Zeiss Contax lens for Pentax cameras

Welcome to our Zeiss/Contax section. As you know, this site is focused to give more possibilities to our Pentax film or digital cameras and, finally, with our replacement bayonet, we can use a selection of lenses for Contax, made by Carl Zeiss.

The same as with Leica lenses, this conversion is fully reversible and will not damage the lens nor the camera. The Zeiss/Contax lenses will focus to infinite, our cameras will give focus confirmation, will meter in Av mode (stop down), and the modern Pentax cameras will stabilize all of them.

Unfortunately, the Contax lenses present a variety of different bayonets models and sizes, and the gradation of difficulty goes from easy to almost impossible. So lets start with the easy ones, the Contax MM type with small diameter bayonet.

Please scroll down for the instructions

As far as I know, this is the complete list of Contax MM type prime lenses we can use.
MM lenses can be easily recognized as the smallest aperture on the scale is green.

MM Distagon	18mm F4
MM Distagon*	21mm F2.8
MM Distagon*	25mm F2.8
MM Distagon	28mm F2.0
MM Distagon*	28mm F2.8
MM Distagon*	35mm F2.8
MM Planar*	50mm F1.7
MM Planar*	50mm F1.4
MM Makro-Planar	60mm F2.8
MM Sonnar*	85mm F2.8
MM Sonnar*	100mm F3.5
MM Sonnar*	135mm F2.8
MM Tele- Tessar	200mm F4
The lenses marked with an asterisk * have been already tested. Available a special bayonet for two AE lenses:
AE Planar*	50mm F1.7
AE Sonnar* (Japan)	85mm F2.8

The instructions for the two AE lenses are HERE

- Our customer and friend Lazare Caspi from www.monuniverspentax.com has found a simple way to use the Vario-Sonnar 3,5-4,5/28-70 on Pentax cameras, please take a look here.

- I've tried the Vario-Sonnar 3,4/35-70 , which is said to be as good as primes, and this is the way to use it in Pentax. Warning: this one is a bit risky, I would recommend only for professionals and really daring and advanced diyers. Take a look here.

- I can offer now a special mount for the pancake lens Contax Tessar 45/2.8 , MM type only. Look here

NEW! Our client and friend Laurent managed to install our Contax mount on his Vario-Sonnar 28-85

Bayonet and tools sales at the
Leitax Homepage

Questions?
info@leitax.com

MM lenses instructions :

All the MM lenses tested are identical inside, so the following instructions will work for all of them, and I am pretty sure, for all the rest.

	These instructions are for the MM lenses only. This is the Carl Zeiss MM Distagon 35mm F2.8
	First, I would take a picture of the bayonet, so it will be easy to rebuild later
	Some lenses have this curved piece here, we have to remove it. This one is the Sonnar 135mm.
	Now, unscrew the three upper bayonet screws. Use a good screwdriver, not those cheap ones from hobby shops, these screws are glued to the threads and it is necessary to make enough pressure and turn them carefully.
	And remove it.
	Now, unscrew the bayonet.
	And lift the diaphragm ring together with the bayonet.
	Ok, it's better to cover the lens meanwhile we are working on the ring.
	Now, we have to put the bayonet apart from the ring.
	When they are apart, look for the bearing ball, it should be near its place, over the small spring.
	Now look at this spring, we need to uncouple this side from the hook. Usually, there is a bit of glue to secure it, don't pull the spring, it can be deformed or broken, just scratch patiently the glue with a pointed tool or a needle.
	The spring is free now.
	With the plastic tool, lift a bit the steel ring.
	And push it to the right, so it can be removed from the Contax bayonet.
	In case the steel ring doesn't move to the right, it means it got glued just under the square slot. This is because they dropped glue over that screw and some glue went under the steel ring. Also could be glued around the round holes, from the bayonet screws. So we need to remove that screw and the square piece that it attaches .
	Now, to unglue the steel ring, use the plastic tool to avoid scratches. Put it like the picture and turn it. Please don't try to remove the steel ring lifting it by the opposite side, you will bend it.
	Put the diaphragm ring on the lens, you will see a lever inside that commands the blades, which goes inside this u shaped piece of clear metal. Now you must be able to open and close the diaphragm rotating the ring.
	Put a little bit of the special grease on this small spring, so the bearing ball will get sticked to it.
	Bring the small ball to its place , better don't use tweezers , the tip of your screwdriver with some special grease will not lose it,
	And the ball on the spring, leave an small amount of grease on the ball.
	Now it's time to put the steel ring, notice the hook goes downwards.
	And this square slot goes here.
	Turn slightly the diaphragm ring so the small ball will coincide with one of oval shaped holes.
	Another view of the small ball and the steel ring on it.
	Here you can see all is in correct position, the small ball, the round hole for the screw and the square slot.
	And the rest of holes too.
	So we can install the new Pentax bayonet, be careful now, first find the correct position looking at the red dot, it goes in front the lens scale center. Then check if the screw holes are well aligned, and finally put the Pentax bayonet lowering it vertically.
	You should feel the spring pushing back when you press the bayonet against the lens, in this case you can screw the bayonet and the work is finished.
	So we can use several Zeiss/ Contax lenses on our Pentax cameras, these lenses are on par with Leica and the best Pentax Limited . To buy the replacement bayonet, please go to Leitax Homepage
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