twoliver Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 A couple of months ago I happened upon a Pentax 35mm SLR at a yard sale. Being a sucker for old cameras, especially when the price is right, I snatched it up. I was familiar with the Spotmatic name, and knew it was a well-made classic but wasn't familiar with the various models. Turns out I purchased the first Spotmatic introduced back in 1964, which according to many articles I've read, was the first SLR with TTL metering. The meter still happens to be accurate after 40 years. I bought it from the original owner who had it in storage for a while. Came with two extra lenses and three extra mercury batteries still in their original packaging. I've read some good things about the Super-Takumar 50/1.4 M42 lens and was very satisfied with the results from the Ilford HP5+ I just ran through it. Although some of the images were a bit grainy, due to the HP5, they are quite sharp. The scans don't do them justice. This camera has a comfortable feel to it, and I can see why it still has a following. It's nice to stumble across a classic camera, even better when it has some additional historical significance.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twoliver Posted January 12, 2005 Author Share Posted January 12, 2005 Another shot using the Super-Takumar 50/1.4 lens.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twoliver Posted January 12, 2005 Author Share Posted January 12, 2005 These scans didn't turn out as good as I had hoped. The 8x10 glossy prints are very detailed and the tree branches quite sharp. The scan distorted this a little. Will have to go back and see if I can correct.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cenelsonfoto Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 Very nicely composed, nonetheless. Yer making my spendin' finger all itchy and chit. While not a Spottie, the place I found my Bull's-Eye has a cherry (or sure looks cherry) Minolta XG1 for $35, big, bad, beautiful Rokkor lens on it with glass that sucks you in like a crystal ball. Drooool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirk_teetzel Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 CE, get it; you won't be disappointed. I had an XG-1 and loved it. $35 is a good price too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cenelsonfoto Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 Oh man, now you've gone and done it! I'm sweating now thinking about that camera. It is a lovely little device. My lab guys have cautioned - "Very expensive to repair!" I figure, for $35 I can play around, and SHOULD it break, I can sell the glass (that would give me two short Rokkor lenses) for what I sunk into the camera. Hmmmmm..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randyjay Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 The Spotmatic is a very nice camera, as is the Pentax SP-F, I have both in my collection. As for the XG1, mine has film in it a lot. The XG Series by Minolta is one of my favorites, I have the XG1, XG1n, XG2, XG-SE, XG7, and the XG9. The XG9 has DOF Preview.<p>Randy Jay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_accetta Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 Very nice shots from the Spotmatic. I'm curious -- what type of meter does your Spotmatic use? Selemium? I've read that those meters last a long, long time. Not to draw attention away from the wonderful photos above, but my .02 about the Minolta XG-1: for $35 you CANNOT go wrong. As an avid Minolta collector and user I was thrilled last year to stumble upon an XG-9 for $36. Combined with a used Rokkor MD 50mm f/1.7 (another $22) I got a nice available light camera for under $60. I replaced the light seals myself (another $10) and have been happily shooting with it ever since. You'll be kicking yourself if you don't drop that $35. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_accetta Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 Ooops...that's "selenium" meter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gene m Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 The last shot is a real gem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twoliver Posted January 12, 2005 Author Share Posted January 12, 2005 Chris the Pentax Spotmatic features CdS-cell center weighted TTL metering. When I was inspecting the camera I was happy to see that the meter responded. It wasn't until I got it home and was able to test it against my hand-held meter that I discovered it was pretty much 'spot' on, pardon the pun. CE, get the Minolta. 35 bucks is a good value and your addiction will be fed. Cheaper than Heroin, or so I'm told(?) I too prefer the Minolta brand for SLR shooting, eventhough that has now expanded to include Pentax. You can't beat the quality to price ratio. I'm a poor man's collector/shooter and will probably never own a Nikon or Hassey, although I may start saving for a Rollei. Minolta never disappoints. I have a couple of Maxxums and some old rangefinders, but my best Minolta find was an SRT 202 (1975.) Found this gem, early last year, on a Goodwill shelf mixed in with a bunch of junk. Someone mismarked it as $1.99 and since it happened to be a half-price day, I got it for one buck. Couldn't believe it. Had the wonderful 50/1.7 Rokker, and aside from a non-functioning meter the camera is in perfect condition. Looks new. Proof miracles do happen... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
