Why does every Pentax model number have a K in it?

bobjames · 11-23-2010, 08:50 AM - **1 Like**

Why does every Pentax model number have a K in it?

What does the K stand for, anyway?

Fogel70 · 11-23-2010, 08:55 AM - **1 Like**

Not all Pentax (D)SLR has a K in the name, but the most obvious reason for having it is because they use Pentax K-mount.

WerTicus · 11-23-2010, 09:51 AM

mx was a k mount?

Do any companies model names mean much? Why do cars have proper names and cameras have stupid number codes? the answer is 'who cares'

Actually Japanese cars have stupid number codes so maybe its a Japanese thing. Number codes might be meaningful if they stuck to them but they always go and change the rules every few years.

GhoSStrider · 11-23-2010, 10:24 AM

On the bright side, Pentax has figured out that we're not going back to film photography anytime soon so it's not necessary to put a "D" in the name of every new digital camera. Canikon have yet to figure that out despite the fact that they sell more cameras than anyone.

bobjames · 11-23-2010, 10:48 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Fogel70

Not all Pentax (D)SLR has a K in the name, but the most obvious reason for having it is because they use Pentax K-mount.

Yes, but why not the X-mount or the Z-mount?

Is Doris Day's Pentax the K-sera sera?

Ananta Androscoggin · 11-23-2010, 11:58 AM

Originally posted by bobjames

Is Doris Day's Pentax the K-sera sera?

What number is 'sera sera' in English? 11? 22? 33? something else up to 99?

Hypocorism · 11-23-2010, 12:37 PM

Originally posted by bobjames

Yes, but why not the X-mount or the Z-mount?

Is Doris Day's Pentax the K-sera sera?

That would make it Q[ue] mount.

Which might not be so O-K for Zeiss. (apparently the purported creator, in a loose tie up with Pentax, circa '75)

.R.

Last edited by Hypocorism; 11-23-2010 at 01:36 PM.

séamuis · 11-23-2010, 12:45 PM

why does nikon call theres the F mount? probably because the liked the letter F and so they named their first camera the F. now you have the F mount. Pentax chose the letter K. they have chosen it once before. and thus they introduced the K2, the KX and the KM. A year later the K1000. thus you have the Kmount. they are just names. something chosen to be catchy and easily remembered. the way that Leica chose ‘M’. its just a name.

abmj · 11-23-2010, 12:50 PM

Originally posted by WerTicus

... Actually Jap cars have stupid number codes so maybe its a Jap thing. ...

This is one of the more offensive things I have seen posted on these forums. Do we really need racist slurs to make a point?

billx2 · 11-23-2010, 12:56 PM

Originally posted by WerTicus

Actually Jap cars have stupid number codes so maybe its a Jap thing. Number codes might be meaningful if they stuck to them but they always go and change the rules every few years.

Not only racial, but mostly incorrect. Its the German cars that do it most. BMW, Audi, and Mercedes all use predominantly letter/number designations for their cars. Except for Mazda, the Japanese cars mostly have real names, Camry, Accord, Supra, Maxima, Altima, etc, etc.

Rory · 11-23-2010, 01:02 PM

Originally posted by abmj

This is one of the more offensive things I have seen posted on these forums. Do we really need racist slurs to make a point?

Huh?

They put K in the name because they kick ass.

séamuis · 11-23-2010, 01:02 PM

Originally posted by billx2

And BMW, Audi, Mercedes, etc, etc don't do that also? Overall, I think the Japanese cars use less numbers than the German cars. The exception being Mazda.

quite true. in fact, its more a western thing than an eastern thing in general. mostly a european thing actually. the cars here in the west that come from Japan, usually have a different name in Japan than they do everywhere else. precisely because the western world is so used to the confusing number/letter name thing. a good example has always been the Datsun ‘Z’ cars, which everywhere else had the number designation but in Japan, were always called the ‘Fairlady’. if we are to be intolerant and ignorant and to a degree, racist. we should be blaming those damn krauts, not the japs. =/

Rory · 11-23-2010, 01:04 PM

If what he said is racist, I'll have to stop calling my in-laws "Brits".

