Is anyone familiar with Kilfitt lenses for the P67? It was news to me to see two listed at auction in the same week. One is currently on the auction site ebay, and the item number is: 1276021739. It is listed as 170-320mm f4 lens. Is there a chance this is a typo error? Could it really be a straight f4, or f4 only at 170mm? Also, I suspect this lens was sold with various mounts. Does anyone know if you can buy just the mount, and if so, where?

-- Miles Stoddard (p67shooter@yahoo.co.uk), September 24, 2001

Answers

Kilfitt -as in Heinz Kilfitt- is considered a genius (he and Professor Back). Kilfitt/Back are credited with the first mass- produced 35mm zoom lens, the Kilfitt Zoomar (if I recall correctly, a 36-86mm staight f2.8 lens from the late 1950's). He also made the first true 35mm macro lens (the Kilfitt Kilar 40mm f2.8). He also ventured into camera design, and I believe launched not only Robot camera, but later Mecaflex and even Kowa. Kilfitt sold the company when he retired, circa 1970. But, his name is usually associated with first-rate quality (and I think every Kilfitt lens was tested twice prior to shipment, and shipped along with one of the negs and a report on the design-performance of the lens - and, of course, a warranty). Back made Kilfitts after Kilfitt retired. As for a factory P67 Kilfitt, I seriously doubt it. Of course, someone could have made an adapter for it, but the Kilfitt Rapid Tele-Zoomar 170- 320 (yes, straight f4) was never designed to cover 6x7. The lens was originally issued with adapters for Norita 66, Rollei SL 66, Pentacon 6, & later for Hassy and Bronica units. It will, like any 6x6 lens, cover 6x7 - but edge lpms might not be outstanding - though depending on what you were to photograph, it might make a great lens, assuming you found it at the right price. The lens was also sold with 35mm mounts (Leica, Nikon, Praktica, etc.), and even some for Arriflex 16mm-35mm movie cameras. The lens has a weird though ergonomic focus- mechanism, a barrel-mounted lever which you squeeze to focus quickly. The lens was/is VERY expensive, and it is one of the many pieces of German-based optics that cost 2-3x as much in the U.S. as it does in Europe. If you really want one, you might want to try the Ace index ( http://www.acecam.com/abroad.html ), and see if you can find one from a used store in Germany or Holland. Although the shipping would be pricey, you might save $200-$500. Kilfitts in general are rather obscure, but the Rapid Tele-Zoomar is even more so.

-- Michael Tolan (mjtolan@kbjrmail.com), September 26, 2001.