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Pentax Spotmatic--I'm Afraid I've Been Seduced...Again!


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<p>I have read about the Spotmatic a lot and have seen zillions of pictures of it, but I've never used one until now. I just got a near-mint one complete with the original case, also in superb condition, and a Super Takumar 50/1.4 lens (yes, it is yellowed but that shouldn't affect b&w shots, should it? Anyway, I'm watching a very clean and clear SMC Takumar 50/1.4 at present). The camera is a very straightforward design with no frills and no extraneous controls or gadgets, and the body is fairly compact. As simple and unexciting as this all sounds ( I know many of you have used and still use this camera) I think it's absolutely <em>beautiful</em> and intoxicating to hold and use. As I said in another post, my Yashica TL-Super is almost a Spotmatic clone, but as nice as that camera is it doesn't seem to have the same elegance that this Spotmatic does. Not too long ago, maybe a couple of months or so, a friend of mine let me borrow his K1000 for an indefinite period of time as exchange for replacing the mirror damper and seals. I was struck by how much I like the shape and feel of it, even though I always considered it a stripped-down student camera. I've read where a lot of people consider it to be a form of an updated Spotmatic. I really enjoy using it as well and can see the similarities, but this Spotmatic has smitten me badly and I'm a little concerned. Has this camera affected any of you this way? What are your thoughts, experiences, tips? I think I may need an intervention quickly!</p>
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<p>Run a roll of slide film through it to test the metering, and have fun. Placing the lens where it gets strong direct sunlight might blast some of the yellowing out of it. The K1000 is very close to being a Spotmatic F with a nayonet instead of an M42 mount.</p>
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<p>I just bought a big box of stuff yesterday (three flashes, a bunch of filters, a couple of flash brackets and a really big Vivitar zoom lens in M42 mount). But the main reason I bought it was that it had a nearly pristine Spotmatic (circa 1970) with the 55mm f1.8 Super Takumar and the camera case. Even the mirror foam and light seals are in excellent shape. The only issue -- a minor one -- is that the battery cover has the usual "crimped" edges from over-tightening and using a wrong-size coin. I'll be posting an ad later today for the zoom, by the way, and maybe some of the other stuff. I'm keeping the Spotmatic. Let's compare! Post a picture and I'll do the same.</p>

<p>As far as the "yellowed" lens goes, is that the natural color of the coating or are you talking about the radioactive lens? If its the latter, just remove it from the body and leave the lens with the glass facing direct sunlight for an hour or two. It'll clear up.</p>

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<p>I have had a strong attraction for M42 cameras every since my first Heiland Pentax H2 and Praktica FX bought as a backup.<br>

If you are digitizing your negatives, just ignore the yellow cast, although there are various solutions to that*</p>

<p>-<br>

______<br>

* although sorely tempted, I won't post that <em>one solution</em> again, much as I love it.</p>

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<p>Andy,</p>

<p>If you are going to replace that Super Takumar lens on the Spotmatic, I strongly recommend you try to find a Super-Multi-Coated Takumar lens. There is a huge difference in light transmission ability and color rendition. SMC Takumars were sold with Spotmatic II, Spotmatic IIa, ES and ES II cameras. I believe they may also have been packaged with promotional models SP1000 and SP500 as well.</p>

<p>Will</p>

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<p>Oh Andy,</p>

<p>You have opened a can of worms. I have three Spotmatics. You are correct, there are no frills with these cameras, but that is what makes them attractive. </p>

<p>My biggest pet peeve is the dim viewfinder. At times the dim viewfinders can make focusing under low light situations difficult, but the results off set my minor frustration. Under certain conditions I give up focusing through the viewfinder and use the distance scale/depth of field scale on the lens.</p>

<p>My GAS problem is not collecting the Pentax camera bodies, but the Takumar lenses. I am always on the prowl for M42 lenses. Why? Becuase focusing is always smooth and they feel solid. Lenses are, on the whole, fantasic performers and under appreicated. Prices vary... Good performers at inexpensive prices are the 28mm f3.5, 35mm f3.5, 55mm f1.8, 135mm f3.5.</p>

<p>I know you are watching a 50mm f1.4, but consider a 55mm f1.8 for a fraction of the cost. I think they perform just was well at the 50mm. Do as Daniel suggested put the yellowed lenses out in the sunlight to see if you can correct the problem.</p>

<p>The M42 mount opens a world of camera bodies to collect. Besides my Spotmatics, I have 2 Prakticas and a Fujica ST601. In addition, with the right adapter you can use the lenses on Pentax K-mounts, Canon (FD and EOS), Konica, Olympus etc. The possibilities are endless.</p>

<p>Have fun!</p>

<p>Mike</p>

<p> </p>

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<p>Yes, you will enjoy the Spotmatic. I have one with an inoperative meter with the 50mm f1.4 Takumar. I just use the sunny 16 rule and shoot either color print or black & white film and all is good. I don't have any other Takumars presently, although I do have an M42 Adaptall mount so I can use my Tamron lenses on it. I do miss having a split image like I do in my Minoltas (SRT 201, XE-5, XD-5, X-700, and XG-9), but not a big deal. My other two SRTs (a 101 and a 100) don't have it either so I just use a little extra care with those cameras. With the f1.4 lens the image is pretty easy to focus.</p>

