[Ole]

How do the Ia and Ib differ from the IIb?

Yes, yours is the early version!

Edit: There are several versions of that particular lens as well. The first 1 had a chrome name plate but I believe it was on some of the IA and IB.

[Blue]

How do the Ia/Ib differ from the IIb?

The major difference is the instant return mirror. That didn't put model names/numbers on the Asahiflex. To confound things, the Tower model numbers had to do with which lens was sold with it.

Edit: There isn't a IB. That was me typing too fast. The I were prototypes that weren't sold to the public. IA was given to the model that went on sale in Sept 1953. There was an earlier IA that wasn't sold. The IIB was named because it had the instant return mirror. Then they added the knob for slow shutter speeds and it got called the IIA. These names originally came from collectors and not AOC.

[Ole]

Interesting, thanks for the insight!

The major difference is the instant return mirror. That didn't put model names/numbers on the Asahiflex. To confound things, the Tower model numbers had to do with which lens was sold with it.

Edit: There isn't a IB. That was me typing too fast. The I were prototypes that weren't sold to the public. IA was given to the model that went on sale in Sept 1953. There was an earlier IA that wasn't sold. The IIB was named because it had the instant return mirror. Then they added the knob for slow shutter speeds and it got called the IIA. These names originally came from collectors and not AOC.

[Blue]

I asked Fred Sherfy (Harrisburg, Pa) for permission to use images of his Electro Spotmatic and he agreed.

[Blue]

Electro Spotmatic Specs
Dimension Without lens: 143x98x50
Weight 678g (1 lb. 6 oz.) without lens

930g (1 lb. 14 oz.) with 50mm lens.


Type: 35mm TTL-metering SLR camera with focal plane electronic shutter for automatic exposure control.
Standard Lenses: SMC Takumar 50mm f/1.4 or 55mm SMC Takumar f/1.8 with fully automatic diaphram. Distance scale: 0.45m (1.5 feet) to infinity. Filter size: 49mm. With depth-of-field scale.
Shutters: TTL metering electronic shutter for automatic exposure control + mechanical shutter for manual speed selection. Horizontal run focal plane shutter. Electronic shutter speeds: unlimited variation between 8 and 1/1000 sec. Mechanical shutter: 1/60 (x), 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000 sec.
Viewfinder: pentaprism finder with Fresnel lens with microprism. .89x magnification and 93% viewfinder coverage with 50mm lens. Life-size magnification with 55mm lens. -1.0 dioptry. Shutter speed calibration, TTL meter needle and battery check mark in viewfinder screen.
Focusing: Turn the distance scale ring until the subject image in the viewfinder comes into sharp focus. Minimum focus distance: 0.45m (1.5 feet) (With 50/55mm lenses)
Reflex Mirror: Instant Return Type
Film Advance: Ratchet type rapid wind lever. 10° pre-advance and 160° advance angle.
Film Rewind: Rapid rewind crank. Film rewind button on base of camera body releases film from take-up spool for rewind.
Film Exposure Counter Automatic re-set type.
Cocked Indicator A red disk appears in a a small window alongside the shutter release button when the shutter is cocked, and blacks out when it is released.
Flash Synchronization FP & X contacts for conventional flash cord connection, X contact on hot shoe for convenient cordless flash connection
Exposure Meter CdS-activated TTL Meter for open-diaphragm and stop-down reading. Light measurement range: EV1 - 18 with ASA 100 film. ASA speed scale: 20 - 1600.
Exposure Factor Control Dial 1x for normal exposure. 2x, 4x, 1/2x for intentional over- or under-exposure.
Power Source: One 6V silver oxide battery.
Film Type Indicator: black and white, color daylight, color tungsten, and empty


