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Originally posted by Mike Cash Now some of you folks are going to join Steve in understanding why I so often recommend the SV to people. I predict that at least half the people on the list will end up trying to hunt one down to buy for themselves.
Muwahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
No, seriously though. The SV is a great camera, but there were many others going back to the 1957 Original that are also great cameras. If you are going to buy, check the features, functions and specs and see what interests you.
My current favorite happens to be an H3/S3. This is the backup camera in case something comes of the SV.
Have a look here for history and specifications. They are interesting.
History of Early Pentax
Good deals can be had on many of these every day. An I highly recommend that even if you only get one pre-Spotmatic or even a Spotmatic, etc., that you also pick up at least one of each of the various lens types from the early days... so...
1. A preset as came with 1957 Original and "S." There is a 35mm f/4 that I rather like and the 55 mm f 2.2 Takumar is a beauty. There are also a couple of 58mm that are somewhat rare and a 135mm that is the forerunner of the much taken for granted SUper Takumar that everyone has seen;
2. An auto-Takumar in the true sens. This lens works more like a super-Takumar, but in order to put in auto mode, you actually have to cock it. When the shutter is released, it "fires" and must be recocked again. In essence this functionality was developed so that the user could choose aperture first, then open the iris for focusing. With a preset, the workflow always went the other way... focus, aperture. With an Auto, you can work either way, and as you like. The one I like most is the 35mm f/2.3, but the 35mm f/3.5 is the same f/3.5 as the later super Tahumar, just with the cocking mechanism.
3. Super Takumars... etc...
For more information on the early lenses see:
Early Pentax Takumar Lenses
At some point I would consider circulating some of these lenses as well. An interesting side note to all of this is that I find using the presets very nice on my ZX-M. More on that later...
woof!