[Cuthbert]

With my new (in box) Spottie F I received a lot of paperwork, including the official Honeywell price list effective from October 1976, I post here some highlights because perhaps somebody is interested.

3 systems available, S, K and 6 x 7, in order the S cameras available all came with a burgle lens and were:

SPF with 55 mm f1.8 (like mine): $ 374.5
ESII also with the 55/1.8: $582.71 (very dear!)
SP1000 with 55mm 2.0: $ 299.48

The correspondent K mounted models were (more or less)

KM chrome body + K55/1.8 = 265.5 + 112.5 = $378
KX chrome body + K55/1.8 = 294.69 + 112.5 $ 407.19
K2 chrome body + K55/1.8 = 448.5 +112.5 = $ 561
K1000 + K55/2.0 = 299.50

Please note that there are TWO K1000s, one with microprism screen, and another one called "rangefinder" (split screen) that went for $15 more, catalogue numbers N7475 and N7476 respectively. I never heard that in 1976 a K1000 with split screen was available, anybody can confirm it?

Then black finish costed $23 more (no KM available in black at that time, the K2DMD had just been released and most of the accessories didn't report any price, but the only body costed...well $566.5 (a lot of money I assume), the motordrive $343 .95, the battery grip124.95 and the databack 447.5 (almost like the camera??), no wonder why it's so rare today.

The most expensive lane was the 135-600 K 5.6 that cost $2000, in S mount it cost $5 less, 50 mm and 55 mm besides the 50mm f1.2 were sold without case.

The 6 x 7 with mirror lockup costed $625 (almost like the K2DMD), the 90mm f2.4 Takumar went for $529.50.

If anybody has particular curiosities in the price list there is everything of almost.

[gofour3]

I post here some highlights because perhaps somebody is interested.

Yes please, I love looking at old price lists!

Thanks, Phil.

[Cuthbert]

Any particular item you are interested?

What I found more interesting is that the "S" cameras were more or less as expensive as the "K" cameras, the ESII in particular seems extremely expensive, almost in the K2DMD range (90 dollars less if we include a lens) even if it's not as evolved as the DMD.

I assumed they sold the "S" cameras for a long time after their official decease in 1975.

[gofour3]

Any particular item you are interested?

What I found more interesting is that the "S" cameras were more or less as expensive as the "K" cameras, the ESII in particular seems extremely expensive, almost in the K2DMD range (90 dollars less if we include a lens) even if it's not as evolved as the DMD.

I assumed they sold the "S" cameras for a long time after their official decease in 1975.

Any K series cameras and lenses would be great. I have a price list from 1975 and 1978 and would like to compair the differences.

Thanks, Phil.

[Cuthbert]

Any K series cameras and lenses would be great. I have a price list from 1975 and 1978 and would like to compair the differences.

Thanks, Phil.

It's a long list of items! I already reported some of them, in terms of K bodies I left behind the motorised KM ( 35950, no colour specified) and the motorised KX (399.5 in chrome and 424.5 in black), there also is a pricey KX "data" sold for the cheap amount of $699.5.

However, this is the box that was sent to me from October 1976:



Opening inside I found all this nice literature:



And also a camera!



With a slightly dirty lens:



BTW, is it confirmed that the Tak 55 mm f1.8 is radioactive? Although the lens in this pics looks coated with violet and blue reflexes the last element covered by the diaphragm (I used the DOF lever to empathise the first elements) is definitely very orange.

[gofour3]

It's a long list of items! I already reported some of them, in terms of K bodies I left behind the motorised KM ( 35950, no colour specified) and the motorised KX (399.5 in chrome and 424.5 in black), there also is a pricey KX "data" sold for the cheap amount of $699.5.

However, this is the box that was sent to me from October 1976:



Opening inside I found all this nice literature:



And also a camera!



With a slightly dirty lens:



BTW, is it confirmed that the Tak 55 mm f1.8 is radioactive? Although the lens in this pics looks coated with violet and blue reflexes the last element covered by the diaphragm (I used the DOF lever to empathise the first elements) is definitely very orange.

Wow, very nice shape. Honeywell sure put their mark on the camera though, other than the lens Asahi is obliterated from the lens cap, camera, box & manual.

We did get the "Asahi" SP in Canada, as Honeywell was US only.

If you have the prices for the K28/2, K50/1.2 & K85/1.8 that would be appreciated.

Thanks, Phil.

[officiousbystander]

If you multiply by 4 you get an approximation of today's dollar value. An economist will probably point out that we need to take into account not just CPI but wage growth as well which dont' always correllate.
Inflation Calculator | Find US Dollar's Value from 1913-2015

[Not a Number]

K1000 + K55/2.0 = 299.50

Using the US Inflation Calculator this comes out to $1,256.10 in today's dollars.

What to introductory/beginners level kits go for these days?

[Rick in Ohio]

Hey Phil, Do you have the 1978 price for the K 1000 and the M 50/F 2 lens combo. That had to be about when I bought my kit.

Rick

[gofour3]

Yeah the camera prices seem high, but everything else back then was way cheaper. (Gas, housing, airfares, food, school tuition....) Also you had none of today's "connected" costs to deal with. Life was simpler and overall cheaper and people had less debit to deal with or credit cards. You saved up and bought stuff in cash.

I managed to buy a Pentax kit (body and three lenses) in 1975 when I was only earning around $2.50 per hour.

Phil.

---------- Post added 07-30-15 at 10:03 PM ----------

Hey Phil, Do you have the 1978 price for the K 1000 and the M 50/F 2 lens combo. That had to be about when I bought my kit.

Rick

Yep these are January 23, 1978 list prices:

K1000 body only (Micro-prism screen) $165.00
K1000 w/50mm f/2.0 (Micro-prism screen) $299.50
K1000 w/50mm f/2.0 (Split-image screen) $310.00
K1000 w/50mm f/2.0 (Micro-prism screen) w/case $328.50
K1000 w/50mm f/2.0 (Split-image screen) w/case $339.00

Phil.

[monochrome]

My 1977 college graduation present - a black KX and K50/1.4 with an Everready case - cost $487.56 with tax, which amount was almost exactly 10% of the cost of my senior year of college at University of Virginia. $487.56 was also a little less than half the money I earned working 10 hours a week (38 weeks of college) @ $2.60 an hour my senior year.

So, a $5,000 college graduation present in 2015-equivalent terms?

That's a LOT of camera!!

And I sure wouldn't earn any $10,000 working 10 hours a week.

[Cuthbert]

Yes guys I agree these "inflation converters" are a bit iffy, the price of a new SPF would have been $1570, that I can believe from the way the owner kept this camera through the years (including warranty card, package etc...) but I doubt the cost of a K1000 or a SP1000 would be in the $1256 range.

Anyway obliging Gofour's request:

K 28 f2.0 = $429.5
K28 tilt and shift = $675 (much more expensive that the f2.0 lens)
K50 f1.2 = $287.5
K85 f1.8 = $264.5 (same price as the SMC Takumar lens)

Perhaps later if I have time I'll scan the complete list.

[Rick in Ohio]

Thank you Phil for the prices. That seems about right, I was just out of high school so I could affort that cost.

Rick

[noelpolar]

Cool to hear this stuff......I'd be interested in the price of a K30/2.8 (guess...$175)..... "Layby" was the only equivelent of credit back then.....thanks

[Cuthbert]

Cool to hear this stuff......I'd be interested in the price of a K30/2.8 (guess...$175)..... "Layby" was the only equivelent of credit back then.....thanks

Alas no 30 mm in the price list, the 35 mm f2 went for $269.5 tough.