Asahi Pentax SP 1000

Andy K · Jun 28, 2006

I was given one of these today. It is in good clean condition with only the mirror damper foam needing replacement. The two lenses that came with, a SMC Takumar 1:2/55 and Hanimex 1:3.5 f=135mm are spotlessly clean.

Are there any quirks I should know about this camera before using it? Will fitting a 1.5v battery to replace the 1.35v battery affect the meter? And finally, is it a good camera?

naturephoto1 · Jun 28, 2006

Andy,

Others will be able to confirm more, but I believe that anytime that there is a change in the battery voltage, the camera needs an adjustment for the meter. I know as an example that is the case for cameras such as my Rollei 35S.

Rich

Andy K · Jun 28, 2006

naturephoto1 said:
Andy,

Others will be able to confirm more, but I believe that anytime that there is a change in the battery voltage, the camera needs an adjustment for the meter. I know as an example that is the case for cameras such as my Rollei 35S.

Rich

I experienced this with my OM-1, but I also know that some cameras have a bridging circuit of some sort in their metering system which compensates for voltage differences. I don't know if the SP 1000 has such a circuit.

clogz · Jun 28, 2006

The best way to go is getting a battery adapter:www.criscam.com
www.rolleicamera.com

Hans

naturephoto1 · Jun 28, 2006

Hans,

I am aware of the battery adapter. That corrects for the adjustment to the meter. I purchased my Rollei 35S from Krikor Maralian, a Rollei repairman with his own Photo shop in the US who formerly worked with Marflex Photo which at the time was the official repair for older Rolleis in the United States. Krikor had made the adjustment to the camera meter to accept the PX625 A alkaline battery before I had purchased it.

Thanks for the link though.

Rich

Markok765 · Jun 28, 2006

The battery is fine! i shoot slides and get perfect exp with a 1.5 V button cell battery.
i have the sp500

dschneller · Jun 28, 2006

Andy K said:
Are there any quirks I should know about this camera before using it? Will fitting a 1.5v battery to replace the 1.35v battery affect the meter? And finally, is it a good camera?

Using a 1.5v silver oxide battery won't affect the meter as the SP, SPII, SPIIa, SP500, SP1000 all use a bridge circuit. You could use the wein cell 1.35v zinc air batteries but their shelf life is limited once exposed to air.

BTW, nice gift!

Markok765 · Jun 28, 2006

Did you know the sp500 is the exact same as the sp1000 except it goes up to 1000. they didnt change the shutter, so you can click it once mor and go to 1000

ricksplace · Jun 28, 2006

I just bought one at a yard sale. 55/2 and 135/3.5 smc tak. Paid $20.
I put in a small 1.5v button cell I bought at a dollar store and the meter sprang to life. However, most oddly, the meter is backwards! It registers - when it should be +. I tried to put the cell in the other way, but it won't fit. Guess I'll have to see if I can find a 1.5v cell that will work. BTW -there are a few strings on this site regarding the meter bridge circuit for the sp1000. They're a good read. Any suggestions regarding an easily obtainable battery I can use so the meter works the right way?

All the shutter speeds seem "spot" on (forgive the pun)

I had a spotty when I was in my teens (I'm 52 now) I remember the strap breaking when I was on my motorcycle, and watching in the mirrors as the camera bounced along the pavement before careening off into the bush. After some searching, I found it. The case had a bad bout of pavement rash, but the camera was OK. A few years later, the meter quit and I sold it. Probably just a bad connection. Sure feels good to have a spotty in my hands again.

Rick.

John Koehrer · Jun 28, 2006

The Spots took an RM400 battery(except for the spot F)
yep it's mercury, yep Wein makes a replacment for it too.

Markok765 · Jun 28, 2006

I use a smaller battery than the chamber, still works good

Donald Qualls · Jun 29, 2006

You don't need special batteries for Spotmatics. They use a version of a bridge circuit; the needle will center at the correct exposure regardless of the supply voltage; all that changes is the amount of swing when you're off correct exposure a bit. My Spotmatic runs fine on an alkaline battery, and I gain a battery check function -- as the battery ages, I can watch the needle deflection get smaller; when it's too small, it's time for a new cell. And the cells that fit it are 10/$1 at the local dollar store...

Nick Zentena · Jun 29, 2006

There is a 400 silver [I guess alkaline to] that should fit without any trouble. The 387 is supposed to be the same size. The 387 is a watch battery and is supposedly easier to find.

Neither are easy for me to find around here. I went with a smaller battery and a rubber O ring.

Uncle Bill · Jun 29, 2006

Andy,

Congrats on the Spotmatic 1000, they are a jewel of a camera. I had one, traded it for a Black SV (pre spotmatic), I also have a Spotmatic II and Spotmatic F both amazing cameras. On the whole the Takumar glass is on the same plane as Leica. Have fun once you get the foam replaced.

Bill

Peter Jones · Jun 29, 2006

I have heard good things about Taks and super-taks , esp. the 55mm f/2.

Excellent purchase

Lachlan Young · Jun 30, 2006

Andy K said:
I was given one of these today. It is in good clean condition with only the mirror damper foam needing replacement. The two lenses that came with, a SMC Takumar 1:2/55

Excellent lens of very high quality which by all accounts is very nice on B&W - just like the OM lenses! The major reason for buying into the Pentax M42 system is for the 55mm f2 and 50mm f1.4 lenses - excellent cheap lenses which are only outperformed by the truly astounding Zuiko 50mm f2 macro (yes I did say f2 macro!) - a lens that carries an equally astounding pricetag secondhand.

Hope this helps,

Lachlan

Andy K · Jul 9, 2006

Thanks for all the info folks. Here are a few frames from a test roll of HP5+ (developed in Rodinal 1+50 for 10 minutes). That Takumar 55 1:2 certainly seems a fine lens! The third attachment was taken at a garden fete yesterday with a different lens, a Helios 135mm 1:2.8. (I could have used the 55mm but didn't want to get too close to all that water spray!)

Luna Lovegood · Apr 22, 2011

having the same problem, any straight answer to which battery i should actually buy? im looking at 1.5 volt ag3 batteries, but they look slightly large to fit.. any answers would be a great help!?

Phoebe

Asahi Pentax SP 1000

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