Gemini brand information

<p>I am looking to find more about this brand that put out some lenses at some point - Gemini. Anyone knows anything about them? I haven't been able to find much. An older thread mentioned they are an importer, but then I'm curious who they contracted with for manufacture. They're listed on the wikipedia list of K-mount lenses: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentax_KAF2_mount#Gemini">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentax_KAF2_mount#Gemini</a>.<br>

Also, to make this post a bit more useful, this is an interesting link I found about 3rd party manufacturers with lots of interesting historical tidbits: <a href="http://bbs.dartmouth.edu/~fangq/blog/index.cgi?note/photo/3PartyLens">http://bbs.dartmouth.edu/~fangq/blog/index.cgi?note/photo/3PartyLens</a>.</p>

<p>I had a Gemini zoom once...my first eBay lens purchase, in fact. It was a Gemini 28-75mm f/3.5-4.5:<br>

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<td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/dUP-jyi_HPtKwSnDNhDg0A?authkey=Gv1sRgCKqxvsOE0tKWnwE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_i6tc3TCyOTA/SHFqvIYE1_I/AAAAAAAAAso/mwx_KSYQFXs/s640/IMGP8498%20copia.jpg" alt="" /> </a></td>

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<p>And?</p>

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<p>It was the best lens I ever owned and I wish I hadn't sold it.</p>

<p>Nah, not really. The lens was fine, but variable aperture zooms of the pre-Pentax-F era are a PITA to use on a DSLR.</p>

<p>Sorry, I know nothing about Gemini as a brand. This lens did come in a box with paperwork, but I can't remember what it said about the company. Maybe the person who bought it from me will recognise the photo and chime in.</p>

<p>Thanks. So far, it looks like I identified 3 lenses under their brand:<br>

28mm f/2.8<br />28-75mm f/3.5-4.5<br />80-200/205?mm f/? - this appeared in search results</p>

<p>Laurentiu,<br>

When I began exploring K-mount lenses five years ago (I was a Nikon and Minolta man) I found Gemini lenses real cheap used at camera shops and pawn shops. I would put a few on my DS and run off some shots. Nothing special, except the cheesy typeface used on the lens cap. Certainly not a cult brand like Kiron or Tomioka.</p>

<p>From what I've read online, Gemini was just a generic type of brand, a real blood relative to the JCPenny/KMart/Wards/Sears (some years) knockoffs that were widely available in the late 70s and early 80s. SLR sales were pretty huge then and everyone wanted to get into the act. The K-mount was a popular standard beyond the Pentax brand. My semi-educated guess is that these lenses were manufactured by Cosina Japan, or a South Korean manufacturer if labeled from that nation.</p>

<p>I'd save my money, or use these to learn about lens assembly.</p>

<p>ME</p>