celebrity pentax

puderse · 01-24-2011, 02:46 PM

This weekend I saw a pix of the Beatles sitting at a table while riding a train. Early '60s. On the table is a black Pentax with a longish lens.

Anyone know the picture and identify the camera/lens?

Nesster · 01-24-2011, 02:53 PM

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-film-slr-discussion/59201-george-h...pentaxian.html

Sorry some of the pics have gone...

séamuis · 01-24-2011, 03:55 PM

from what I understand they were promotional items for use in the film “A hard Days Night”. but there are a number of photos of personal use, or so it would seem. I have never ben able to positively identify any model used but they all seem to be either pre ‘SV’ as they were not spotmatics, but also lacked the unique top plate mounted self-timer of the SV. or they were S1a’s (last model available before the Spotmatic) this seems more likely, but its hard to say. either way, there was certainly some kind of cross promotional thing between the Beatles and Asahi Opt. at the time, but I have never really been able to find out any solid information about it all. the strangest photo I have come across is this one:

hooverfocus · 01-24-2011, 04:22 PM

Originally posted by séamuis

either way, there was certainly some kind of cross promotional thing between the Beatles and Asahi Opt. at the time, but I have never really been able to find out any solid information about it all. the strangest photo I have come across is this one:

or, they just had impeccable taste

JACOBY · 01-25-2011, 03:05 AM

I say the beatles had good taste

magkelly · 01-25-2011, 10:36 AM

They did have good taste that way. The cameras were originally promotional but I think that both George and John liked them and used Pentax a lot. I forget which old bio book it's in but there's one with a series of photos of John walking in Central Park with Yoko and pics of him using a Pentax. It was an SPII as I recall and it did look like he knew what he was doing. They were supposedly private photos, by John and Yoko and the friend/long term employee they were with so I don't think commercialism had much to do with it. I think the Beatles were given them to play with as promotional toys and they just liked them and learned to use them.

01-24-2011, 02:46 PM	#1
puderse Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: where the west begins Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 102	celebrity pentax This weekend I saw a pix of the Beatles sitting at a table while riding a train. Early '60s. On the table is a black Pentax with a longish lens. Anyone know the picture and identify the camera/lens?

01-24-2011, 03:55 PM	#3
séamuis Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Savannah, U.S./Baguio City, P.H. Posts: 5,979	from what I understand they were promotional items for use in the film “A hard Days Night”. but there are a number of photos of personal use, or so it would seem. I have never ben able to positively identify any model used but they all seem to be either pre ‘SV’ as they were not spotmatics, but also lacked the unique top plate mounted self-timer of the SV. or they were S1a’s (last model available before the Spotmatic) this seems more likely, but its hard to say. either way, there was certainly some kind of cross promotional thing between the Beatles and Asahi Opt. at the time, but I have never really been able to find out any solid information about it all. the strangest photo I have come across is this one: Attached Images

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01-24-2011, 02:53 PM	#2
Nesster Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 13,072	https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-film-slr-discussion/59201-george-h...pentaxian.html Sorry some of the pics have gone...

01-24-2011, 04:22 PM	#4
hooverfocus Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 210	Originally posted by séamuis either way, there was certainly some kind of cross promotional thing between the Beatles and Asahi Opt. at the time, but I have never really been able to find out any solid information about it all. the strangest photo I have come across is this one: or, they just had impeccable taste

01-25-2011, 03:05 AM	#5
JACOBY Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: PGH PENNA Posts: 340	I say the beatles had good taste

01-25-2011, 10:36 AM	#6
magkelly Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,901	They did have good taste that way. The cameras were originally promotional but I think that both George and John liked them and used Pentax a lot. I forget which old bio book it's in but there's one with a series of photos of John walking in Central Park with Yoko and pics of him using a Pentax. It was an SPII as I recall and it did look like he knew what he was doing. They were supposedly private photos, by John and Yoko and the friend/long term employee they were with so I don't think commercialism had much to do with it. I think the Beatles were given them to play with as promotional toys and they just liked them and learned to use them.