Asahi Pentax Spotmatic

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About Asahi Pentax Spotmatic

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The Group:

This is a tribute group to one of most popular and revolutionary reflex film cameras of its time: the original Asahi Pentax Spotmatic (SP)!

In this group you can share your photos "of " the camera or photos "taken with" your Spotmatic (SP).

Although this group this dedicated to first 1964-1967 M42 Spotmatic (SP), we can admit photos of all the later models of the Pentax Spotmatic series (SP II, F, K-1000, etc.). Also we admit " Honeywell Pentax Spotmatic" that was the denomination that the camera received by Honeywell importer for its commercialization in North America.

If you have time here I leave a few readings more….
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Camera:

By its constructive quality, its optics, its design and benefits the Spotmatic was a revolutionary camera in the 60's and still beeing a classic cult camera till now. Spotmatic was released in 1964 and was produced until 1967. Spotmatic was released with the "Trough the lens" (TTL) system with the lens stoped down, so you can measured the light and check the depth of field at the same time. Their lenses Takumar or Super Takumar are excellent, fast and clear. The original optics Takumar is far beyond better lenses that lenses used on most popular actual SRL digital cameras.

Why a tribute?:

When we (me and friends) began taking photos near 1986 we decided to form a photography club during highschool. The club have equipment for black and white film development and some enthusiastic founder donated an old camera: a Asahi Pentax Spotmatic.

This camera was the soul of our photography club since all the members didn't have sufficient money to acquired one (we were very poor students!), so our old Spotmatic passes trough hand by hand photographing all the student life activities and other several cultural events, like mountain climb trips, sports, different cities, etc.

When I left highschool, the camera remained at photography club so the future generations of enthusiastic student photographers can enjoy the art of the photography… nothing of this happend… shortly, after the new authorities of the school arrive, they closed the club and the laboratory for many years...I don't know wath happen to the old Spotmatic….

In all off these years I had several film cameras and digital cameras, until this year (2007) that a friend shows me his old Canon A-1 with works until today. It returned me to the mind the memories from those days of the club in highschool and of the Spotmatic that we use. I went to city downtown searching one for me… I was taking a walk by several warehouses of old cameras and I found a Spotmatic… was like new, It seems that was waiting for me with its new leather case, I buy it and I am using film again… I didn't know how much I've been missing a Spotmatic until I began to use it again… I am happy to have one… is a great camera!.

So this is my session photos of my Spotmatic and I invite you to post that photos "of " (camera porn) or "taken with" your Spotmatic….

For all those Spotmatic fans! …enjoy it!



Especificaciones:

Name: Pentax Spotmatic
Company: Asahi Optical C.O.
Made in: Japón

Year: 1964
Last year: 1967
Single lens Reflex

Mount: Pentax/Praktica (M42) screw mount

Speed: 1 sec ~ 1/1000 y Bulb
Flash syncro: 1/60 sec

Light metering: CdS TTL (with lens stopped down)
EV range: 1.7 ~ 18 (ISO 100)

Connections: Hotshoe, PC

Film /Max. ISO: 135 type / ASA 3200

Battery: 1.3v (PX-400) Mercury battery

http://www.flickr.com/groups/asahipentaxspotmatic/