Here are a few lens serial numbers and their corresponding production dates. 8515xxx-- Mid 1988 8519xxx-- Late 1988 8528xxx--Mid 1989 8577xxx--Late 1989 3785xxx--- Super-Takumar-- 1975? Would anyone like to add to this list based on when you purchased your lenses and the serial #s? These numbers are very important when looking at used lenses to be able to tell how old they are.

-- Steve Rasmussen (srasmuss@flash.net), April 06, 2000

Answers

Thanks for the numbers Donald. If we get enough responses, I will make a compiled list for the forum. SR

-- Steve Rasmussen (srasmuss@flash.net), June 14, 2000.

Bruce, what I'm asking for is the closest we can get to the actual production dates, that is unless you have a better system or a list from Pentax. I would bet that Pentax does not have inventory sitting around for four years like the view lens producer you dealt with.

-- Steve Rasmussen (srasmuss@flash.net), July 08, 2000.

Pentax 67 75mm f4.5 shift 8586xxx Mid 1995 Pentax 45mm f4 8599xxx Mid 1996 Pentax 105mm f2.4 8448xxx 1982 Pentax 1.4X converter 4048xxx 1991 All purchased new; I have more purchased second hand; not sure of new date.

-- Donald Clary (donaldaclary@cyberhotline.com), June 14, 2000.

I think correlating year of purchase to a serial number is not going to provide very accurate data. F'rinstance, I just purchased a brand new Apo Ronar 300mm for my LF camera. The dealer (Robert White in the UK) had to specifically get the lens directly from Rodenstock in Germany. Rodenstock manufacturing data indicates my brand new lens has a serial number that was manufactured in 1996. If I used this as a guide based on date of purchase, I would be 4 years off.

-- Bruce Gavin (doc@compudox.com), July 04, 2000.

If one reads the new Pentax screw mount book out ( see http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/907653702X/o/qid=969106044/sr=8 -1/ref=aps_sr_b_1_3/104-3638678-1335132 )

the author has shown that Pentax did not have a serial # = poduction year coding on their lenses..instead they used batches of numbers over the years...what does this mean ? well, certainly any 67 lens starting with an "8" serial number is fairly modern ( 1990's ), but it also means that a lens with serial # 82222222 could actually be OLDER than a lens with serial # 80000000 ......the book above - although not about 67 cameras/lenses, is well worth the read for any pentax fan.....

-- Dan (dcolucci@aol.com), September 16, 2000.