Super Takumars on Spotmatic F

**Spodeworld** · 08-22-2017, 06:17 PM

I'm trying to get an understanding of the differences of the various spotmatics but it is confusing. I understand the the Fs allow for open aperture metering as long as you use a Super Multicoated Takumar. What happens/how do you use it if you put a Super Tak on the F?

Thanks

timw4mail · 08-22-2017, 06:45 PM

Originally posted by Spodeworld

I'm trying to get an understanding of the differences of the various spotmatics but it is confusing. I understand the the Fs allow for open aperture metering as long as you use a Super Multicoated Takumar. What happens/how do you use it if you put a Super Tak on the F?

Thanks

I would assume you have to use stop-down metering, like adapting it to the K-mount.

**boriscleto** · 08-22-2017, 07:02 PM

Originally posted by timw4mail

I would assume you have to use stop-down metering, like adapting it to the K-mount.

This ^. It works like a Super Takumar on a Spotmatic.

**Spodeworld** · 08-23-2017, 05:04 AM

So, you have to flip the A/M switch on the lens then to meter?

timw4mail · 08-23-2017, 06:02 AM

Originally posted by Spodeworld

So, you have to flip the A/M switch on the lens then to meter?

Or just leave it in manual if the light permits.

g026r · 08-23-2017, 10:58 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Spodeworld

So, you have to flip the A/M switch on the lens then to meter?

You can leave the lens on "A". On the left side of the camera mount is a black switch — you can see it in the photo below. Sliding it up stops down the lens, and you then adjust your aperture and shutter to get the needle centered.

Edit: There's a PDF of the manual here: http://www.cameramanuals.org/pentax_pdf/pentax_spotmatic_f.pdf Stop-down metering is described on pages 20 & 21.

timw4mail · 08-23-2017, 11:13 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by g026r

You can leave the lens on "A". On the left side of the camera mount is a black switch — you can see if in the photo below. Sliding it up stops down the lens, and you then adjust your aperture and shutter to get the needle centered.

Edit: There's a PDF of the manual here: http://www.cameramanuals.org/pentax_pdf/pentax_spotmatic_f.pdf Stop-down metering is described on pages 20 & 21.

Ohh, cool. Didn't know they carried the stop-down switch to the F.

**Spodeworld** · 08-24-2017, 05:17 AM - **1 Like**

Same here. So you can stop down in camera. Good to know! Thanks

noblepa · 09-01-2017, 01:51 PM

Originally posted by timw4mail

Ohh, cool. Didn't know they carried the stop-down switch to the F.

Unlike the Spotmatic SP, on the Spotmatic F, that switch ONLY stops the lens down. The meter is on all the time. There is no way to turn the meter off. For that reason, a lens or body cap is imperative when the camera is not in use. Without it, the battery will almost surely be dead the next time you wish to use the camera.

timw4mail · 09-01-2017, 03:22 PM

Originally posted by noblepa

Unlike the Spotmatic SP, on the Spotmatic F, that switch ONLY stops the lens down. The meter is on all the time. There is no way to turn the meter off. For that reason, a lens or body cap is imperative when the camera is not in use. Without it, the battery will almost surely be dead the next time you wish to use the camera.

Yeah, the Spotmatic F and K1000 are annoyingly similar in that regard.

**ChrisPlatt** · 09-03-2017, 03:59 PM

I once had a Super Takumar 55/1.8 lens with "ES" full-aperture coupling mechanism, same as on later SMC Takumars.
It appeared to be factory original, not modified or assembled from spare parts. Perhaps it was a transitional model?

Chris

noblepa · 09-06-2017, 01:18 PM

Originally posted by ChrisPlatt

I once had a Super Takumar 55/1.8 lens with "ES" full-aperture coupling mechanism, same as on later SMC Takumars.
It appeared to be factory original, not modified or assembled from spare parts. Perhaps it was a transitional model?

Chris

There are a few of the later Super Takumars that have the open-aperture couplings for use on the Spotmatic F, ES and ES II. Technically the SMC designation refers to the improved, multi-layer lens coating. It just so happened that the open-aperture metering and the SMC coatings came to market around the same time.

I suspect that the SMC coatings were not quite ready for prime time, when the SP-F was introduced. Rather than wait for the new coatings, Pentax opted to add the coupling to the ST lenses, so they would have something to put on the SP-F. Remember, at the time, Pentax was being widely criticized for sticking with stop-down metering, while most other camera makers had come up with some form of open-aperture metering.

