R1a

Clicker · 03-14-2010, 09:17 AM

Anyone own one in here?

review please

thanks

titrisol · 03-15-2010, 06:30 AM

Never heard of it, until you posted this.
A M42 rangefinder... wonderful!!!

GeneV · 03-15-2010, 07:05 AM

Perhaps my Google skills are lacking, but I still don't know what it is.

irishwhite · 03-15-2010, 08:13 AM

Originally posted by GeneV

Perhaps my Google skills are lacking, but I still don't know what it is.

There's a picture of one about halfway down this page. Found via google only because titrisol mentioned the keyword "rangefinder" which i used in conjunction with R1a in my own google search.

titrisol · 03-15-2010, 01:22 PM

Nice fake, that is a Voigtlander R1a with Pentax brand
If it was made in 1967 it should have the ASAHI name on it... and it would not be a Pentax, since there is no PENTA prism/mirror

**ChrisPlatt** · 03-15-2010, 03:57 PM

User gartmore in the linked thread is being rather tongue-in-cheek; I guess someone has to originate Internet myths.
Read on. He is no doubt creating a picture of his one-off "Pentacord 120" in Photoshop right now.

It is common knowledge that M42 lenses are not compatible with rangefinder cameras.
Good thing too - If they were folks like us could no longer afford them!

Interestingly I remember reading that Pentax does hold some patents for a modern rangefinder camera system.
There was much buzz about this when the "Rangefinder Renaissance" began around 2000.
Sadly they never developed a product for this admittedly niche boutique market.

Chris

Clicker · 03-15-2010, 09:19 PM

lol i was actually being very serious as i have never heard of such a camera in the Pentax line, i came across the very same thread while researching working vintage cameras which i collect so i asked in here and i got my answer. I thought it looked familiar but couldn't quite process what it was ( i collect too much info) till as mentioned.

stevebrot · 03-16-2010, 11:25 AM

Originally posted by titrisol

Nice fake, that is a Voigtlander R1a with Pentax brand
If it was made in 1967 it should have the ASAHI name on it... and it would not be a Pentax, since there is no PENTA prism/mirror

Looks like a Leica M4 to me with Pentax branding courtesy of Photoshop...

Steve

(Voigtlander are much better looking...)

Blue · 03-16-2010, 12:54 PM

The thought anyone believes Asahi Optical ever made a rangefinder of anysort.

PollitowuzHere · 03-16-2010, 04:48 PM

Pentax did make a rangefinder version of the 43mm Limited though.

Blue · 03-16-2010, 05:08 PM

Originally posted by PollitowuzHere

Pentax did make a rangefinder version of the 43mm Limited though.

It included a matching finder but that was a lens and not a body. I have thought about getting that lens a few times and a Voigtlander body to go with it.

Edit: I always fount the 43mm ltd Special ironic considering Pentax started the trend that dethroned the German rangefinders as the driving force behind 135 format. Even Canon and Nikon were mimicking Leica and Contax rangefinders when the AP, S and K hit the shelves. It didn't take them long to ditch the interchangeable lens RF bodies while the Germans were in denial until 1968.

titrisol · 03-17-2010, 12:57 AM

Ironic to a point yes.
But the LTD series are boutique type lens in which the craftmanship that was "standard" in the 70s and 80s became limited in the 90s-00s
So given thal Leica people pay more money for a lens shade that what Iḿ willing to pay for a lens; it is quite logical to attack that group with excellent lenses that can be sold at high prices.

noblepa · 03-22-2010, 07:43 AM

Honeywell, the US importer of Pentax cameras until the k-mounts, DID import a fixed-lens rangefinder camera, but it was not made by Asahi. It had the Honeywell name on it, which leads some to mistakenly think it is a Pentax. I think that it might have been made by Mamiya, but I really don't know.

Blue · 03-22-2010, 09:33 PM

Originally posted by noblepa

Honeywell, the US importer of Pentax cameras until the k-mounts, DID import a fixed-lens rangefinder camera, but it was not made by Asahi. It had the Honeywell name on it, which leads some to mistakenly think it is a Pentax. I think that it might have been made by Mamiya, but I really don't know.

I remember seeing some old Honeywell rangfinders and I recall them being Mamiya-like as well.

