[zac1121]

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i just got a sp500 with a Auto-Takumar 35mm 1:3.5 and a 2x tele converter this is my first real SLR so was wondering what other acessorys u would recomend

[Nesster]

Damn, talk about starting at the TOP OF THE HEAP!!!

The SP500 (and SP1000) are my favorite Spotties, I like the lack of self timer...
And that 35mm is I feel one of the best Takumars made.

Depending on what sort of shooting you like, here are a few bits I find useful:

- M42 extension tubes, you should be able to get a set for about $15. Takumars make for good macro lenses with a tube or two.

- a 55/1.8 lens. You can use one of these with the teleconverter, or of course on their own. Cheap and excellent.

- A cable release. In available darkness, you can put your camera on something and use the cable release. You can get a cheap self timer gadget for the cable release. You can get a cheap gorillapod/tripod/something.

- A red filter, or yellow-green, 49mm, for b&w shooting, to accentuate the clouds. And/or a polarizer - don't bother paying for a circular polarizer, the Spottie works well with the old linear one. Only thing, your 35mm lens will get dark with any dark filter on it...

- Oh yea, a lens shade for the 35. Mine came with a standard Vivitar rubber collapsible thing, which vignettes just a tad on 35mm film... so you'd be better off looking for a hood that works with the 35mm focal length.

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But really, all the above is strictly optional. Just get some film and enjoy!

Congratulations, and welcome to the club.

[pentkon52]

i just got a sp500 with a Auto-Takumar 35mm 1:3.5 and a 2x tele converter this is my first real SLR so was wondering what other acessorys u would recomend

Still have my SP500 i bought in 1971. Still works fine, but not the meter. No biggy, i have hand held ones.

My favorite lens was the 105 f 2.8.

Great quality and a good portrait lens.

Not sure how scarce they are,.

I'm keeping mine.:-)

Dave

[titrisol]

Try getting some Super-Multi_Coated takumars for your cameta
a 55/1.8 or a 50/1.4for normals
a 135 for small tele
A polarizer filter is good all aorund
A flash is always a good thign to have, I have had Sunpaks and Vivitars that performed perfectly.

Other accesoriues depend onwhat you want to do with it
MACRO?
- Extension tubes or the Helicoid extension tube
- Macro lenses
- Reversing ring

BW?
- Red, Yellow filters
- A developing tank and reels

LANDSCAPE?
- Graduated filters
- A 24 or 28mm lens

PORTRAITS?
- A 85 or 105 lens
- Soft filters

and the list goes on and on!

i just got a sp500 with a Auto-Takumar 35mm 1:3.5 and a 2x tele converter this is my first real SLR so was wondering what other acessorys u would recomend

[Kerrowdown]

Welcome to the slippery slope, its sounds like your into LBA already, enjoy your photography.

[zac1121]

what kinda battery works for this body ? also thanks for the advice im looking at 55mm lens on ebay havent bid on anything yet its kinda funny how they seem cheaper with a body attached to them so who knows i might end up with another body

[WJW]

what kinda battery works for this body ? also thanks for the advice im looking at 55mm lens on ebay havent bid on anything yet its kinda funny how they seem cheaper with a body attached to them so who knows i might end up with another body

The original was a **400PX mercury cell and is no longer available. You have several options:

Use a separate hand meter

Use the Zinc-Air replacements (Wein) at around $9 each. Most closely matches the voltage of the old cell but very short lived

Use a Silver Oxide (S400PX) that is cheaper, slightly off voltage, but last much longer.

[zac1121]

Honeywell Pentax SP 1000 35mm SLR w/4 Lenses - eBay (item 290275042459 end time Nov-20-08 08:29:20 PST)


thinking of bidding on that what do u guys think

[WJW]

thinking of bidding on that what do u guys think

If the lenses are in good condition, that is not a bad deal. The Super Tak is well known. The Sears 55mm (AKA Ricoh) was a version of the Tomioka 55mm f/1.4 and is an excellent lens. The Vivitars are probably the early '70's consumer lenses and are just OK.

[zac1121]

If the lenses are in good condition, that is not a bad deal. The Super Tak is well known. The Sears 55mm (AKA Ricoh) was a version of the Tomioka 55mm f/1.4 and is an excellent lens. The Vivitars are probably the early '70's consumer lenses and are just OK.

yeah was in it for the tak and the body if i get another useable lens its a plus. ill check it in the morning when its about to end and see the price

[titrisol]

You can use any battery that will fit in the chamber, the spotamtics are not to fuzzy about voltage
I prefer Silver batteries since they last longer, but alkalines do ok as well.

The camera+lenses looks a decent deal, the vivitar are not bad at all (the 28/2.8 can be good) and will give you some flexibility
The 55/1.4 is an OK lens. Sears branded lenses were Sekor or Tomiokas and generally sell for peanuts.

[Nesster]

I bought a bunch of S400PX's fairly cheap a year ago, they should last me a while, even if I accumulate more bodies. Titrisol is correct, one of the great things about these spotties is the meter bridge circuit.

That there camera is a great deal: the 55mm is the excellent Tomioka, and the Vivitars are nothing to sneeze at - they have different strenghts than Takumars.

[titrisol]

Do not forget to get a manual of your camera here:
Pentax Manuals

or even better "The asahi pentax way" by Herbert Keppler

[noblepa]

One "trick" with the SP500 that you may not be aware of is that there is another position on the shutter speed dial, above 1/500. On the SP1000, this is the 1/1000 second shutter speed. The SP500 dial is marked only to 500, but the 1/1000 position is still there.

It is my understanding that the SP500 and SP1000 are actually identical, except for the dial. The 1/1000 second speed is not marked on the SP500 and they didn't bother to calibrate it at the factory. Furthermore, back when they still did service on the SP500, they wouldn't entertain complaints that the 1/1000 speed was not accurate.

So, if you find that you need a fast shutter speed, try that extra position. It may not be accurate, but it is there. If you're using print film, either color or B & W, you probably have enough latitude to compensate for any inaccuracy of the shutter speed.

Paul Noble

[zac1121]

nvm the film advance lever was a littl e stuck i got it