When choosing a classic SLR, consider the Spotmatic

<p>I shoot, whenever I can, with Leica rangefinders.<br>

When circumstances require a SLR, I use a Leicaflex or Leicaflex SL. IMHO, t'aint nothing, nothing, to compare with a Leicaflex "standard" or "SL" with a Leitz 90mm (Elmarit or Summicron) for street or event photography.<br>

The Nikon F2 hasn't escaped my notice but one must call attention to the limited lifetime of the carbon resistor TTL metering viewfinders. I have a couple of these with wirewound resistor TTL viewfinders and enjoy using them. Presumably. these metering viewfinders will outlast me.<br>

This being said, I've always had a fond spot in my heart for Pentax Spotmatics, this since 1963 (when such cameras were well beyond my means). Since then, I must allow that I've accumulated quite a number of Spotmatics over the years, rarely at more than USD$25/the copy, and only then with a Super Takumar 50mm lens.<br>

When I went through my collection (hoard would be a less kind word) of Spotmatics recently (one Spotmatic F, the others earlier models), it struck me that every one of them worked properly at all shutter speeds. I put the appropriate battery in each and the meters were accurate relative to my Gossen hanheld meter. I could field a softball team with my Spotmatics and expect super results.<br>

I post this message to suggest that perhaps many/some/all of the match needle Spotmatics represent a pinnacle of mechanical film camera design, durability, and longevity.<br>

I invite your comments.</p>

<p>I would tend to agree that the match needle system, as found in Spotmatics, is elegantly simple, and was never truly bettered. I favour (spelled correctly with a "u" - because I'm English) the Spotmatic F, because open aperture metering is a real creature comfort. However, the F is so prone to the dodgy battery contact, and that meter has no off switch, making it a less than perfect camera. For that reason, I don't think the Spotmatics qualify as the pinnacle of anything, especially when you consider that Pentax lagged behind the competition in terms of innovation.</p>

<p>Interesting Wendell, and as a confirmed Pentax fan I will make a comment or two.<br>

When the Spotmatic came out it was never intended to take of the Nikon system, but to occupy a place a bit lower on the ladder rung. Along with the Minolta SRT101, it was a huge seller, and deservedly so. The old slogan, "just hold a Pentax" was a very clever advertising strategy, as they really did feel just "right"<br>

My first "real" camera was a Spotmatic, and I still have a few in my collection, along with most of the lenses made for it. The quality is very evident, and as you say, they all tend to still work. It has been said that the advance mechanism is a bit fragile, but I have never experienced any problems. The CDS meters do expire after a time, with often just one going out. This causes overexposure, but they are easily replaced.<br>

Another thing, the Takumars, along with really great image quality, are still amongst the nicest to focus, very smooth action. The 50mm 1.4, although very common and quite cheap these days, is still my favourite fast lens for 35mm photography.<br>

As for your last paragraph, I don't know if the SP represents a pinnacle,and you will certainly get a heap of arguments over that! What the SP is though is a really competent camera with lovely ergonomics, top class optics, and heaps of feel good factor.</p>

<p>+1 for Spotties</p>

 

<p>As I have said many times before the Spotmatics are not my favorite cameras. I still have a Spotmatic, a Spotmatic II and a Spotmatic F. All need some work. Every time I am about to send one out for an overhaul I wind up getting a K mount Pentax overhauled instead. I actually prefer the metering function of the Mamiya 500 and 1000 DTL cameras because there isn't the clicking sound of re-setting the meter for each shot. There is also the choice of spot or averaging metering with the Mamiyas. I have read that the Spotmatic was originally supposed to have a spot meter but would up with an averaging meter. Any of these metering systems can be used for good results if some care is taken and some compensation is made in difficult light. I think I will get the Spotmatic F worked on first. There is still a chrome Pentax MX and a chrome Pentax KM lying around so who knows what I'll finally do. I just sent out two Minoltas for work earlier this week. The Spotmatics have fairly dim viewfinders and for this reason I find myself using non-Pentax lenses on my screw mount cameras. The 28/3.5 Takumars are fine performers but the 28/2.5 Vivitar Fixed Mount is also a good performer. The 35/3.5 Takumars are excellent but the 35/1.9 Vivitar Fixed Mount is pretty good too. The 105/2.8 Takumars are small, light and sharp so I am not tempted to look for a faster alternative. If I need one I can use my 90/2.5 Tamron SP 52BB. The 135/3.5 Takumars are very sharp and not very heavy. The 135/2.5s are a handfull. The 200/4 Takumars are probably better than the later 200/4 SMC-Ms. I do not have a 50/4 Macro Takumar so I use a 55/2.8 Vivitar or 55/2.8 Soligor Macro. The Vivitar goes to 1:1 without any additional extension. I did have a late 35/2 Takumar briefly but I sent it back because infinity focus was off. Maybe I should have kept it and had it adjusted. I consider my 35/2 SMC-M to be very good. I guess I consider my Takumars suitable for use in good light on a Spotmatic body. I find all versions of the 55/1.8 and 55/2 Takumars to be excellent. Sometimes I use them on other cameras with adapters. The early K mount versions are also excellent. I am somewhat indifferent about the 50/1.4 Takumars. They are quite good but I have so many f/1.4 standard lenses for so many different cameras that it would take a long time to compare them all. A favorite is the 50/1.4 MC Rokkor-X (also marked just MC Rokkor in markets outside of the U.S.). To my eye it is better than the later MD models. I have three or four of these. My first memory of what a Spotmatic camera with a Takumar lens could do was seeing what a friend in High School turned out. He was a perfectionist and made the very most of his outfit. The camera was a Spotmatic II. The lenses were all S-M-C-T: 35/3.5, 50/1.4, 135/3.5 and I think 200/4. He used to call the results "ultrasharp." His 50/1.4 S-M-C-T gave my 57/1.4 Konica Hexanon a run for the money. Back then my other lenses were Vivitars. While I was still in High School these included the 20/3.8, 28/2.5, 35/1.9, 135/2.8 and 200/3.5. I would say they compared favorably with the S-M-C-Ts optically if not mechanically. The S-M-C-Ts were coated a little better and this showed itself in some lighting situations. The finder of my Konica Autoreflex T2 was not much brighter than the one in the Spotmatic II so even when my eyes were much younger, the faster lenses made focusing easier. </p>

When I was 18 in 1968 and looking for my first real camera I narrowed it down to the Spotmatic (don't remember if it was F or II or

whatever) and the SRT-101. Went with the Minolta. Always wondered how it would have been to go with the Spot.

<p>In 1968 the original Spotmatic of 1964 would still have been in production. The SRT-101 was the same as it was in 1966 with the possible exception of some internal parts. The SRT 101 gave you a bayonet mount, full aperture metering, CLC metering and a larger selection of OEM lenses. The SRT 101 would have been a little heavier. Its slower standard lens was the 55/1.7 while the Pentax's slower lens (slower than f/1.4) was the 55/1.8. Both lenses are very good. Pentax's faster lens was a 50/1.4 and Minolta's faster lens was a 58/1.4. In 1968 Minolta introduced the 58/1.2. Pentax's fastest standard lens for the Spotmatic was the 50/1.4. Very few 18 year olds in 1968 could afford an f/1.2 standard lens. Another friend in High School, who would have been 15 nearly got his Konica with the 57/1.7 Hexanon but went for the less expensive 57/1.4 Hexanon. Both original lens systems were very good but not every person that age could afford an OEM lens other than the standard lens. That's where Vivitar, Soligor, Tamron etc. came in. I have many SRT cameras in my collection and I enjoy using them. Today a chrome SRT 201 with a 45/2MD Rokkor-X arrived. It's a late non-CLC model. Tomorrow a black SRT 201 with a 50/2 MD lens is scheduled to arrive. I don't know how many SRTs or SRT 201s that makes but it's a few. It sounds funny to say this but when I started with a Konica in High School I think I spent more time with the other Konica users so we could swap lenses. Maybe the difference from using another make turned out to be social and not photographic. </p>

<p>The earlier spotmatics, with their stop-down metering and screw mount, are a bit slow to use. Their faster lenses are pretty soft wide open, and not as sharp stopped down as their slower lenses. The viewfinder is average. Compared to most other SLR's, the SP is pretty sparse. <br>

<br />A couple of things the spotmatic has going for it. Yes it does fit nicely in the hands and it has a very classy look to it. The lenses are beautifully crafted, small, and they focus very smoothly. The metering circuit works great on modern batteries. And the winder is simply divine.<br>

I have a Spotmatic F. Actually its my 3rd. I keep telling myself that I want a SP outfit, then I get bored and sell them.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Could not afford a Spotmatic, went with a Fujica ST701. Nice camera with a brighter screen than the Spottie and the meter was really quick on responding to light. The f1.8 normal lens was no slouch either. Quality control however, at least on my sample could have been better. The mirror angle had an adjustment and mine was set a bit high rendering a disagreement between screen focus and film plane focus. This really showed up when I used a 200mm lens. It was easy to adjust but I wound up with some fuzzy photos before I caught on what the problem was. Other than that I really liked the camera.</p>

<p>I have a Spotmatic that I bought used along with the 50mm f1.4 Takumar and 28mm f3.5 Takumar. A friend gave me a 135mm f3.5 Takumar as well. Although meter doesn't work, it's still pleasant to use. The SRT series does have a brighter screen, but I still enjoy the Pentax. FWIW, I have a Minolta M42 adapter and find the Pentax M42 lenses easy to use on my Minoltas.</p>

