[DaniRo]

This is my little jewlery: Asahi Pentax Spotmatic F

SN: 6145418
I buy it in 2006 from a nice gentleman at a Kamera Börse in Hamburg, Germany

It is in mint condition and it came with a SMC Tak 50mm 1.4, a S-M-C Tak 105mm 2.8 and a S-M-C Tak 150mm 4

[hefty1]

Sorry for the delay, here's my SP500:



Notes: Although the speed dial is only marked as far as 1/500 it does have an extra unmarked stop beyond (just like the S1a) which I assume would be 1/1000. As a budget model there's no self timer but it does have a roller built into the film door (unlike early Spottys). I believe the supplied lens was the Super-Takumar 55/2.

[summonbaka]

I have some questions regarding the serial numbering of late/early spotmatics. As you previosly mentioned the early ones are from 10nnXXX until 2XXXXXX. And there are photos of the differences between the two in some other threads. In that same thread there was someone that mentioned having a spottie in the 12XXXXX range but that apart from the typeface differences the build was identical to the later types. I have one in similar situation. It's serial is 1374644 and doesn't have either 231 or 23102 in the base plate (it has the signs of a 'recent' CLA but there is no hole in the top plate to indicate a lateral screw). Just adding to the info, the other two serials i gave before are from late spotties with 23102 in the baseplate.

I also have one early SV with the green 'R'. Antoher one was a gift to a friend so I don't have the serial with me right now, but this one is No.517387

This is my little jewlery: Asahi Pentax Spotmatic F

SN: 6145418
I buy it in 2006 from a nice gentleman at a Kamera Börse in Hamburg, Germany

It is in mint condition and it came with a SMC Tak 50mm 1.4, a S-M-C Tak 105mm 2.8 and a S-M-C Tak 150mm 4

That's a beauty of a camera.

[SteveM]

Thanks DaniRo and Hefty1, those are some great pictures! I'm running a little behind....because I'm taking 30 kids aged 5 to 7 camping this weekend...in the rain . I'll get everything compiled and to Adam early next week....

[Blue]

Thanks DaniRo and Hefty1, those are some great pictures! I'm running a little behind....because I'm taking 30 kids aged 5 to 7 camping this weekend...in the rain . I'll get everything compiled and to Adam early next week....

Cool . . . we can dump some more on you this weekend!

[SteveM]

Cool . . . we can dump some more on you this weekend!

Bring it on!

[Ole]

I propose to change the table slightly adding some fields relevant for these old cameras and removing others (like Autofocus) which aren't relevant. New fields key to these old cameras would be open aperture metering, automatic stop-down of the aperture during exposure, and also-known-as names:

Attached Images

   

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Last edited by Ole; 05-27-2010 at 09:05 PM.

[Ole]

Here are the fields in text form (for the S2):

Camera name : Asahi Pentax S2
Also known as : Asahi Pentax H2 and Heiland Pentax H2
Year introduced : 1959
Year discontinued :
Mount : M42
Automatic aperture stop dow: Yes
Metering : None
Meter range : Not applicable
ISO range : Not applicable
DX ISO range : Not applicable
Exposure modes : Manual, B
Exposure compensation : No
Exposure memory lock : No
Shutter speeds (auto) : Not applicable
Shutter speeds (manual) : 1 - 1/500s, B, X
Shutter speeds (mechanical): 1 - 1/500s, B, X
Self timer : No
Mirror lock-up : No
Auto bracketing : No
Multiple exposures : Yes
Winder : No
Flash hot shoe : No
Built-in flash : No
TTL/P-TTL flash : No
Flash sync speed :
Flash exposure comp : Not applicable
Viewfinder :
Viewfinder type : Pentaprism
Diopter correction : No
Exchangeable screen : No
Depth of field preview :
Image size : 24 x 36 mm
Battery : None
Size (W x H x D) :
Weight :
Comment : The 'S2' model was the first Pentax to have only one shutter speed dial thus getting rid of the slow speed dial on the front. Unlike the previous models the shutter speed dial did not rotate when the shutter fired.
Another improvement was a small window on the top plate which would turn red when the shutter was cocked.
Finally, the foosing screen now had microprisms in the center which made achieving precise focus easier. The fastest shutter speed was lowered to 1/500 perhaps to justify a lower sales price.

[Ole]

I can provide photos of my Asahi Pentax K for the database:

[Ole]

Comments on the cameras.

AP:

The first Pentax SLR with pentaprism viewfinder. The camera had no engraved model designation but was later referred to as 'AP'.

The camera had two shutter speed dials. The one on the top plate sets the fast speeds: 1/500, 1/200, 1/100, and 1/50s, the one on the front the slow speeds (controlled by a timer): 1/25, 1/10, 1/5, 1/2, and 1s.

S:

The first 35mm Pentax SLR with pentaprism, the 'AP' model, was soon followed by the 'S' model. The key difference was in callibration of the shutter speeds, which now followed the pattern we see today.

The camera still had two shutter speed dials. The one on the top plate sets the fast speeds: 1/500, 1/250, 1/125, and 1/60s, the one on the front the slow speeds (controlled by a timer): 1/30, 1/15, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, and 1s.

K:

The 'S' model, was soon followed by the 'K' model, which improved the top shutter speed to 1/1000s. More importantly, the 'K' model introduced the first version of what was called auto-aperture: With the new Auto Takumar lenses, the camera would stop down the aperture to the shooting value just prior to firing the shutter. One then had to manually open up the aperture again with a lever on the lens. The later Super Takumar lenses solved this inconveniece - their aperture would open up again automatically after the exposure.

The camera still had two shutter speed dials. The one on the top plate sets the fast speeds: 1/1000, 1/500, 1/250, 1/125, 1/60 and 1/25s, the one on the front the slow speeds (controlled by a timer): 1/30, 1/15, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, and 1s.

S2:

The 'S2' model was the first Pentax to have only one shutter speed dial thus getting rid of the slow speed dial on the front. Unlike the previous models the shutter speed dial did not rotate when the shutter fired.

Another improvement was a small window on the top plate which would turn red when the shutter was cocked.

Finally, the foosing screen now had microprisms in the center which made achieving precise focus easier. The fastest shutter speed was lowered to 1/500 perhaps to justify a lower sales price.

Spotmatic II:

Compared to the original Spotmatic, the Spotmatic II added a hot shoe and extended metering to ISO 3200

[SteveM]

Thanks Ole....that's a great idea. I'll start using the new format.

[Blue]

Ole, looking at your 'Zebra' I still seam to be the only one at this site with 'Zebra' with half aperture marks. The Zebra that came with my K is like yours, but I have a spare that has the half positions. Allegedly, the ones on the Tower version were like that, but they supposedly began at 1.9. I need to make some images to show what I mean.

[SteveM]

Mine has dots between the aperture numbers...is that what you mean? (you can sort of make them out from the pic...) PS Ole...that's one hell of a camera

[Ole]

Mine doesn't have the plug so it must the early version?

[Blue]

Mine doesn't have the plug so it must the early version?

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.