Notable information about the Electro Spotmatic:
The Pentax Electro Spotmatic was the world's first 35mm SLR with a fully electronic shutter system. It was released in 1971 and only sold in Japan. The circuitry was under constant revision during the year of its release which make these bodies like a pro-type. This lead to some reliability issues. When set on automatic, it has a stepless shutter. The Pentax memory device computes and delivers an infinite number of exposures between 8 and 1/1000 second - automatically. If 1/555 second will give you the right exposure, that is what will be programmed. IT utilizes the Super-Multi-Coated Takumar and SMC lenses for open aperture metering. The viewfinder remains bright under all conditions, making focusing easy. In the event that earlier lenses without the open-aperture metering coupling, the the Electro spotmatic, ES, ES II and Spotmatic F provide stop-down metering with the familiar switch near the lens mount. In any case, the meter is activated by partially depressing the shutter release button. These features make it one-quarter inch taller and only six ounces heavier than the Spotmatic F. The standard color for the Electro Spotmatic was black, which was a departure for previous Pentax m42 bodies where black was a special order. With both the ES and ES II, chrome was the special order version. The ES was released in 1972 and had completely revised circuitry that addressed the reliability issues the Electro Spotmatic had. The name was shortened to ES on the face of the body.

[Blue]

ES II Specs
Dimension: with 50mm lens: width 143mm (5.6") x height 98mm (3.9") x thickness 93mm (3.7") with 55mm lens: width 143mm (5.6") x height 98mm (3.9") x thickness 90mm (3.5") Weight 930g (1 lb. 14 oz.) with 50mm lens.
879g (1 lb. 12 oz.) with 55mm lens.
678b (1 lb. 6 oz.) without lens
Type: 35mm TTL-metering SLR camera with focal plane electronic shutter for automatic exposure control.
Standard Lenses: SMC Takumar 50mm f/1.4 and 55mm SMC Takumar f/1.8 with fully automatic diaphram. Distance scale: 0.45m (1.5 feet) to infinity. Filter size: 49mm. With depth-of-field scale.
Shutters: TTL-metering electronic shutter for automatic exposure control + mechanical shutter for manual speed selection. Horizontal run focal plane shutter. Electronic shutter speeds: unlimited variation between 8 and 1/1000 sec. Mechanical shutter: 1/60 (x), 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000 sec. Shutter button safety lock also serves for Time exposure.
Self-timer: Built-in self-timer with interrupt function. Releases shutter in 5 - 11 sec.
Viewfinder: Eye-level pentaprism finder with Fresnel lens + microprism. .89x magnification with 50mm lens. Life-size magnification with 55mm lens. -1.0 dioptry. 93% viewfinder coverage. Viewfinder blinds can be closed in automatic shutter mode. Shutter speed calibration, TTL meter needle and battery check mark in viewfinder screen.
Reflex Mirror: Instant Return Type
Film Advance: Ratchet type rapid wind lever. 10° pre-advance and 160° advance angle.
Film Rewind: Rapid rewind crank. Film rewind button on base of camera body releases film from take-up spool for rewind.
Film Exposure Counter: Automatic re-set type.
Cocked Indicator: A red disk appears in a a small window alongside the shutter release button when the shutter is cocked, and blacks out when it is released.
Flash Synchronization: FP contacts for conventional flash cord connection, X contact on hot shoe for convenient cordless flash connection
Exposure Meter: CdS-activated TTL Meter for open-diaphragm and stop-down reading. Light measurement range: EV1 - 18 with ASA 100 film. ASA speed scale: 20 - 3200.
Exposure Factor Control Dial: 1x for normal exposure. 2x, 4x, 1/2x for intentional over- or under-exposure.
Power Source: Four 1.5V silver oxide batteries (e.g. Eveready S76E or Mallory MS 76H).
Film Type Indicator: black and white, color daylight, color tungsten, and empty
Special Notes on the ES II:
Two years after the release of the ES, Asahi Optical released the ES II. The main improvements over the ES was in the circuits which were reduced in size to allow the addition of a self timer. It also reduced the power requirements. The battery type and location was also changed. The overall size and appearance was similar to the ES. It was sold international as the Pentax Asahi ES II and in the U.S. as the Pentax Honeywell ES II. Even though the Electro Spotmatic, ES and ES II had electronically controlled shutters, they were still made of fabric. It wouldn’t be until the K2 until and electronically controlled metal shutter would be implemented.
Price when New
7186 - camera with 50mm f/1.4 $420
7187 - camera with 55mm f/1.8 $390
7188 - camera body only $340

[Blue]

We need to hit Nesster up for images of his chrome ES II.

