Y.K. Optical
Y.K. Optical was a small company based in Yokohama (Japan). It used the brand names Kobalux and Avenon for two wide-angle lenses. These were mainly sold in Leica screw mount, with an M-mount adapter offered as an option, but it seems that some of them were directly made in Leica M mount.[1] Kobalux seems to have been the predominant name in north America, and Avenon the only name within Japan. The lenses were also available under other names, such as Pasoptik,[2] Bower and Adorama, perhaps also Avenar.[3] The existence of a "Komura" name variant is probably a false rumour.[4]
The 28mm lens was introduced at the beginning of the 1980s by another small company, which was bought by Y.K. in the middle of the 1990s.[5] Production stopped in February 2002.[6]
Kobalux Wide 28/3.5
The Kobalux Wide 28/3.5, alias Avenon L 28/3.5, has six elements in four groups.[7] The first generation, released in 1982 or 1983, was sold in black or chrome finish and became multicoated in 1992 (some lenses are inscribed AVENON MC).[8] It has a round focusing tab and a six-blade diaphragm and focuses down to 1 metre.[9] The second generation, or "M-series", was sold in black with a silver rim. It has a crescent-shaped focusing tab, an eight-blade diaphragm, grip tabs on the aperture ring and it focuses down to 0.75m.[10]
The lens was supplied with two caps and a metal hood; an external brightline finder and an 28/90mm M-mount adapter were available separately.[11]
Kobalux Super Wide 21/2.8
Avenon 21mm f2.8 lens and finder image by Larry Beckerman (Image rights) |
The Kobalux Super Wide 21/2.8, alias Avenon L 21/2.8, has eight elements in six groups.[12] It was sold in chrome or black finish. The first generation, originally announced as a limited series, was released in 1994 or 1995.[13] The second generation appeared in 2000 as a millenium edition.[14] The third generation, or "M-series", has recomputed optics, an eight-blade diaphragm and focuses down to 0.75m.[15]
The lens was supplied with two caps, a metal hood, an external brightline finder and a 35/135mm M-mount adapter (the finder and mount adapter were also available separately).[16]
Notes
- ↑ See this post at photo.net, with a first-hand testimony of the existence of M-mount lenses.
- ↑ See a picture in this page at photo.net.
- ↑ This is reported in this page by Peter Lausch (in German).
- ↑ See however this page by Frank Mechelhoff (in German). This page of a Hong-Kong forum copies an erroneous earlier version of this very encyclopedia article.
- ↑ Post by FR in a Hong-Kong forum.
- ↑ See the 20 November 2002 web archive of the Kobalux website.
- ↑ Lens scheme in "Abenon no raika-maunto renzu". See also the table of Leica screw mount lenses by Matsumo.
- ↑ "Abenon no raika-maunto renzu" (saying 1983) and table of Leica screw mount lenses by Matsumo (saying 1983) (in Japanese).
- ↑ "Abenon no raika-maunto renzu".
- ↑ Kobalux M-series 28mm f/3.5 in the Kobalux website, web archive dated 9 August 2002.
- ↑ Kobalux M-series 28mm f/3.5 in the Kobalux website, web archive dated 9 August 2002.
- ↑ Lens scheme in "Abenon no raika-maunto renzu". See also the table of Leica screw mount lenses by Matsumo (in Japanese).
- ↑ Announced as a limited series, 1994 date: table of Leica screw mount lenses by Matsumo (in Japanese). 1995: "Abenon no raika-maunto renzu" says 1995.
- ↑ table of Leica screw mount lenses by Matsumo (in Japanese).
- ↑ Kobalux M-series 21mm f/2.8 in the Kobalux website, web archive dated 9 August 2002.
- ↑ Kobalux M-series 21mm f/2.8 in the Kobalux website, web archive dated 9 August 2002.
Bibliography
- "Abenon no raika-maunto renzu" (アベノンのライカマウントレンズ, Avenon Leica mount lenses). Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no.41, March 1997. ISBN 4-257-13008-3. Tokushū: R-gata Raika no subete (特集:R型ライカのすべて, special issue on the Leica R). P. 83.
Links
In English:
- Kobalux website (web archive version dated 9 August 2002) and announcement of discontinuation of the lenses (web archive version dated 20 November 2002)
- Kobalux 21mm and Kobalux 28mm at Cameraquest
- Kobalux lenses at Dante Stella's site
- Pasoptik name variant in a post at photo.net
- Post about the history of YK in a Hong-Kong forum
In German:
In Japanese: