Just Scored a Spotmatic

Colorado CJ · 12-26-2011, 04:26 PM

I just won an ebay auction for a Pentax Spotmatic SLR for $46.00. A nice bonus is the lens that is attached. It is a Super Takumar 50mm F1.4 lens with low serial number. SO, I believe in actuality that I scored one of the rare 8-element F1.4's

. The picture was pretty blurry and I couldn't see the infared registration mark, but I'm 80% positive it is the 8-element.

Even if it isn't I still got a 50mm F1.4 and Spotmatic for $46.00!

noblepa · 12-26-2011, 09:11 PM

Originally posted by Colorado CJ

I just won an ebay auction for a Pentax Spotmatic SLR for $46.00. A nice bonus is the lens that is attached. It is a Super Takumar 50mm F1.4 lens with low serial number. SO, I believe in actuality that I scored one of the rare 8-element F1.4's

. The picture was pretty blurry and I couldn't see the infared registration mark, but I'm 80% positive it is the 8-element.

Even if it isn't I still got a 50mm F1.4 and Spotmatic for $46.00!

That's a good price. Have you ever used a Spotmatic before? I have rather large hands, and I find the ergonomics of the Spotmatic are perfect. It fits my hands like it was made for them. All the controls fall at just the right place for my fingers. I still find it one of the most comfortable cameras I've ever held.

Not only that, but it is a beautifully designed camera. It is a work of art in itself.

That Super Takumar 50mm is a fine lens. I hope it is the 8 element version. I have the later version, but it is still a great lens. I use it with an adapter on my K10D. In fact, my early training with a Spotmatic came in handy when using the Super Tak on the dslr. I learned stop-down metering on the Spotmatic, so it is like coming home on the K10D.

Colorado CJ · 12-26-2011, 09:17 PM

I haven't used a film SLR before. I shoot manual everything with my K-x and usually use my Takumars. I want to try my hand at film photography to see what all the fuss is about

.

I have large hands as well, can't find gloves that fit in any store, so the Spotmatic sounds like it will fit well! I also bought a small Fujica 605 for $11.00 that should arrive tomorrow.

The 50mm F1.4 is probably a 7-element though. On the Lens forum, someone stated that sometime after the 185xxx serial number they switched over to the 7 element design. From what I can see of the one small blurry picture on EBay, the serial number starts with a 22xxxxx, so it is probably not the 8-element. No problem though as that is still a real good deal for $46.00!

vonBaloney · 12-26-2011, 09:28 PM

Definitely not an 8-element if it starts with a 2. Assuming it checks out otherwise, check the light seals before shooting film or you may end up with a roll of nothing...

vladimiroltean · 12-27-2011, 09:32 AM

Hey, don't be upset that your new Takumar isn't the 8-element version. At least it's radioactive!

Tom in Delaware · 12-27-2011, 12:12 PM

Just how rare are the 8-element f1.4s? I seem to have accumulated two of these without hardly trying (local auction and flea market).

Mattco26 · 12-27-2011, 01:27 PM

Originally posted by Colorado CJ

I shoot manual everything with my K-x and usually use my Takumars.

Why do you use manual when aperture-priority works so well on the Pentax dslrs with m42 lenses?

**boriscleto** · 12-27-2011, 02:33 PM

Originally posted by Tom in Delaware

Just how rare are the 8-element f1.4s? I seem to have accumulated two of these without hardly trying (local auction and flea market).

They aren't terribly rare, but they were only manufactured for one year (1965).

12-26-2011, 04:26 PM	#1
Colorado CJ Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,429	Just Scored a Spotmatic I just won an ebay auction for a Pentax Spotmatic SLR for $46.00. A nice bonus is the lens that is attached. It is a Super Takumar 50mm F1.4 lens with low serial number. SO, I believe in actuality that I scored one of the rare 8-element F1.4's . The picture was pretty blurry and I couldn't see the infared registration mark, but I'm 80% positive it is the 8-element. Even if it isn't I still got a 50mm F1.4 and Spotmatic for $46.00!

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12-26-2011, 09:11 PM	#2
noblepa Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bay Village, Ohio USA Posts: 1,142	Originally posted by Colorado CJ I just won an ebay auction for a Pentax Spotmatic SLR for $46.00. A nice bonus is the lens that is attached. It is a Super Takumar 50mm F1.4 lens with low serial number. SO, I believe in actuality that I scored one of the rare 8-element F1.4's . The picture was pretty blurry and I couldn't see the infared registration mark, but I'm 80% positive it is the 8-element. Even if it isn't I still got a 50mm F1.4 and Spotmatic for $46.00! That's a good price. Have you ever used a Spotmatic before? I have rather large hands, and I find the ergonomics of the Spotmatic are perfect. It fits my hands like it was made for them. All the controls fall at just the right place for my fingers. I still find it one of the most comfortable cameras I've ever held. Not only that, but it is a beautifully designed camera. It is a work of art in itself. That Super Takumar 50mm is a fine lens. I hope it is the 8 element version. I have the later version, but it is still a great lens. I use it with an adapter on my K10D. In fact, my early training with a Spotmatic came in handy when using the Super Tak on the dslr. I learned stop-down metering on the Spotmatic, so it is like coming home on the K10D.

12-26-2011, 09:17 PM	#3
Colorado CJ Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,429 Original Poster	I haven't used a film SLR before. I shoot manual everything with my K-x and usually use my Takumars. I want to try my hand at film photography to see what all the fuss is about . I have large hands as well, can't find gloves that fit in any store, so the Spotmatic sounds like it will fit well! I also bought a small Fujica 605 for $11.00 that should arrive tomorrow. The 50mm F1.4 is probably a 7-element though. On the Lens forum, someone stated that sometime after the 185xxx serial number they switched over to the 7 element design. From what I can see of the one small blurry picture on EBay, the serial number starts with a 22xxxxx, so it is probably not the 8-element. No problem though as that is still a real good deal for $46.00!

12-26-2011, 09:28 PM	#4
vonBaloney Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 6,029	Definitely not an 8-element if it starts with a 2. Assuming it checks out otherwise, check the light seals before shooting film or you may end up with a roll of nothing...

12-27-2011, 09:32 AM	#5
vladimiroltean Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Bucharest, Romania Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,465	Hey, don't be upset that your new Takumar isn't the 8-element version. At least it's radioactive!

12-27-2011, 12:12 PM	#6
Tom in Delaware Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Delaware Posts: 177	Just how rare are the 8-element f1.4s? I seem to have accumulated two of these without hardly trying (local auction and flea market).

12-27-2011, 01:27 PM	#7
Mattco26 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 118	Originally posted by Colorado CJ I shoot manual everything with my K-x and usually use my Takumars. Why do you use manual when aperture-priority works so well on the Pentax dslrs with m42 lenses?

12-27-2011, 02:33 PM	#8
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Originally posted by Tom in Delaware Just how rare are the 8-element f1.4s? I seem to have accumulated two of these without hardly trying (local auction and flea market). They aren't terribly rare, but they were only manufactured for one year (1965).