03-14-2010, 09:17 AM	#1
Clicker Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,241	R1a Anyone own one in here? review please thanks

03-15-2010, 03:57 PM	#6
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,692	User gartmore in the linked thread is being rather tongue-in-cheek; I guess someone has to originate Internet myths. Read on. He is no doubt creating a picture of his one-off "Pentacord 120" in Photoshop right now. It is common knowledge that M42 lenses are not compatible with rangefinder cameras. Good thing too - If they were folks like us could no longer afford them! Interestingly I remember reading that Pentax does hold some patents for a modern rangefinder camera system. There was much buzz about this when the "Rangefinder Renaissance" began around 2000. Sadly they never developed a product for this admittedly niche boutique market. Chris Last edited by ChrisPlatt; 03-16-2010 at 02:30 PM.

03-16-2010, 11:25 AM	#8
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by titrisol Nice fake, that is a Voigtlander R1a with Pentax brand If it was made in 1967 it should have the ASAHI name on it... and it would not be a Pentax, since there is no PENTA prism/mirror Looks like a Leica M4 to me with Pentax branding courtesy of Photoshop... Steve (Voigtlander are much better looking...) Last edited by stevebrot; 03-16-2010 at 02:43 PM.

03-22-2010, 07:43 AM	#13
noblepa Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bay Village, Ohio USA Posts: 1,142	Honeywell sold a RF Honeywell, the US importer of Pentax cameras until the k-mounts, DID import a fixed-lens rangefinder camera, but it was not made by Asahi. It had the Honeywell name on it, which leads some to mistakenly think it is a Pentax. I think that it might have been made by Mamiya, but I really don't know.

03-15-2010, 06:30 AM	#2
titrisol Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: In the most populated state... state of denial Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,851	Never heard of it, until you posted this. A M42 rangefinder... wonderful!!!

03-15-2010, 07:05 AM	#3
GeneV Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Albuquerque NM Photos: Albums Posts: 9,830	Perhaps my Google skills are lacking, but I still don't know what it is.

03-15-2010, 08:13 AM	#4
irishwhite Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: philadelphia Photos: Gallery Posts: 349	Originally posted by GeneV Perhaps my Google skills are lacking, but I still don't know what it is. There's a picture of one about halfway down this page. Found via google only because titrisol mentioned the keyword "rangefinder" which i used in conjunction with R1a in my own google search.

03-15-2010, 01:22 PM	#5
titrisol Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: In the most populated state... state of denial Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,851	Nice fake, that is a Voigtlander R1a with Pentax brand If it was made in 1967 it should have the ASAHI name on it... and it would not be a Pentax, since there is no PENTA prism/mirror

03-15-2010, 09:19 PM	#7
Clicker Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,241 Original Poster	lol i was actually being very serious as i have never heard of such a camera in the Pentax line, i came across the very same thread while researching working vintage cameras which i collect so i asked in here and i got my answer. I thought it looked familiar but couldn't quite process what it was ( i collect too much info) till as mentioned.

03-16-2010, 12:54 PM	#9
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	The thought anyone believes Asahi Optical ever made a rangefinder of anysort.

03-16-2010, 04:48 PM	#10
PollitowuzHere Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 110	Pentax did make a rangefinder version of the 43mm Limited though.

03-16-2010, 05:08 PM	#11
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Originally posted by PollitowuzHere Pentax did make a rangefinder version of the 43mm Limited though. It included a matching finder but that was a lens and not a body. I have thought about getting that lens a few times and a Voigtlander body to go with it. Edit: I always fount the 43mm ltd Special ironic considering Pentax started the trend that dethroned the German rangefinders as the driving force behind 135 format. Even Canon and Nikon were mimicking Leica and Contax rangefinders when the AP, S and K hit the shelves. It didn't take them long to ditch the interchangeable lens RF bodies while the Germans were in denial until 1968.

03-17-2010, 12:57 AM	#12
titrisol Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: In the most populated state... state of denial Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,851	Ironic to a point yes. But the LTD series are boutique type lens in which the craftmanship that was "standard" in the 70s and 80s became limited in the 90s-00s So given thal Leica people pay more money for a lens shade that what Iḿ willing to pay for a lens; it is quite logical to attack that group with excellent lenses that can be sold at high prices.

03-22-2010, 09:33 PM	#14
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Originally posted by noblepa Honeywell, the US importer of Pentax cameras until the k-mounts, DID import a fixed-lens rangefinder camera, but it was not made by Asahi. It had the Honeywell name on it, which leads some to mistakenly think it is a Pentax. I think that it might have been made by Mamiya, but I really don't know. I remember seeing some old Honeywell rangfinders and I recall them being Mamiya-like as well.

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