 

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<p>Congratulations - in good working order the Spotmatics I, II & F are delightful cameras. As for tips: the metering pattern is quite wide, which may lead to exposure problems with bright skies and dark(er) foregrounds. Hence, metering off a neutral/average scene (etc) may help significantly, especially for transparencies. A separate incident meter can often do a better job tho'.</p>

<p>My own experience shows that "yellowed" (thoriated) lenses (notably 50mm f1.4 & 35mm f2) need <em>significantly </em> more than a few hours exposure to normal sunlight (UV) in order to mitigate the colour cast. The quickest solution for <em>lightly </em> discoloured lenses and colour film is a pale blue filter (usually works even for slides).</p>

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<p>Having used a couple of other Spotmatics with working meters, I agree with Alan. You do have to watch bright skies. No CLC here (us Minolta enthusiasts know about this). Yeah, the meter is more of an average than spot, but I guess calling the camera an 'Averagematic' wouldn't sound right, where as 'Spotmatic' just sounds better.<br />FWIW, even some later center-weighted meters don't handle bright skies like they should. Fortunately, with manual metering cameras like the Spotmatic it's easy to simply take a meter reading that doesn't include the sky, set the exposure, and recompose.<br />Don't forget to post some pics.<br>

(I was tempted to post a few from my Spotmatic, but I don't want to "hijack" Andy's thread.)</p>

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<p>I know what you mean about being seduced, I just bought another MC Rokkor lens for my newest aquisition, the Minolta SRT 101. I have to stop this madness, It takes forever to finish a roll of film because I never feel like using the same camera twice in a row.</p>
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<p>Thanks, Andy. If you can, hold out for the f1.4. With the Spotmatic you need all the brightness you can get for focusing. Reading and responding to this thread reminds me that I need to continue looking for some more Takumar glass. Definitely a 28mm f3.5 and (if I can talk my neighbor into selling) a 105mm f2.8.</p>
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<p>The Pentax Spotmatic F was my first SLR so it holds a special place. The meter died but it still otherwise worked great and it felt well made and solid. After getting my first Canon FTbn, the Spotty went away. I can't say I've regretted it. I still have some M42 gear and the screw mount is wonderfully simple and sturdy but I no longer have the patience to deal with it on a day-to-day basis. The Super Tak normal lens will clear up in a couple of week in the sun depending how yellow it is. Or leave it yellowed for some extra pop in your B&W's. While not as contrasty as the SMC's they are very sharp, fairly warm rendering with the smoothest bokeh ever! Must use a good hood, natch. I still have mine and use it mostly with an adapter on my digital cameras. Other good m42 lenses are from Zeiss, Pentacon, Meyer, Mamyia-Sekor, Yashinon DS-M, Fujinon, Rikenon and, oddly, Sears. The last five were all made by Tomioka. There are even good Vivitars Series 1 lenses available in M42. I haven't tried the Russian optics but I read good things about the price/performance of those Zeiss copies. The Spotmatic, in it's many forms, is a solid platform in which to experiment with this smorgasbord of good lenses. Good luck with your Pentax M42 adventures and post a few pics when you can.</p>
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<p>Few cameras feel so nice in the hand as a Spotmatic. And they are very capable.<br>

I have found that putting in a silver 394 1.5v battery works very well and gives readings the same as my Canon T90.<br>

Good luck and show us some photos.</p>

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<p>I definitely have a soft spot in my head for the Spotmatic. It was the first 35mm SLR I ever handled, as a kid in the late 1960s. At the time it was a popular choice among pros as an affordable alternative to the Nikon F. One of the pros my stepfather hired to shoot stills on movie productions used the Spotmatic, and the fellow was a generous and patient mentor who taught me the basics of exposure and composition. I still have a few prints around here somewhere from photos taken with that camera.</p>

<p>In 1970, when I bought my first SLR, I bought a Miranda Sensorex. A friend bought the Spotmatic. I think he made the wiser choice. My dad also had a Spotmatic, and I still have some Kodachromes from his travels to Mexico and elsewhere during the '60s.</p>

<p>To this day I can't pass by a Spotmatic without fondling it. There must be dozens of Spotmatics in Fort Worth with my paw prints all over 'em.</p>

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<p>Andy, I love my spottie -- a black Spotmatic F that I got from my dad, who got it from a photojournalist who used it in Vietnam.<br>

After having used it with a Super-Tak (non-SMC, stop down metering) I have since put an SMC 55/1.8 on it. I don't notice that the pictures are any better (I loved the look of the Super Tak.) But having open-aperture metering is a nice modern convenience.<br>

My spottie is definitely a "user" camera. I rarely think of it as a classic -- it's a reliable workhorse. It had a flaky battery connection, which I managed to patch up myself. Otherwise, it has never given a lick of trouble.<br>

Here's a few shots from my last roll with that camera and lens.</p><div>00TezM-144403584.JPG.f804882b055e9c24df1c6be235cd927d.JPG</div>

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