount? Any Adapters Available?

**mdcall** · 03-16-2022, 01:06 PM

I picked up this Carl Zeiss lens which, according to the Carl Zeiss serial numbers page on camera-wiki.org, is from 1938. It's a 135mm f/4.0. I'm hoping there's an adapter out there that will allow me to try this on my K-3 II or my K-5 II. Can anyone

Identify the lens mount
Tell me if there's an adapter I could use for my Pentax cameras?

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**BigMackCam** · 03-16-2022, 01:14 PM - **1 Like**

I believe it's for Contax RF mount, and no - you can't really adapt it for any SLR without glass in-between due to the much shorter flange focal distance of the native mount. Even with glass, I don't believe there's a commercial Contax RF to Pentax K-mount adapter. There are adapters for several current mirrorless platforms...

Nice lens, though. There's a market for them - folks who shoot mirrorless cameras and like vintage lenses. From what I can see, that one looks good cosmetically, though it could do with an optical cleaning (certainly externally - perhaps internally too)

vonBaloney · 03-16-2022, 01:17 PM - **1 Like**

Probably for a Contax rangerfinder. I doubt you could put it on a Pentax K mount because of short registration distance, but you might be able to put on the Q one way or another.

**UncleVanya** · 03-16-2022, 01:41 PM - **1 Like**

This may be helpful: Contax rangefinder lenses | Camerapedia | Fandom

stevebrot · 03-16-2022, 03:38 PM - **1 Like**

Yes, the mount is Contax(/Kiev) rangefinder and will fit the outer bayonet of those cameras. As noted above, there are adapters for mirrorless. It can also be adapted to to Leica M, but the adapter prices are high.

Steve

**pepperberry farm** · 03-16-2022, 04:20 PM - **1 Like**

you'll do better with a mirrorless camera for just about any lens adaptation....

**mdcall** · 03-17-2022, 10:14 AM

Thank you, everyone, for helping me out with this.

03-16-2022, 01:14 PM - 1 Like	#2
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,705	I believe it's for Contax RF mount, and no - you can't really adapt it for any SLR without glass in-between due to the much shorter flange focal distance of the native mount. Even with glass, I don't believe there's a commercial Contax RF to Pentax K-mount adapter. There are adapters for several current mirrorless platforms... Nice lens, though. There's a market for them - folks who shoot mirrorless cameras and like vintage lenses. From what I can see, that one looks good cosmetically, though it could do with an optical cleaning (certainly externally - perhaps internally too) Last edited by BigMackCam; 03-16-2022 at 01:19 PM.

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03-16-2022, 01:17 PM - 1 Like	#3
vonBaloney Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 6,029	Probably for a Contax rangerfinder. I doubt you could put it on a Pentax K mount because of short registration distance, but you might be able to put on the Q one way or another.

03-16-2022, 01:41 PM - 1 Like	#4
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,472	This may be helpful: Contax rangefinder lenses \| Camerapedia \| Fandom

03-16-2022, 03:38 PM - 1 Like	#5
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Yes, the mount is Contax(/Kiev) rangefinder and will fit the outer bayonet of those cameras. As noted above, there are adapters for mirrorless. It can also be adapted to to Leica M, but the adapter prices are high. Steve

03-16-2022, 04:20 PM - 1 Like	#6
pepperberry farm amateur dirt farmer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 41,781	you'll do better with a mirrorless camera for just about any lens adaptation....

03-17-2022, 10:14 AM	#7
mdcall Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2021 Photos: Albums Posts: 26 Original Poster	Thank you, everyone, for helping me out with this.