08-22-2017, 06:17 PM	#1
Spodeworld Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: New Joisey Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,370	Super Takumars on Spotmatic F I'm trying to get an understanding of the differences of the various spotmatics but it is confusing. I understand the the Fs allow for open aperture metering as long as you use a Super Multicoated Takumar. What happens/how do you use it if you put a Super Tak on the F? Thanks

08-23-2017, 10:58 AM - 1 Like	#6
g026r Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,074	Originally posted by Spodeworld So, you have to flip the A/M switch on the lens then to meter? You can leave the lens on "A". On the left side of the camera mount is a black switch — you can see it in the photo below. Sliding it up stops down the lens, and you then adjust your aperture and shutter to get the needle centered. Edit: There's a PDF of the manual here: http://www.cameramanuals.org/pentax_pdf/pentax_spotmatic_f.pdf Stop-down metering is described on pages 20 & 21. Last edited by g026r; 08-23-2017 at 12:07 PM.

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08-22-2017, 06:45 PM	#2
timw4mail Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Driving a Mirage Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,670	Originally posted by Spodeworld I'm trying to get an understanding of the differences of the various spotmatics but it is confusing. I understand the the Fs allow for open aperture metering as long as you use a Super Multicoated Takumar. What happens/how do you use it if you put a Super Tak on the F? Thanks I would assume you have to use stop-down metering, like adapting it to the K-mount.

08-22-2017, 07:02 PM	#3
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Originally posted by timw4mail I would assume you have to use stop-down metering, like adapting it to the K-mount. This ^. It works like a Super Takumar on a Spotmatic.

08-23-2017, 05:04 AM	#4
Spodeworld Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: New Joisey Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,370 Original Poster	So, you have to flip the A/M switch on the lens then to meter?

08-23-2017, 06:02 AM	#5
timw4mail Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Driving a Mirage Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,670	Originally posted by Spodeworld So, you have to flip the A/M switch on the lens then to meter? Or just leave it in manual if the light permits.

08-23-2017, 11:13 AM - 1 Like	#7
timw4mail Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Driving a Mirage Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,670	Originally posted by g026r You can leave the lens on "A". On the left side of the camera mount is a black switch — you can see if in the photo below. Sliding it up stops down the lens, and you then adjust your aperture and shutter to get the needle centered. Edit: There's a PDF of the manual here: http://www.cameramanuals.org/pentax_pdf/pentax_spotmatic_f.pdf Stop-down metering is described on pages 20 & 21. Ohh, cool. Didn't know they carried the stop-down switch to the F.

08-24-2017, 05:17 AM - 1 Like	#8
Spodeworld Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: New Joisey Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,370 Original Poster	Same here. So you can stop down in camera. Good to know! Thanks

09-01-2017, 01:51 PM	#9
noblepa Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bay Village, Ohio USA Posts: 1,142	Originally posted by timw4mail Ohh, cool. Didn't know they carried the stop-down switch to the F. Unlike the Spotmatic SP, on the Spotmatic F, that switch ONLY stops the lens down. The meter is on all the time. There is no way to turn the meter off. For that reason, a lens or body cap is imperative when the camera is not in use. Without it, the battery will almost surely be dead the next time you wish to use the camera.

09-01-2017, 03:22 PM	#10
timw4mail Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Driving a Mirage Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,670	Originally posted by noblepa Unlike the Spotmatic SP, on the Spotmatic F, that switch ONLY stops the lens down. The meter is on all the time. There is no way to turn the meter off. For that reason, a lens or body cap is imperative when the camera is not in use. Without it, the battery will almost surely be dead the next time you wish to use the camera. Yeah, the Spotmatic F and K1000 are annoyingly similar in that regard.

09-03-2017, 03:59 PM	#11
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,694	I once had a Super Takumar 55/1.8 lens with "ES" full-aperture coupling mechanism, same as on later SMC Takumars. It appeared to be factory original, not modified or assembled from spare parts. Perhaps it was a transitional model? Chris

09-06-2017, 01:18 PM	#12
noblepa Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bay Village, Ohio USA Posts: 1,142	Originally posted by ChrisPlatt I once had a Super Takumar 55/1.8 lens with "ES" full-aperture coupling mechanism, same as on later SMC Takumars. It appeared to be factory original, not modified or assembled from spare parts. Perhaps it was a transitional model? Chris There are a few of the later Super Takumars that have the open-aperture couplings for use on the Spotmatic F, ES and ES II. Technically the SMC designation refers to the improved, multi-layer lens coating. It just so happened that the open-aperture metering and the SMC coatings came to market around the same time. I suspect that the SMC coatings were not quite ready for prime time, when the SP-F was introduced. Rather than wait for the new coatings, Pentax opted to add the coupling to the ST lenses, so they would have something to put on the SP-F. Remember, at the time, Pentax was being widely criticized for sticking with stop-down metering, while most other camera makers had come up with some form of open-aperture metering.