The Pentax ES was the world's first 35mm SLR with a fully electronic shutter system. When set on automatic, the ES has a stepless shutter. The Pentax memory device computes and delivers an infinite number of exposures between 8 and 1/1000 second - automatically. If 1/555 second will give you the right exposure, that is what will be programmed.
The Pentax ES utilizes the last generation screw-mount Super-Multi-Coated Takumar and SMC lenses. In addition to the legendary flare control and color fidelity that has made these lenses so popular, the S-M-C/ SMC lenses are designed to allow open aperture metering on the ES, ES II and Spotmatic F. The viewfinder remains bright under all conditions, making focusing easy. In the event that earlier lenses without the open-aperture metering coupling, the ES provides stop-down metering with the familiar switch near the lens mount. In any case, the meter is activated by partially depressing the shutter release button. These features make the ES less than one-quarter inch taller and only six ounces heavier than the Spotmatic F.
The standard color for the ES was black, which was a departure for previous Pentax M42 bodies where black was a special order. With both the ES and ES II, chrome was the special order version. The ES name on the face of the body replaced Electro Spotmatic on the earlier model released only in Japan and had improved circuitry. The size of the circuits did not allow room for a self timer in the ES.
Price when New
7186 - camera with 50mm f/1.4 $360
7187 - camera with 55mm f/1.8 $320
7188 - camera body only $290
| Asahi Pentax ES |
Also marketed as
Honeywell Pentax ES | Year introduced
1972 | Year discontinued
1973 | Mount
M42 |
Automatic aperture stop down
Yes | Metering
Open aperture, centerweight | Meter range
EV 1 to 18 | ISO range
20 to 1600 |
DX ISO range
No DX coding | Exposure modes
Av, Manual, B | Exposure compensation
1/2x, 2x and 4x | Exposure memory lock
No |
Shutter speeds (auto)
8s - 1/1000s (stepless) | Shutter speeds (manual)
B, 1/60 (X), 1/125, 1/150, 1/500, 1/1000s | Shutter speeds (mechanical)
B, 1/60 (X), 1/125, 1/150, 1/500, 1/1000s | Self timer
No |
Mirror lock-up
No | Auto bracketing
No | Multiple exposures
Yes | Winder
Ratchet type rapid wind lever. 10° pre-advance and 160° advance angle |
Flash hot shoe
Yes | Built-in flash
No | TTL/P-TTL flash
No | Flash sync speed
FP and X terminals - 1/60s |
Flash exposure comp
Not applicable | Viewfinder
0.89x (with 50mm lens), 93% coverage | Viewfinder type
Pentaprism finder with Fresnel lens + microprism | Diopter correction
No |
Exchangeable screen
No | Depth of field preview
Yes | Image size
24 x 36 mm | Battery
6V, Eveready #544 |
Battery grip/pack
No | Size (W x H x D)
143 x 98 x 50mm (without lens) | Weight
678g |
|
Last edited by Ole; 10-10-2010 at 04:30 PM.
