Prototypes 2

List of known Pentax prototypes (2)
Click on thumbnails on left to enlarge images
	"No name" (circa 1970) Prototype of a K-bayonet camera never put into production. It looks like an auto-only camera in the K-series, forerunner of the ME. It is nicknamed either the "Metalica III" or the "KE" by Italian collectors.
	K2 (circa 1974) Prototype of the Asahi Pentax K2. Some details are different, but most of the camera is recognizable as the mass-produced K2, introduced in 1975.
	SMC Pentax 20mm f/1.4 (1976) An ultra-fast wide-angle lens. Specifications: 10-group 11-element construction, Minimum aperture f/22, Minimum focusing distance 0.25m, Size: 80x65mm, Weight 445g, Filter diameter 77mm.
	SMC Pentax-Zoom 35-70mm f/2.8 (1976) An early autofocus lens, based on patented Honeywell Visitronic autofocus system. Specifications: 7-group 7-element construction, Minimum aperture f/22, Minimum focusing distance 1m, Size: 84x94x124mm, Filter diameter 58mm.
	"No name" LX prototype (circa 1977) An almost unknown prototype (or maybe simply a mock-up) of the LX. No data available. (also see another interesting view)
	"AP" LX prototype (circa 1979) A near final prototype of the LX. Specifications like the mass-produced LX. Looks a bit different from the LX only because of the different pentaprism housing.
	SMC Pentax-M 35mm f/2.8 Flexi (1978) A strange "flexible" wide-angle (or narrow-range zoom) lens, zooming from 32mm to 39mm. Specifications: 8-group 8-element construction, Minimum aperture f/22, Minimum focusing distance 0.5m, Size: 63x45mm, Weight 230g, Filter diameter 49mm.
	SMC Pentax-M 35mm f/1.4 (1980) Another ultra-fast wide-angle lens, announced many times as being introduced on the market but never truly available. Specifications: 8-group 10-element construction, Minimum aperture f/22, Minimum focusing distance 0.4m, Size: 67,5x64,5mm, Weight 420g, Filter diameter 58mm.
	SMC Pentax-M 300mm f/4 (1980) It was a prototype, or maybe a pre-production sample, of the world famous telephoto lens that launched the Pentax Star series. What makes this lens different at first sight is it bears no Star symbol. Specifications: 7-group 8-element construction featuring low-dispersion glass, Minimum aperture f/32, Minimum focusing distance 4m, Size: 84x132mm, Weight 820g, Filter diameter 77mm.
	SMC Pentax 8.4mm f/2.8 Bird's Eye (circa 1982) A circular fish-eye lens. Maybe introduced at Photokina 1982. No data available.
	"KB-266" film SLR camera, MZ-S prototype (2000) A no name SLR camera, introduced Sep. 13th 2000, and then displayed at Photokina 20 25 Sep. 2000. KB266 is its project designation, while its marketing name was still to be decided at time it was shown. Then it was called the MZ-S. 1/6000s top speed, 1/200s synch, 6-segment AF sensor, 6-segment multi-pattern metering. Also see the Photokina report.
	"MR-52" digital SLR camera (2000) An unnamed digital SLR camera, introduced Sep. 13th 2000, and then displayed at Photokina 20 25 Sep. 2000. Its project designation is MR-52. 6-megapixels CCD sensor by Philips and full image format (24x36mm) are the new breakthroughs in digital photography. Other specifications like the "sister" film camera above. Also see the Photokina report.
	SMC Pentax-FA 24-90 f/3.5-4.5 (2000) It was a prototype, or maybe a pre-production sample, of the new standard zoom lens for the MZ-S, It will be marketed at PMA 2001. A sample exhibited at Photokina 2000 was not fully operational, as it could only zoom between 24mm and 50mm. Also see the Photokina report.