John Lennon's Pentax

topher · 06-14-2011, 08:37 PM - **2 Likes**

Hi All,

I was visiting the Baltimore inner harbor for a day with my family and we stopped by the Hard Rock Cafe to for lunch. We sat down - starting looking at all the stuff on the wall and I saw this across the room from us. Reflections and lighting were a pain...

Cheers

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stevbike · 06-14-2011, 08:55 PM

Nice to know he had a nice camera. I have a newer Spotmatic that looks a lot like it. Too bad it is not out being used still. I quess it is too connected to a famous person and worth a lot. Otherwise, it would make a fine camera for picture taking with film in these days of digital imaging. There is nothing wrong with out film cameras. This one looks to be in good condition.

selar · 06-14-2011, 09:21 PM

Ah there it is, the camera that sold a million Pentaxes!

**seventhdr** · 06-14-2011, 10:21 PM - **1 Like**

Although the photos are not too clear, it looks like the lens on the camera is a Super Takumar f1:1.9 85mm, and not a standard 50mm lens.

Regards

Chris Stone

sunny16 · 06-14-2011, 10:23 PM

Did you happen to notice the model? (might be visible in a full-size version of the second photo.) Looks like an H2 or H3?

It's not real important... just curious if you noticed. Thanks for the photos!

selar · 06-14-2011, 10:52 PM

Its a H3v/SV, its the same camera Ringo Starr is shown playing with during a flight in Ned Bunnels blog. Doubt if it works, Ringo dumped it in a pond during the movie A Hard Days Night...

RBullCZ · 06-14-2011, 11:31 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by seventhdr

Although the photos are not too clear, it looks like the lens on the camera is a Super Takumar f1:1.9 85mm, and not a standard 50mm lens.

Regards

Chris Stone

It is the pre-set Auto-Takumar 85mm f/1.8 (note the pre-cock lever on top of the lens). It is absolutely magical lens more similar in its character to the 83/1.9 than the newer 85/1.9 or the SMC 85/1.8.

Edit to add: Topher, thank you for sharing, this is interesting and rare subject!

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Last edited by RBullCZ; 06-14-2011 at 11:43 PM.

RBullCZ · 06-14-2011, 11:37 PM

Originally posted by selar

Its a H3v/SV, its the same camera Ringo Starr is shown playing with during a flight in Ned Bunnels blog. Doubt if it works, Ringo dumped it in a pond during the movie A Hard Days Night...

I have read somewhere that they all had black Pentax camera each and Pentax was using the images of Beatles with the cameras in their PR. I can be wrong though...

RBullCZ · 06-15-2011, 01:01 AM

Here is some more info on Hard Rock website regarding this particular camera:
Hard Rock Memorabilia: John Lennon ? Pentax camera

MPrince · 06-15-2011, 03:19 AM

Originally posted by selar

Doubt if it works, Ringo dumped it in a pond during the movie A Hard Days Night...

You mean it isn't weather-sealed?

Northern Soul · 06-15-2011, 04:20 AM

Originally posted by RBullCZ

Here is some more info on Hard Rock website regarding this particular camera:
Hard Rock Memorabilia: John Lennon ? Pentax camera

Shame you have to install some Microsoft thing to view it. Is it interesting?

MRRiley · 06-15-2011, 05:50 AM

Now if only they'd written a song about their Pentax cameras...

RBullCZ · 06-15-2011, 08:54 AM

Originally posted by Northern Soul

Shame you have to install some Microsoft thing to view it. Is it interesting?

It is actually one image similar to the one which Topher posted on start of this thread (sans the reflections) and two paragraph trivia text. Quote: "It may have been the camera that shot the infamous Two Virgins album cover, but it seems like the lens would be broken if that was the case."

MPrince · 06-15-2011, 09:16 AM - **3 Likes**

Originally posted by MRRiley

Now if only they'd written a song about their Pentax cameras...

They did, and it was one of their earliest and biggest hits

"I Want to Hold You in My Hand" or something like that....