titrisol Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 TW, the spotmatics are great cameras!can;t go wrong with those. The CdS cell last for a very very long time. If you need the manuls ou'll find those at http://www.pentax-manuals.com/ Also if you need repairs look for pentaxrepairs in eBay. Highly reccomended. Does your 50/1.4 lens looks yellowish?If it does a little UV light will bring it back to clear. Take the caps off, wrap some aluminum foil in the "rear" element and put the lens in a window sill for a few days. It clears pretty fast Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben z Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 I've got 3 Spotmatics (one original, two SPIIs) that I've had and used since new. The SMC Takumar lenses are spectacular. I've recently been using a Leica SLR outfit and the comparable lenses are no better, and in some cases flare much more, than those Takumars. BTW, the Spotmatics do not require Mercury batteries. They are one of the few cameras with built-in regulator circuitry. A 1.5v silver watch battery, if it fits the compartment, will run the meter accurately. Sadly I can no longer focus mine and diopters aren't an option. So I will probably be selling them soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
titrisol Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 Batteries: yes it's true a 385 battery is satisfactory and last for a long time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CosteaM Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 I also received my first Spotmatic SP with a Super-Takumar 1.4/50mm couple of days ago (bought from Ebay) except mine has no battery and cannot check the meter plus the lens is yellow as mentioned by Pablo. Kind of dissapointing but I'm a camera freak and will go on i.e. try to cure the lens with the UV treatment and buy some silver batteries (385)as indicated by Ben. I'm encouraged by the pictures posted above, really nice performance. In the meantime I'm going to shoot using my Carl Zeiss Tessar 2.8/ 50mm. It should work well. I thank you all for your comments, it helped me as well. Happy shooting, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
titrisol Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 re: Yellow 50/1.4 If you are shooting black and white, use it. It will increase the contrast a bit and be as sharp as it should be. re: batteries Join the spotmatic group @yahoo, there are lots of data there, including batteries that work, how to make adaptors, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Farrell Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 The spotmatic has a bridge type metering circuit, which is not dependent on battery voltage. Any cell which fits the battery chamber can be used. The only adapter necessary is packing, to centre the cell in the chamber. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dean_williams Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 Glad to hear you've joined the Spotmatic "congregation", TW. I love mine, though over the years it's aquired many battle scars. It's a tank though, and keeps on going. Every once in a while one of those dreadful "If you could have only one camera" threads comes up. My eyes water, smoke comes out of my ears, my head hurts, and then the answer comes to me. It's always the Spottie. Put the f1.4 Super Tak on it and make like a photographer. It's a natural. Nice work BTW. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harris_goldstein Posted January 14, 2005 Share Posted January 14, 2005 I use a 312 zinc air hearing aid battery with a neopreme ring around it (to fit the battery compartment). Has proper voltage and discharge curve. Doesn't last long but they are cheap. There is a simplicity about using these cameras that is refreshing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jan_olof_olsson Posted January 17, 2005 Share Posted January 17, 2005 Hello! I bought my first Spotmatic new in 1965 complete with a Super-Takumar 1,4/50 mm. The coating of this lens was yellowish from the very beginning and should so be. Test your lenses with film first and before any UV-light cure. Jan-Olof Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jan_olof_olsson Posted January 18, 2005 Share Posted January 18, 2005 Hello again! As to the Super-Takumar 1,4/50. Have you noticed that the back lens protrudes from the barrel at infinity. Don?t use this lens with Pentax SV, S1a or elder models as the mirror can damage the lens. And when putting the lens down, put it with the backlens up. Jan-Olof Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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