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Pentax Spotmatic

When I was working at Verizon I met a friend from Dallas, Texas. One day he brought his Nikon FM-2 (I believe this is the model), and we spoke of photography. I realized that day that I hadn’t used an SLR since my senior year in high school, I had never thought I would have stopped. This was the day I decided that I would find an SLR for my own and re-take up photography. When I was in high school I used my dad’s Pentax ME. It was a great camera, and is still considered a good camera today. When I set out looking for the perfect camera I read about all the late model Pentax cameras, I knew I wanted a Pentax to keep the tradition in my family going (my mom shoots a Pentax K-1000).


Pentax Spotmatic SP

I found my first Spotmatic body on eBay after a few failed bids. The body I ended up with turned out to be a gem. Flawless, even the minor surface scrapes and brassing make it perfect. I know nothing of its past, the person who sold it to me knows nothing about it, all I know is that over the past four years I have developed a grand relationship with this camera. I have added a plethora of lenses to its capabilities, as well as a flash, which I have used once.


Takumar M42 Screw Mount Lenses

The Pentax Spotmatic Rig

Bases:

  • Asahi Pentax Spotmatic SP - Serial#2535687
  • Honeywell Pentax Spotmatic - Serial#2570811 (needs to be serviced)

Lenses:

  • Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 1:3.5/28mm - Serial#8335816
  • SMC TAKUMAR 1:1.4/50mm - Serial#6698517
  • Super-Takumar 1:1.4/50mm - Serial#1310955
  • Super-Takumar 1:1.4/50mm - Serial#2960195
  • Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 1:3.5/135mm - Serial#5906004
  • Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 1:4/200mm - Serial#4600657
  • Tele-Takumar 1:6.3/300mm - Serial#2767768

Flash:

  • Vivitar 283 Flash

I have traveled with this camera to the Gorge Amphitheater many times, multiple Bumbershoot festivals, Italy and France, Grand Canyon, and most recently Thailand and Cambodia. This camera has been my (heavy) friend that I carry on my back through all of my adventures, past, present, and future. I will most likely carry this rig until it is time to pass it on to my daughter or son.

I could have entered yet another entry about the specs and abilities of this fully manual film SLR, but I didn’t, I will include links to other sites that in my honest opinion have done a much better job than I ever would be able to.

Links:

Photoethnography - Pentax Spotmatic
Asahi Optical Historical Club - Takumar Screw Mount Lenses