**Deimos** · 06-15-2011, 09:21 AM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by MPrince

They did, and it was one of their earliest and biggest hits

"I Want to Hold You in My Hand" or something like that....

Or was it "HELP!"

06-15-2011, 08:54 AM	#13
RBullCZ Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Prague, Czech Republic Photos: Albums Posts: 139	Originally posted by Northern Soul Shame you have to install some Microsoft thing to view it. Is it interesting? It is actually one image similar to the one which Topher posted on start of this thread (sans the reflections) and two paragraph trivia text. Quote: "It may have been the camera that shot the infamous Two Virgins album cover, but it seems like the lens would be broken if that was the case." Last edited by RBullCZ; 06-15-2011 at 09:00 AM.

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06-14-2011, 08:55 PM	#2
stevbike Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Newbury, Ontario Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 268	Nice to know he had a nice camera. I have a newer Spotmatic that looks a lot like it. Too bad it is not out being used still. I quess it is too connected to a famous person and worth a lot. Otherwise, it would make a fine camera for picture taking with film in these days of digital imaging. There is nothing wrong with out film cameras. This one looks to be in good condition.

06-14-2011, 09:21 PM	#3
selar Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,042	Ah there it is, the camera that sold a million Pentaxes!

06-14-2011, 10:21 PM - 1 Like	#4
seventhdr Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,440	Although the photos are not too clear, it looks like the lens on the camera is a Super Takumar f1:1.9 85mm, and not a standard 50mm lens. Regards Chris Stone

06-14-2011, 10:23 PM	#5
sunny16 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Maryland, USA Photos: Albums Posts: 309	Did you happen to notice the model? (might be visible in a full-size version of the second photo.) Looks like an H2 or H3? It's not real important... just curious if you noticed. Thanks for the photos!

06-14-2011, 10:52 PM	#6
selar Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,042	Its a H3v/SV, its the same camera Ringo Starr is shown playing with during a flight in Ned Bunnels blog. Doubt if it works, Ringo dumped it in a pond during the movie A Hard Days Night...

06-14-2011, 11:37 PM	#8
RBullCZ Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Prague, Czech Republic Photos: Albums Posts: 139	Originally posted by selar Its a H3v/SV, its the same camera Ringo Starr is shown playing with during a flight in Ned Bunnels blog. Doubt if it works, Ringo dumped it in a pond during the movie A Hard Days Night... I have read somewhere that they all had black Pentax camera each and Pentax was using the images of Beatles with the cameras in their PR. I can be wrong though...

06-15-2011, 01:01 AM	#9
RBullCZ Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Prague, Czech Republic Photos: Albums Posts: 139	Here is some more info on Hard Rock website regarding this particular camera: Hard Rock Memorabilia: John Lennon ? Pentax camera

06-15-2011, 03:19 AM	#10
MPrince Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: WV Posts: 1,495	Originally posted by selar Doubt if it works, Ringo dumped it in a pond during the movie A Hard Days Night... You mean it isn't weather-sealed?

06-15-2011, 04:20 AM	#11
Northern Soul Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: The North of England Photos: Albums Posts: 494	Originally posted by RBullCZ Here is some more info on Hard Rock website regarding this particular camera: Hard Rock Memorabilia: John Lennon ? Pentax camera Shame you have to install some Microsoft thing to view it. Is it interesting?

06-15-2011, 05:50 AM	#12
MRRiley Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sterling, VA, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,275	Now if only they'd written a song about their Pentax cameras...

06-15-2011, 09:16 AM - 3 Likes	#14
MPrince Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: WV Posts: 1,495	Originally posted by MRRiley Now if only they'd written a song about their Pentax cameras... They did, and it was one of their earliest and biggest hits "I Want to Hold You in My Hand" or something like that....

06-15-2011, 09:21 AM - 2 Likes	#15
Deimos Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Kingdom of Wonder Posts: 1,777	Originally posted by MPrince They did, and it was one of their earliest and biggest hits "I Want to Hold You in My Hand" or something like that.... Or was it "HELP!"