séamuis · 11-23-2010, 01:07 PM

Originally posted by Rory

If what he said is racist, I'll have to stop calling my in-laws "Brits".

depends on the context. I hardly assume you mean it in an offensive way when you say it. also, ‘brit’ is a commonly accepted term by a majority of British people. ‘Jap’ is not the same to a majority of Japanese. its a word that represents ignorance and hatred, born out of WWII. they may be similar in appearance as just a ’shortened’ term for who they are nationally, but have very different internal meanings.

bobmaxja · 11-23-2010, 02:08 PM - **1 Like**

I believe this is more trivial
Could it be that, it's derived from the Japanese name of Pentax or Ashahi . Their a lot of K in the historical name
Asahi Optical Co., Ltd. (旭光学工業株式会社, Asahi Kōgaku Kōgyō Kabushiki-gaishaand when the company was rename in 2002 took the name of Pentax Corporation

Pentakkusu Kabushiki-gaisha, and Pentax K mount is really PK mount
You can read a lot in Wikipedia on K mount but they dont talk about that fact

K seem to be a very popular letter it seem in Japan

OR Could it be because when you install a lense it's about the angle between the position 0 and the locking position who is about angle on the K

Or The K Bayonnet system is base on three tab like a K
Also The K mount was co invented with the German Zeiss and the German use a lot of K

But hitorian can give us the correct answer

11-23-2010, 08:50 AM - 1 Like	#1
bobjames Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Photos: Gallery Posts: 89	Why does every Pentax model number have a K in it? Why does every Pentax model number have a K in it? What does the K stand for, anyway?

11-23-2010, 09:51 AM	#3
WerTicus Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Perth Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 1,514	mx was a k mount? Do any companies model names mean much? Why do cars have proper names and cameras have stupid number codes? the answer is 'who cares' Actually Japanese cars have stupid number codes so maybe its a Japanese thing. Number codes might be meaningful if they stuck to them but they always go and change the rules every few years. Last edited by WerTicus; 11-23-2010 at 09:33 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Lens Serial Number Database	Ole	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	63	06-24-2019 01:47 AM
vivitar number 1 series 28-105mm 1:2.8 3.8 and pentax K-x	davidvandoren	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	4	07-02-2010 08:33 AM
Pentax K-x is has the highest number of clicks in the last 5 days	ontarioexplorer	Pentax News and Rumors	57	01-08-2010 09:39 PM
For Sale - Sold: Pentax 15mm f3.5 SMC-M. Serial Number 7319846	D_Ready	Sold Items	10	12-12-2009 10:43 AM
Pentax 50mm f/1.2 lens serial number id?	sandpipe	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	8	08-25-2008 05:55 AM

11-23-2010, 08:55 AM - 1 Like	#2
Fogel70 Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Photos: Albums Posts: 3,062	Not all Pentax (D)SLR has a K in the name, but the most obvious reason for having it is because they use Pentax K-mount.

11-23-2010, 10:24 AM	#4
GhoSStrider Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: 14er Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 323	On the bright side, Pentax has figured out that we're not going back to film photography anytime soon so it's not necessary to put a "D" in the name of every new digital camera. Canikon have yet to figure that out despite the fact that they sell more cameras than anyone.

11-23-2010, 10:48 AM - 1 Like	#5
bobjames Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Photos: Gallery Posts: 89 Original Poster	Originally posted by Fogel70 Not all Pentax (D)SLR has a K in the name, but the most obvious reason for having it is because they use Pentax K-mount. Yes, but why not the X-mount or the Z-mount? Is Doris Day's Pentax the K-sera sera?

11-23-2010, 11:58 AM	#6
Ananta Androscoggin Guest	Originally posted by bobjames Is Doris Day's Pentax the K-sera sera? What number is 'sera sera' in English? 11? 22? 33? something else up to 99?

11-23-2010, 12:37 PM	#7
Hypocorism Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Melbourne .au Posts: 623	Originally posted by bobjames Yes, but why not the X-mount or the Z-mount? Is Doris Day's Pentax the K-sera sera? That would make it Q[ue] mount. Which might not be so O-K for Zeiss. (apparently the purported creator, in a loose tie up with Pentax, circa '75) .R. Last edited by Hypocorism; 11-23-2010 at 01:36 PM.