[SteveM]

Was delayed for a few days as work was busy.....but I've updated all of the preciously submitted tables using the format as proposed by Ole (with the addition of the battery grip/pack). The front page has been updated. I've also submitted the SV and have the table ready for the S1a (pics are on my other machine so I'll submit tonight). Will get to the rest in the next day or two.

There are quite a few that we need pics and info on....

Thanks,
Steve

[Blue]

Steve, Mine is the ES chrome but its in the ES II slot on the table. We need to ask Nesster about using pics of his ES II chrome. The chrome bodies are a lot less common for the ES & ES II. Put in a pic of a black Spot F and we can really confound newbie collectors.

[Blue]

It appears you are missing pics of the H2/S2 so here are some of my H2 Heiland (early type). Note the lack of slot for meter coupling on the shutter speed dial. That is the best way to tell the early type from the late type H2/S2.

[Blue]

H2 Heiland Specs (H2 & S2 Asahi)

Dimensions:

- Size (W x H x D) 140x 92 x 50 mm
- Weight 580 g camera
- Viewfinder 0.88x
- Sync speed - 1/60


Standard Lens: Auto Tak 55mm f2 with automatic diaphragm (semi-auto via lever cocking prior to exposure)

Shutter Speeds: T, B, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500

Shutter Type: Focal Plane, curtains rubberized silk

Finder & Focusing screen: Pentaprism & central Micro-prism focusing grid in centre of Fresnel lens.

Mirror: Instant Return

Film Advanced: Ratchet type rapid wind lever (for film advance and shutter cocking). 10° pre-advance and 160° advancing angle with manual reset film counter and ready indicator. The first appearance of the ready indicator.

Flash Synchronization: FP and X flash terminals

Film Type Dial: Color Coded Reminder for color and ASA reminder for color and b&w film

Timer: none

Power: none required

Special Notes: Early type didn’t have meter coupling on the shutter speed dial. A ‘late’ type had a metering coupling for the optional meter that sat above the prism via a viewfinder clip. There was an S2 Super that was made a few years later and sold only in Japan. It is also marked on the housing as S2 with no other writing. However, it has 1/1000 on its shutter speed dial and an automatic reset film counter like those found on the SV.

[SteveM]

Steve, Mine is the ES chrome but its in the ES II slot on the table. We need to ask Nesster about using pics of his ES II chrome. The chrome bodies are a lot less common for the ES & ES II. Put in a pic of a black Spot F and we can really confound newbie collectors.

Thanks Blue....fixed Re the H2 pics...thanks. We are getting some pics not listed in the thread. The easiest way to check is to look in the folder where Adam is storing them all. (it'll be a day or two before he posts the set I sent him today)

https://www.pentaxforums.com/content/m42

Cheers,
Steve

[SteveM]

OK...this morning I have submitted the;

- S1a
- SPF
- Asahiflex IIB
- K

I'll keep going on the others over the weekend. Do we have anyone on the forum (or knows of someone) that has one of the more unusual models, such as any of the missing Motordrives, the S2, the SB2, a "Store Demonstrator", or the Nocta Infrared?

Cheers,
Steve

[SteveM]

OK...the ES has been submitted. I've also updated the table listing at the start of this thread to align all of the Tower models with their corresponding Japan releases. The list is slowly getting there.

[Adam]

Just checking in on status- how are we looking? Ole and I are ready to create the actual database pages once all the data has been submitted!