<p>I have a Spotmatic with Super Takumar 50/1.4 and I must say it is a nicely finished machine and small and light and wonderfully simple. In terms of use however I do prefer an open aperture metered camera, so I don't often use it. I really appreciate its size though in comparison to, say, the Nikkormat FT which is a real tank (although beautifully made). The Leicaflex SL is a tank too, but it has the simplicity of the Spotmatic, so that is more successful in my opinion. </p>

<p>Thanks, all, for your comments.<br>

Some discussion regarding the Spotmatic representing a "pinnacle" have centered on the features which the camera offered when it was introduced. This certainly is a legitimate perspective.<br>

My perspective is different, it is that of one (actually, regularly) using this camera in 2015, 50 years after its manufacture.<br>

Since, for me, as I mentioned in my original posting, the Spotmatics have completely retained their (quite attractive) original functionality with working mechanicals, working meters, and optics which are competent even by current standards, I hold that the Spotmatic presents a high standard of design and reliability.<br>

Gentlemen, of course, may differ.</p>

<p>Good light</p>

<p>My two late model Spotmatics - ES and ESII <a href="/classic-cameras-forum/00X86Q">(HERE)</a>, still work like the day they were new. The lenses are just as remarkable in that they are still in beautiful, working condition. My F <a href="/classic-cameras-forum/00WQe9">(HERE)</a> is among the most reliable cameras I've ever owned. Hats off to the Pentax Spotmatics!</p>

<blockquote>

<p>"I invite your comments."</p>

</blockquote>

<p>I started with an SLR camera that had an M42 screw mount and a bayonet mount (Miranda Sensorex). When the camera proved to be unreliable, I got rid of it and replaced it with an Asahi Pentax Spotmatic that used the M42 screw mount and a Nikon F that used a bayonet mount.<br /><br />Today, I still use the Spotmatics and the following three Takumar lenses:<br />a) 50mm f/1.4, <br />b) 28mm f/3.5, and <br />c) 135mm f/3.5<br /><br />Each lens is permanently mounted on a body so I do not waste time changing lenses.<br /><br />I also use a large number of Nikon bodies, lenses, viewfinders, backs, motor drives, view screens, and other accessories. <br /><br />The Spotmatic and Nikon cameras have been meeting my needs for many years.</p>

<p> </div>

<p>My first real camera was the SP500 -- a prudent choice to get a teenager started, I suppose, but hardly what I would have chosen myself. Of course I loved it at the time and have some fond memories, but really, screw-mount lenses and stop-down metering, in 1972? It was a decent basic camera, certainly nothing special in any way. It didn't seem especially robust generally, except in the sense that cameras back then were all much simpler than today, so no idea how it would hold up 40+ years later. I didn't find out; was glad to replace it when I was able to, and wouldn't look back. (Curiously, today I have exactly the camera I wished I had then, a Leicaflex.)</p>

 

<p>As I mentioned in my initial posting, Leicaflexes are (also) my preferred SLRs, and, among them, the Leicaflex "standard" is my favorite. Others in this discussion have expressed a similar preference; these are enlightened gentlemen to the man.<br>

The point which I sought to make in the initial posting was to point out what an attractive bargain a Spotmatic camera can present to a film shooter today. I just recently bought an (additional) first generation Spotmatic, with a 50mm/1.8 Super Takumar, for US$18. The shutter fires properly at all speeds, the viewfinder is clean and clear, the meter works and is in calibration relative to my handheld Gossen, and the lens is clean.and clear. Quite a quality bundle for the price of three rolls of 135-36.<br>

I believe that it follows that if a camera proves to be functional and reliable 50 years after its introduction, the Asahi engineers have produced a pretty slick design.</p>

<p>Good light all-</p>

<p>I like the Spotmatics, and have "collected" just about every model of both the Honeywell and the Asahi. Although all the meters work, I never use them. Rather, I use either Sunny 16 or a heldheld meter, or both.</p>

<p>Why "collect" such "boatanchors?" They are almost as cheap as dirt, and I enjoy giving new life to old things. (Maybe someone will do the same for me some day!)</p>

<p>They are FUN to restore (mirror bumpers and light seals - they haven't needed anything more), fun to use, and pretty to look at! </p>

<p>If you think about the more "transcendental" aspects of old film cameras, that adds another dimension to the care and feeding of the things.</p>

<p>The next time you see one languishing for an asking price of peanuts, please snatch it up - I'm running out of space!</p>

<p>Meter battery placement in the Spotmatic series was poorly thought out. Many bodies now have battery compartment covers frozen in place by corrosion from old batteries. Canon mechanical SLRs were much better in this regard.</p>

<p>We were supposed to look after our batteries, not let them die in place and then complain 2 years later that they have corroded. </p>