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In the middle of the 1960ies I was a quite normal photo amateur, taking snapshots of my family with whatever camera available. One day a friend of mine introduced me to a Pentax Spotmatic camera, and suddenly I understood the difference between taking a snapshot and taking a photo.
In those days a Spotmatic was an expensive piece of equipment, but a year later I could buy one, equipped with a TAKUMAR 1:1.8/55 lens. I began taking photos of buildings, industry products, the sky and stars, and of course, of my family. The “through-the lens” exposure meter system made me a better photographer, and the exchangeable lenses gave me possibilities that I had not experienced before. In the years to come I bought lenses from 28 to 300 mm, until my photo bag became quite heavy to carry.
One day my boss asked if I could take some photos of the products that the company manufactured. With my Pentax Spotmatic I took a series of slides for a slide-show, which was well received. For many years, every time that I was expected to make a presentation, I took new slides to accompany my speech; today I would have used a PowerPoint presentation of course.
After more than thirty years of use, my good old and reliable Pentax Spotmatic got jammed, and no camera repair shop could fix it. But, as I had my collection of Pentax lenses, I advertised for a used Spotmatic in good condition. I was also happy to find one, and I am using it now and then, especially together with the 1:3.5/28 wide angle lens, which is perfect for architecture photos.
Today I have many cameras, digital as well as analogue, but my Pentax Spotmatic has a special place in my heart, because it has taught me most of what I know about photography.
- Bo (helibosse)
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My first slr was a canon. I lost it in South America and could hardly wait to get another. Stopping off in Panama I looked for another camera. I couldn't find a great deal on a canon, but there was this Asahi pentax spotmatic that was a bargain. I bought it with mixed enthusiasm. If only it were my canon. It took awhile, but I became a convert. It hasn't had an easy life. It saw lots of rugged, hard to get to mountains, grit and horrible weather, and earned a few bucks with weddings. A story circulating among my peers reported a climber was forced to use his spotmatic for driving pitons after dropping his hammer. The camera though dented continued to function. I still have mine and it operates as well now as ever; which is to say terrific. How blessed I have been with this true and simple camera.
My first owned camera was also a Spotmatic F with screw mount that I bought just out fron college. But I was hooked on Pentax with exactly a Spotmatic II that a good friend lended me. He really had faith in me, at the time a poor college student. That must have been probably during the early seventies. Unfortunately, my Spormatic F was during a break-in several months after I bought it. I was fortunate not to loose a couple of MEs I had bought for resale. One ended up being my work horse until it broke. The three Pentax cameras I bought during that time had the great SMC 55mm f/1.4 lens. This same lens now is being used in my K-x whenever I want bokeh. Great gear, great reminiscences. Thanks for refering tour story.
wow. what a story. Everyone has a place in his heart reserved for something/someone changed his life.