Pentax Spotmatic
The Pentax Spotmatic refers to a family of 35mm single-lens reflex cameras manufactured by the Asahi Optical Co. Ltd., later known as Pentax Corporation, between 1964 and 1976.
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| Maker | Asahi Optical CO |
|---|---|
| Type | SLR |
| Image sensor type | film |
| Image sensor size | 24 x 36 mm |
| Film format | 35 mm |
| Lens mount | M42 screw mount |
| Focus | Manual focus |
| Exposure | Manual exposure |
| Flash | FP or X |
| Flash synchronization | 1/60 |
| Shutter | Mechanical |
| Shutter speed range | 1000 - 1 , B |
| ASA/ISO range | 20 - 1600 |
| Film speed detection | No |
| Exposure metering | Average, through the lens (TTL) |
| Viewfinder | pentaprism eye-level viewfinder with a microprism focusing screen |
| Battery | Mallory RM640, but 1.5 V silver oxide batteries can be used |
| Released | 1964 |
| Made in | Japan |
All Pentax Spotmatics used the M42 screw-thread lens mount which was developed before WW2 by Zeiss and Praktica. Asahi Optical used the name Takumar for their lenses. These were high-quality, progressively improved lenses, later versions of which featured multi-coating and were called Super Multi Coated Takumars.
The cameras allowed to focus the lens at maximum aperture to give a bright viewfinder image, then a switch at the side stops the lens down and switches on the metering which can be determined by a needle located on the side of the viewfinder. The use of stop-down light metering was at the time revolutionary, however it limited the capability of the lightmeter specially on low light situations. Later models Spotmatic F, Electro Spotmatic, ES, and ESII were capable of open-aperture metering when used with Super Multi Coated (S-M-C) Takumar lenses with an aperture coupling prong in the lens mount.
Honeywell was the U.S. importer of the Spotmatic. Cameras officially imported by Honeywell were labeled Honeywell Pentax, instead of Asahi Pentax. The Spotmatic IIa was only available as a Honeywell Pentax; it was sold exclusively in the USA and had an electronic interface for specific Honeywell Strobonar electronic flash units.
Contents
History
The original 1964 Spotmatic was one of the first SLRs on the market to offer a through-the-lens (TTL) exposure metering system. The camera was presented as a prototype at photokina 1960, and was originally designed to use spot metering. Shortly before production Asahi decided that spot metering would be too difficult to use, and so the metering system was altered to use average metering. The change took place too close to production to change the name, and so Spotmatic stuck.[1][2][3][4] The camera had a mechanical shutter with speed range from 1000 to 1 and Bulb. The lightmeter is activated by a lever on the side of the camera, which also stopped down the lens. Mercury battery (1.35 V Mallory RM640) was used to power the light metering system; however due to the way the circuit is designed, silver oxide batteries can be used instead.[5]
Model Range and variations
The model range includes the original Spotmatic (SP), which had an accessory "cold" shoe for flash
Two budget models: the SP500 and SP1000 were also available and some features from the original Spotmatic were removed. The fastest shutter speeds were designated by the model number, the SP500 having a top speed of 1/500 s and the SP1000 having a top speed of 1/1000 s. These two models had no self-timer. There was also the Pentax SL, which was identical to the Spotmatic except that it did not have the built-in light meter.
The Spotmatic II (SPII) heralded the arrival of the SMC lenses. Among some improvements were better metering system (Max ASA was increased to 3200) and film transport. A hot shoe for flash was added and the synchronization (FP or X) was placed on a dial switch located below the rewind crank.
Spotmatic IIa was made exclusively for the American market. It was made to couple with the Honeywell Strobonar electronic flashes using an electronic eye that was located at the top-left of the camera.
In 1971 the Electro-Spotmatic was the first aperture-priority, electronic, automatic SLR but was only sold in Japan.[6] It success was followed by the ES sold internationally from 1972. The ES had standardized and improved circuitry that addressed reliability issues in the original version.[7] Two years later it was followed by the ES II. Special models could be special ordered with accessories such as Motor Drive, Data Back, etc.
In 1973 the Spotmatic F joined the line. This camera, together with a revamped line of Super Multi Coated (S-M-C) Takumar had the capability of metering without stopping the lens down.
Legacy
The Pentax Spotmatic chassis was the basis for the Pentax K2, KX, KM and K1000 models with bayonet mount.
Noted users
Noted users of the Pentax Spotmatic include the American poet and photographer Ira Cohen.[8]
References
- ↑ Classic Cameras – Pentax Spotmatic
- ↑ http://www.photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/index-frameset.html?AsahiPentaxSpotmatic.html~mainFrame
- ↑ http://www.camerarepair.com/Used-Cameras/Pentax-SM-C210/Bodies-C212/Asahi-Pentax-Spotmatic-SP-Honeywell-Pentax-Spotmatic-P122/
- ↑ http://www.aohc.it/selart16e.htm
- ↑ http://www.pentax-manuals.com/markroberts/nat_cam_spii.pdf
- ↑ AOHC
- ↑ Cecchi 1990, Asahi Pentax and Pentax SLR 35 mm Cameras 1952–1989, Hove Collectors Books
- ↑ The Guardian, 13 May 2011
- The Asahi Pentax Way, Herbert Keppler. 11ed 1979. Focal Press.
- Asahi Pentax and Pentax SLR 35mm Cameras 1952-1989, Danilo Cecchi. 2006. MBI Publishing Company.
External links
Media related to Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. at Wikimedia Commons
- Asahi Optical Historical Club
- Spotmatic info
- Spotmatic SP II info
- Spotmatic SP 500 info
- Pentax Spotmatic, Takumar Info, Manuals and Photos
- Spotmatic Family of Cameras Feature Guide
- All Pentax Spotmatic since 1964 and The largest database of M42 mount Pentax compatible (more than 5000 models) PhotoPentax.com
- National Camera Technical Training SPII service manual