11-23-2010, 12:45 PM	#8
séamuis Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Savannah, U.S./Baguio City, P.H. Posts: 5,979	why does nikon call theres the F mount? probably because the liked the letter F and so they named their first camera the F. now you have the F mount. Pentax chose the letter K. they have chosen it once before. and thus they introduced the K2, the KX and the KM. A year later the K1000. thus you have the Kmount. they are just names. something chosen to be catchy and easily remembered. the way that Leica chose ‘M’. its just a name.

11-23-2010, 12:50 PM	#9
abmj Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Central California Posts: 600	Originally posted by WerTicus ... Actually Jap cars have stupid number codes so maybe its a Jap thing. ... This is one of the more offensive things I have seen posted on these forums. Do we really need racist slurs to make a point?

11-23-2010, 12:56 PM	#10
billx2 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Atlanta Posts: 41	Originally posted by WerTicus Actually Jap cars have stupid number codes so maybe its a Jap thing. Number codes might be meaningful if they stuck to them but they always go and change the rules every few years. Not only racial, but mostly incorrect. Its the German cars that do it most. BMW, Audi, and Mercedes all use predominantly letter/number designations for their cars. Except for Mazda, the Japanese cars mostly have real names, Camry, Accord, Supra, Maxima, Altima, etc, etc.

11-23-2010, 01:02 PM	#11
Rory Inactive Account Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Chicago Photos: Gallery Posts: 672	Originally posted by abmj This is one of the more offensive things I have seen posted on these forums. Do we really need racist slurs to make a point? Huh? They put K in the name because they kick ass.

11-23-2010, 01:02 PM	#12
séamuis Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Savannah, U.S./Baguio City, P.H. Posts: 5,979	Originally posted by billx2 And BMW, Audi, Mercedes, etc, etc don't do that also? Overall, I think the Japanese cars use less numbers than the German cars. The exception being Mazda. quite true. in fact, its more a western thing than an eastern thing in general. mostly a european thing actually. the cars here in the west that come from Japan, usually have a different name in Japan than they do everywhere else. precisely because the western world is so used to the confusing number/letter name thing. a good example has always been the Datsun ‘Z’ cars, which everywhere else had the number designation but in Japan, were always called the ‘Fairlady’. if we are to be intolerant and ignorant and to a degree, racist. we should be blaming those damn krauts, not the japs. =/

11-23-2010, 01:04 PM	#13
Rory Inactive Account Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Chicago Photos: Gallery Posts: 672	If what he said is racist, I'll have to stop calling my in-laws "Brits".

11-23-2010, 01:07 PM	#14
séamuis Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Savannah, U.S./Baguio City, P.H. Posts: 5,979	Originally posted by Rory If what he said is racist, I'll have to stop calling my in-laws "Brits". depends on the context. I hardly assume you mean it in an offensive way when you say it. also, ‘brit’ is a commonly accepted term by a majority of British people. ‘Jap’ is not the same to a majority of Japanese. its a word that represents ignorance and hatred, born out of WWII. they may be similar in appearance as just a ’shortened’ term for who they are nationally, but have very different internal meanings.

11-23-2010, 02:08 PM - 1 Like	#15
bobmaxja Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Laval, Quebec Canada Posts: 2,171	I believe this is more trivial Could it be that, it's derived from the Japanese name of Pentax or Ashahi . Their a lot of K in the historical name Asahi Optical Co., Ltd. (旭光学工業株式会社, Asahi Kōgaku Kōgyō Kabushiki-gaishaand when the company was rename in 2002 took the name of Pentax Corporation Pentakkusu Kabushiki-gaisha, and Pentax K mount is really PK mount You can read a lot in Wikipedia on K mount but they dont talk about that fact K seem to be a very popular letter it seem in Japan OR Could it be because when you install a lense it's about the angle between the position 0 and the locking position who is about angle on the K Or The K Bayonnet system is base on three tab like a K Also The K mount was co invented with the German Zeiss and the German use a lot of K But hitorian can give us the correct answer