More GAS
12th August 2011
In: Gear News
Just arrived from Japan. A 21/2.8 Avenon with its view finder, caps, hood and (Japanese) instruction sheet!
Better known under the Kobalux name, this version is a Millenium Edition in black.
The Avenon 21mm F2.8 silver was in production for 8 years from 1994 to early 2002. They were made by a small company from Yokohama, Japan called Y.K. Optical, who also made a slightly less noteworthy Avenon 28mm F3.5. This Millennium version was a Year 2000 run, allegedly limited to an unconfirmed 2000 units although with Avenon's production capabilities, it is likely that there were considerably fewer made. More likely closer to 500 and possibly less. The 21mm lens was sold under several different names. In Japan it was called Avenon, in North America usually Kobalux, and it seems that it was also sold under the name Pasoptik and possibly also under other names. The black Millenium version was only branded as Avenon.
According to a Tokyo lens expert, they were each hand made in low quantities, by one Mr. Abe of Yokohama Japan, the founder of long defunct Komura Camera and Lens Company, who died some ten years ago, hence the name “Avenon” (B's and 'V's are tricky ones in Japanese). Allegedly the name Kobalux comes from Joseph Stalin whose nickname was 'Koba', and who’s name translates to 'Man of Steel'. Some versions of the lens lack a serial number and apparently Mr. Abe died before many of the lenses were stamped with a serial number. My example does have a serial number, so it was obviously seen to completion by Mr. Abe himself.
Better known under the Kobalux name, this version is a Millenium Edition in black.
The Avenon 21mm F2.8 silver was in production for 8 years from 1994 to early 2002. They were made by a small company from Yokohama, Japan called Y.K. Optical, who also made a slightly less noteworthy Avenon 28mm F3.5. This Millennium version was a Year 2000 run, allegedly limited to an unconfirmed 2000 units although with Avenon's production capabilities, it is likely that there were considerably fewer made. More likely closer to 500 and possibly less. The 21mm lens was sold under several different names. In Japan it was called Avenon, in North America usually Kobalux, and it seems that it was also sold under the name Pasoptik and possibly also under other names. The black Millenium version was only branded as Avenon.
According to a Tokyo lens expert, they were each hand made in low quantities, by one Mr. Abe of Yokohama Japan, the founder of long defunct Komura Camera and Lens Company, who died some ten years ago, hence the name “Avenon” (B's and 'V's are tricky ones in Japanese). Allegedly the name Kobalux comes from Joseph Stalin whose nickname was 'Koba', and who’s name translates to 'Man of Steel'. Some versions of the lens lack a serial number and apparently Mr. Abe died before many of the lenses were stamped with a serial number. My example does have a serial number, so it was obviously seen to completion by Mr. Abe himself.
