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Nesster · 08-08-2009, 12:27 PM

Yes this existed, exhibited at the '79 Photokina (took place in '78 actually) but never sold AFAIK.

The Flexi is a mini-range zoom: 33-39mm on a basic 35mm f/2.8 lens.

**ChrisPlatt** · 08-08-2009, 04:09 PM

The 35mm focal length is my favorite, but I wouldn't buy one.
Pentax must have figured others wouldn't either.
An interesting idea nonetheless...

Chris

zoltan1983snapper · 08-08-2009, 04:11 PM

It looks quite similar to the M 24-35, a wonderful little zoom.

**.a.t.** · 11-09-2014, 11:44 PM

Paging through an old Popular Photography magazine today, I came across their report on this lens:
(click on the image for full size)

macTak · 11-10-2014, 05:44 AM

What an intersting find, and what a strange idea for a lens. I guess it shows the thinking just before zooms (and particulary fast zooms) really started to penetrate the market. The M24-35/3.5 came out in '80, so it may well be that they simply decided on a short zoom instead. That having been said, it seems like Pentax never quite gave up on solving the problem and about twenty years later gave us the Composition Adjust feature.

Mistral75 · 03-10-2016, 04:17 AM

Apparently, there was not only the prototype of a smc Pentax-M 35mm f/2.8 Flexi but also that of a smc Pentax-M 75mm f/3.5 Flexi as revealed during a Pentax gathering in Osaka on March 5th (a second session is scheduled in Tokyo on the 12th):

http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/20160310_747104.html

**.a.t.** · 03-11-2016, 01:21 AM

Originally posted by .a.t.

Paging through an old Popular Photography magazine today, I came across their report on this lens:

Sorry about the broken link. Here again is the page regarding the 35mm M Flexi f/2.8:

Na Horuk · 03-11-2016, 04:01 PM

Oh wow, I would like that. If it has prime-like quality and fast aperture, I wouldn't mind getting a couple mm zoom. Of course, these days it would have to be a little faster than f2.8. But something like a compact 23-29mm f2.2 would be perfect imo

But is this Flexi in any way different from traditional zoom lenses? Like, is the optical mechanism different? Or is it just a zoom lens, with a really narrow range (and fast aperture, for that time period)

08-08-2009, 12:27 PM	#1
Nesster Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 13,072	SMC-M 35mm f/2.8 Flexi Yes this existed, exhibited at the '79 Photokina (took place in '78 actually) but never sold AFAIK. The Flexi is a mini-range zoom: 33-39mm on a basic 35mm f/2.8 lens.

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08-08-2009, 04:09 PM	#2
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,702	The 35mm focal length is my favorite, but I wouldn't buy one. Pentax must have figured others wouldn't either. An interesting idea nonetheless... Chris

08-08-2009, 04:11 PM	#3
zoltan1983snapper Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 240	It looks quite similar to the M 24-35, a wonderful little zoom.

11-09-2014, 11:44 PM	#4
.a.t. Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: yesterday Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,261	Paging through an old Popular Photography magazine today, I came across their report on this lens: (click on the image for full size)

11-10-2014, 05:44 AM	#5
macTak Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 759	What an intersting find, and what a strange idea for a lens. I guess it shows the thinking just before zooms (and particulary fast zooms) really started to penetrate the market. The M24-35/3.5 came out in '80, so it may well be that they simply decided on a short zoom instead. That having been said, it seems like Pentax never quite gave up on solving the problem and about twenty years later gave us the Composition Adjust feature.

03-10-2016, 04:17 AM	#6
Mistral75 Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Paris, France Posts: 7,527	Apparently, there was not only the prototype of a smc Pentax-M 35mm f/2.8 Flexi but also that of a smc Pentax-M 75mm f/3.5 Flexi as revealed during a Pentax gathering in Osaka on March 5th (a second session is scheduled in Tokyo on the 12th): http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/20160310_747104.html

03-11-2016, 01:21 AM	#7
.a.t. Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: yesterday Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,261	Originally posted by .a.t. Paging through an old Popular Photography magazine today, I came across their report on this lens: Sorry about the broken link. Here again is the page regarding the 35mm M Flexi f/2.8:

03-11-2016, 04:01 PM	#8
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Oh wow, I would like that. If it has prime-like quality and fast aperture, I wouldn't mind getting a couple mm zoom. Of course, these days it would have to be a little faster than f2.8. But something like a compact 23-29mm f2.2 would be perfect imo But is this Flexi in any way different from traditional zoom lenses? Like, is the optical mechanism different? Or is it just a zoom lens, with a really narrow range (and fast aperture, for that time period)

SMC-M 35mm f/2.8 Flexi

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