[glsmith]

I have a K1000 but need a lens.

Looking to purchase a Spotmatic 1000 off ebay for the lens, it comes with an SMC Takumar 2/55 lens for a cheap price. I understand these lenses are sought after.
I realise I will need an adapter ring. Will there be any problems using this lens on the K1000.

Secondly are there any batteries for the spotmatic, or do you have to convert them to use newer batteries.

lastly the sp1000 is advertised as being used in 1960's, i read they were produced in 1970's era.??
it doesn't have hotshoe flash on top.

sorry for any stupid questions, i'm a newby and just starting with the slr film photography.

cheers

glsmith

[titrisol]

I guess a look at camerapedia or wikipedia is what you need.
Or a visit to the historic sites devoted to the Spotmatic.

The original Spotmatic cmae in 64 and started to be sold in the 60s.
The 55/2 is an OK lens, the 55/1.8 SMC is the sharpest lens I have used in the Spottie.

To use this lens in the K1000 you need an adapter, try getting an original pentax or one with "thin" flange

If the camera has not been used or serviced the least you can do is change the light seals with something like this:


Enjoy the camera!!!

[J.Scott]

The SP1000 was the last of the Spotmatic series of cameras to not have a hot shoe. Purists enjoy it's smooth lines! It was an upgraded version of the SP500.
I've read that the last of the Spotties went off the production line some time in 1975, but I no exact manufacturing date for the SP1000.
The 50mm/f2.0 was the standard lens sold with that camera.

[calicojack]

I bought my first Pentax, an SP1000 in 1969 (possibly '68)

[Nesster]

The SP1000 is my favorite Pentax; I've had two and gave one to my brother in law, the other my daughter stole.

Question: why bother using the K1000, the SP1000 is fully its equal (some might say the guts are indistinguishable) and gives the benefit of using M42 lenses in 'native' mode - i.e. with auto diaphragm action at shutter time?

Buy a couple of cheap M42 lenses for the SP1000, and you'll have an incredibly capable and cool outfit for next to nothing. That's the business case for screw mount

The 55/2 is an excellent lens - it is the exact same lens as the 55/1.8 but with an aperture limiter. Evenly sharp across the frame and across the apertures.

Batteries - I use modern batteries without any problem at all. I bought some "S400PX" 1.55v silver oxides made by excell.

[reeftool]

I bought one of the last ones in 1975 or 76, just as the K mounts were coming out. I picked it up very cheap in one of the dept. stores in Albany, Macy's I think, as I needed a camera after I had sold all my gear the year before when I was laid off. It came with the 55/2. The camera served me well for years and I still have it. The 55/2 gets used often on my K10D. The battery is available at Radio Shack. For flash, you need to get a flash bracket and use the x sync. It's a very simple, basic no frills camera that is very well built and as rugged as anything ever built. Mine has fallen over a cliff in a backpack, been wet on many occasions with both rain and salt water, survived 2 motorcycle crashes and also survived a teenage kid who forgot how to open the back and pried it open with a screwdriver to remove the film. It still works.

[glsmith]

many thx for all replies