Vintage Eye Candy - 1958 Pentax "K"

woof · 06-20-2008, 08:32 PM

We were talking in another thread about some vintage Pentax cameras... the 1958 Asahi Pentax "K" to be precise - so I thought I'd post some comments and photos of my "K".

I love this camera. However, my daily user for cameras in this era is a slightly older Asahi Pentax "AP" - from 1957. I'll cover that in a subsequent thread.

The 1957 "AP" and 1958 "K" are basically the same camera in terms of the body (the K has standard shutter speeds 125 instead of 100, 250 instead of 200). However, the Auto-Takumar on the K, together with the ability to use the semi-auto/auto diaphragm adds an interesting step in the technology, and is the chief differentiator.

Again, the standard lens for this camera is an Auto-Takumar 55mm f/1.8 "Zebra". This lens was the fore-runner of a later Auto-Takumar 55mm f/1.8 that was itself essentially the earliest of the Super Takumar line. So, in essence this design was the grand-daddy of the design that lasted to about 1976 with very little change.

The Zebra lens sure is just about the prettiest lens of this era. You can always tell a K from across the room when it has the Zebra lens on.

woof!

straightshooter · 06-20-2008, 10:13 PM

Thank you for sharing. Those are both beautiful!!!!!!!

CW

Peter Zack · 06-20-2008, 10:22 PM

Beautiful Woof. You've treated the old gal well. Gotta love those old Pentax bodies and a lens that has DOF/hyperfocal distance scales

lithos · 06-21-2008, 01:23 AM

Didn't CZJ and a bunch of other East German manufacturers make zebras as well?

ftpaddict · 06-21-2008, 03:03 AM

Originally posted by lithos

Didn't CZJ and a bunch of other East German manufacturers make zebras as well?

Definitely. There was quite a trend a while back; right after chromed lenses.

Nesster · 06-21-2008, 04:10 AM

Thank you for both the gorgeous camera photos and the history. I'm looking forward to the AP as we were born the same year.

cupic · 06-21-2008, 06:36 AM

A prim and proper camera

Nicely kept

cheers

woof · 06-21-2008, 08:24 AM

Originally posted by cupic

A prim and proper camera

Funny you say that. If I was going to Ascot, this is the camera I would take. Heh.

And ftpaddict, yes, the Germans did make a bunch of Zebras. My current favorite is a 1959 Isco Gottingen Tele Westanar 135mm F3.5. See: Digital Photo Of The Day :: View topic - Isco Gottingen Tele Westanar 135mm F3.5

I have a couple Isco Gottingen and all are really superb lenses. Dad was a photojournalist in the late 50's and his opinion was that there was no better glass than German glass during that period.

straightshooter, I have to make a couple of those tag line images. Nice.

woof!

christinelandon · 06-21-2008, 03:00 PM

Just lovely, Woof. Both of them.

Brings to mind Peter Seller's line (as Group Captain Mandrake in Dr. Strangelove summing up his experience as a POW of the Japanese in WWII): "Strange thing is they make such bloody good cameras."

06-20-2008, 08:32 PM	#1
woof Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: In the present Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,870	Vintage Eye Candy - 1958 Pentax "K" We were talking in another thread about some vintage Pentax cameras... the 1958 Asahi Pentax "K" to be precise - so I thought I'd post some comments and photos of my "K". I love this camera. However, my daily user for cameras in this era is a slightly older Asahi Pentax "AP" - from 1957. I'll cover that in a subsequent thread. The 1957 "AP" and 1958 "K" are basically the same camera in terms of the body (the K has standard shutter speeds 125 instead of 100, 250 instead of 200). However, the Auto-Takumar on the K, together with the ability to use the semi-auto/auto diaphragm adds an interesting step in the technology, and is the chief differentiator. Again, the standard lens for this camera is an Auto-Takumar 55mm f/1.8 "Zebra". This lens was the fore-runner of a later Auto-Takumar 55mm f/1.8 that was itself essentially the earliest of the Super Takumar line. So, in essence this design was the grand-daddy of the design that lasted to about 1976 with very little change. The Zebra lens sure is just about the prettiest lens of this era. You can always tell a K from across the room when it has the Zebra lens on. woof!

06-21-2008, 08:24 AM	#8
woof Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: In the present Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,870 Original Poster	Originally posted by cupic A prim and proper camera Funny you say that. If I was going to Ascot, this is the camera I would take. Heh. And ftpaddict, yes, the Germans did make a bunch of Zebras. My current favorite is a 1959 Isco Gottingen Tele Westanar 135mm F3.5. See: Digital Photo Of The Day :: View topic - Isco Gottingen Tele Westanar 135mm F3.5 I have a couple Isco Gottingen and all are really superb lenses. Dad was a photojournalist in the late 50's and his opinion was that there was no better glass than German glass during that period. straightshooter, I have to make a couple of those tag line images. Nice. woof! Last edited by woof; 06-21-2008 at 04:04 PM.

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06-20-2008, 10:13 PM	#2
straightshooter Inactive Account Join Date: May 2008 Location: Forest Park, Georgia/Jacksonville, Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 633	Thank you for sharing. Those are both beautiful!!!!!!! CW

06-20-2008, 10:22 PM	#3
Peter Zack Pentaxian Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2007 Location: Edmonton Alberta, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 10,643	Beautiful Woof. You've treated the old gal well. Gotta love those old Pentax bodies and a lens that has DOF/hyperfocal distance scales

06-21-2008, 01:23 AM	#4
lithos Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Brisbane, QLD, AUS Posts: 3,261	Didn't CZJ and a bunch of other East German manufacturers make zebras as well?

06-21-2008, 03:03 AM	#5
ftpaddict Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Yurp Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,666	Originally posted by lithos Didn't CZJ and a bunch of other East German manufacturers make zebras as well? Definitely. There was quite a trend a while back; right after chromed lenses.

06-21-2008, 04:10 AM	#6
Nesster Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 13,072	Thank you for both the gorgeous camera photos and the history. I'm looking forward to the AP as we were born the same year.

06-21-2008, 06:36 AM	#7
cupic Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Australia-NSW Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,824	A prim and proper camera Nicely kept cheers

06-21-2008, 03:00 PM	#9
christinelandon Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Seattle, Washington, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 812	Just lovely, Woof. Both of them. Brings to mind Peter Seller's line (as Group Captain Mandrake in Dr. Strangelove summing up his experience as a POW of the Japanese in WWII): "Strange thing is they make such bloody good cameras."