The Pentacon Six System
by TRA

Is it possible to modify Pentax 6×7 lenses
so that they can be used on the Pentacon Six?


This is the opposite of the common question, “Can I use Pentacon Six lenses on a Pentax 6×7?”  You can find the answer to that question here.

My first question would be “Why would you want to?”  The most obvious answer would be “Because I already have some Pentax 6×7 lenses and I would now like to use them on a Pentacon Six.”  If that is the case, then it may be worth exploring.  But if you do not already have any Pentax 6×7 lenses, it may be worth considering the following:

  • the Pentax 67 lenses are harder to find than the Carl Zeiss and Pentacon lenses for the Pentacon Six;
  • they are much more expensive;
  • they have generally had heavy and occasionally rough use by professions (i.e., they have serious signs of wear and occasionally superficial damage, dents, etc);
  • they are much heavier than the equivalent Zeiss and Pentacon lenses;
  • while optically excellent, they are not optically any better than the Zeiss and Pentacon lenses;
  • obtaining auto aperture operation on the Pentacon Six with Pentax 67 lenses is difficult and probably impossible in the space available;
  • the cost of the modification probably makes it not economically viable;
  • the selection of lenses available in the Pentacon Six mount is much greater than the selection in the Pentax 67 mount, so there is little need to turn to Pentax to get a lens for any particular photographic situation.
The register distance between the rear flange of the lens that mates with the front of the camera and the film plane is reported to be 84.95mm with the Pentax 6×7 or Pentax 67.  With the Pentacon Six it is 74.1mm.  So there is very nearly 11mm available for an adapter, plus that part of the adapter that goes within the throat of the Pentacon Six and that part of the adapter that holds onto the Pentax 6×7 lens.  So that sounds possible, rather as making an adapter to mount Pentacon Six lenses on the Norita is possible (see here).
 

If you do make or get an adapter that enables you to use Pentax 6×7 lenses on the Pentacon Six, please do let me know!

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© TRA January 2010