DKL-mount

Selection of DKL-mount cameras and lenses image by Christoph Batz (Image rights)

The so called DKL-mount was a bayonet lens mount invented and introduced by Fr. Deckel, München, the famous producer of leaf shutters in Germany. In fact, the DKL-mount included a Synchro-Compur leaf shutter behind the lens. It was introduced in 1956 together with the Voigtländer Vitessa-T shortly followed by the the Braun Colorette Super II(B)L. Both were rangefinder cameras and use exactly the same bayonet variant. From 1958 the Kodak Retina IIIS (rangefinder), Kodak Retina Reflex S, Voigtlander Bessamatic and Braun Paxette Reflex Automatic followed relatively quickly. All 3 SLR cameras had an almost identical set of features, not a surprise if the decisive technology comprises the Compur shutter plus the innovative DKL-mount with its light value "LV" coupling. Other rangefinder and SLR cameras followed until the early 1960ies (see table of cameras and lenses below).

early DKL-mount version on a Vitessa T image by Christoph Batz (Image rights)

From the 1958 models onwards, the aperture ring was part of the respective camera and no longer of the lens. Almost everything else on the bayonet remained the same, flange focal length, locking, other dimensions and arrangement of the bayonet tongues. But only almost! Deckel sold each of the camera manufacturers its own version in which it added additional "noses" on the camera side, which of course required corresponding recesses on the lens side. And so today there are 7 mutually incompatible variants of this lens connection, which somebody once called the "German standard bayonet". The original version (without noses) actually takes all DKL lenses ever built. However, you can practically only use those intended for it, because the later lenses lack their own aperture ring.

The early version for the Vitessa-T and the Colorette had an own aperture ring (right), all later versions (left) had the aperture setting as part of the camera. Please note the red moving depths of field indicators, available on almost all lenses. image by Christoph Batz (Image rights)

4 out of the 7 existing versions with the respective noses marked. If those were removed on the camera side any other DKL lens can be used except those with an aperture ring. image by Christoph Batz (Image rights)

Technical Specifications

• Mount:
  • flange focal distance: 44.7 mm
  • maximum shutter diameter: 22.5 mm
  • inner diameter of the aperture ring on the camera: 47mm
• Shutter:
  • Synchro-Compur behind the lens unit
  • Shutter speeds: B-1-2-4-8-15-30-60-125-250-500 1/s
  • M and X flash sync
  • self-timer
  • aperture and shutter speed setting on two rings around the lens, arranged in opposite direction. This way, all side-by-side shutter/aperture combinations correspond to the same light value. Turning both rings together keeps the LV (and exposure), but changes depths of field.
  • depth of field is shown by moving mechanical red pointers on most available lenses.

List of available cameras and lenses

Mount version, Camera(s)	Available lenses
Voigtländer Vitessa T, Braun Colorette Super II(B)L	Voigtländer: Skoparet 3,4/35, Color-Skopar 2,8/50, Dynaret 4,8/100, Super Dynaret 4/135 Steinheil: Culmigon 4,5/35, Culminar 2,8/50, Cassarit 2,8/50 Rodenstock: Eurygon 4/35, Ysarex 2,8/50, Rotelar 4/85 und 4/135 Schneider: Radiogon 4/35, Xenar 2,8/50, Tele-Arton 4/85
Voigtländer Bessamatic, Ultramatic, Ultramatic CS	Voigtländer: Skoparex 3.4/35mm, Skopagon 2/40mm, Color-Skopar X 2.8/50, Color-Lanthar 2.8/50, Septon 2/50, Dynarex 3.4/90, Dynarex 4.8/100, Super-Dynarex 4/135, 4/200mm and 5.6/350, Zoomar 2.8/36-82mm
Kodak Retina Reflex S, III, IV, Instamatic Reflex, Retina IIIS	Rodenstock: Eurygon 2,8/30 und 4/35, Heligon 1,9/50, Ysarex 2,8/50, Rotelar R 4/85 und 4/135 Schneider: Curtagon 4/28 and 2,8/35, Xenon 1,9/50, Xenar 2,8/45 (Instamatic), Xenar 2,8/50, Tele-Arton 4/85, Tele-Xenar 4/135 and 4,8/200 Steinheil: Culminar 2,8/50
Braun Paxette Reflex automatic	Schneider: Xenar 2,8/50; Staeble/ENNA: Ultralit 2,8/50 ENNA: Lithagon 3,5/35, Steinheil: Culmigon 4,5/35, Quinon 1,9/50; Rodenstock: Rotelar R 4/135
Edixa Electronica	Schneider: Curtagon 4/28, Curtagon 2,8/35, Xenon 1,9/50, Xenar 2,8/50, Tele-Xenar 4/135 Steinheil: Culminar 2,8/50, Quinon 1,9/50
Witt Iloca Electric	Rodenstock: Eurygon 4/35, Iloca-Heligon 1,9/50, Ysarex 2,8/50, Rotelar 4/135. Steinheil: Culmigon 4.5/35, Quinon 1.9/50, Culminar 2,8/50
Balda Baldamatic III	Schneider: Curtagon 2,8/35, Xenon 1,9/50, Xenar 2,8/50, Tele-Xenar 4/135

Links

• "DKL ODER DAS DEUTSCHE EINHEITSBAJONETT" (in German) on PhotoButMore
• DKL-mount (in German) on KniPPsen