First time using a Pentax SP1000

david baugh · Jul 10, 2021

I recently purchased a Pentax SP1000 a stripped down version of the iconic Pentax Spotmatic, in this video I give a review of the camera and show some images from the first roll of film taken with expired(2007) Ilford FP4plus rated at 200iso and developed in Rodinal @ 1+50.
I'd always wanted one of these cameras and browsing the for sale items spotted (no pun intended) this camera for £22 ($26ish) it came with a Pentacon 50mm 1.8. I must say I'm pleased with it and enjoyed the first shoot. It took me a little while to get used to the focussing screen, mainly when the image was a little busy, overall I'm pleased with most of the images....

The images taken on Cannock chase were taken without the light meter (forgot to check the battery!!) The garden and plant images were with a fresh battery fitted.
If you want to skip to the images the time stamp is 11:18

Paul Howell · Jul 10, 2021

It's hard to find a clean Spotmatic or 1000, they tended to be very heavily used. I take it the meter is accurate?

GRHazelton · Jul 10, 2021

I have the Pentacon 50mm f1.8 on a Praktica LTL. The lens is quite good, although not up to the excellence of fit and finish of the Takumar f1.4 on the Spotmatic F I was fortunate enough to score. You should be able to find a good Takumar 50mm for reasonable money if you want to be all Pentax, and there are scores of 42mm screw mount lenses out there.
BTW, I think the Spotties all use a bridge circuit for the meter. A bridge circuit is suggested when the meter needle is to align with a fixed circle or such in the viewfinder to indicate proper exposure; my LTL has such as does my Spotmatic F. Bridge circuits are relatively immune to the voltage of the cell powering the meter, thus while they originally used mercury cells a silver oxide cell which fits the meter compartment would be fine.

BrianShaw · Jul 10, 2021

Using cameras of that era is really fun. They are much more capable than some think. Now I’m using a Richie Singlex TLS. Other than being heavy and having a clunking mirror… the old Cds meter is dead on and the quality of the photos is quite respectable. The stop-down metering is a bit odd but works. Interestingly, the “lower tech” focusing screen with just matte and central micro prism is amazingly easy to focus and faster than screens with split image.

Enjoy your camera!

grain elevator · Jul 10, 2021

BrianShaw said:
Using cameras of that era is really fun. They are much more capable than some think. Now I’m using a Richie Singlex TLS. Other than being heavy and having a clunking mirror… the old Cds meter is dead on and the quality of the photos is quite respectable. The stop-down metering is a bit odd but works. Interestingly, the “lower tech” focusing screen with just matte and central micro prism is amazingly easy to focus and faster than screens with split image.

Enjoy your camera!

I'm also a fan of that screen!
And I'd like a 1000, the self timer lever of the so equipped Spotmatics is uncomfortable for my fingers.

GRHazelton · Jul 10, 2021

BrianShaw said:
Using cameras of that era is really fun. They are much more capable than some think. Now I’m using a Richie Singlex TLS. Other than being heavy and having a clunking mirror… the old Cds meter is dead on and the quality of the photos is quite respectable. The stop-down metering is a bit odd but works. Interestingly, the “lower tech” focusing screen with just matte and central micro prism is amazingly easy to focus and faster than screens with split image.

Enjoy your camera!

I put many "miles" on the Praktica LTL I mentioned earlier. It was perhaps "agricultural" in feel, a little noisy, not the brightest viewfinder, but it was rugged! I bounced it off a sidewalk once when I tripped. Other than a chunk off the baseplate no damage, and it worked fine for many years thereafter. It has what must be the best implementation of stop down metering I know of.
There is a stop down aperture/turn on spring loaded meter key just above the front panel angled shutter release. Press the meter key toward the body, set the lens or shutter, release the key and your index finger falls naturally on the shutter. Almost as good as full aperture metering, far better than the Spotmatic's switch.
Here's a picture which shows the meter key and the shutter release.

The film loading system is also excellent and virtually fool proof. My LTL's shutter sounds proper even after over 20 years of disuse; the original lens needs diaphragm cleaning, etc.

foc · Jul 11, 2021

GRHazelton said:
I put many "miles" on the Praktica LTL I mentioned earlier. It was perhaps "agricultural" in feel, a little noisy, not the brightest viewfinder, but it was rugged! I bounced it off a sidewalk once when I tripped. Other than a chunk off the baseplate no damage, and it worked fine for many years thereafter. It has what must be the best implementation of stop down metering I know of.
There is a stop down aperture/turn on spring loaded meter key just above the front panel angled shutter release. Press the meter key toward the body, set the lens or shutter, release the key and your index finger falls naturally on the shutter. Almost as good as full aperture metering, far better than the Spotmatic's switch.
Here's a picture which shows the meter key and the shutter release.

The film loading system is also excellent and virtually fool proof. My LTL's shutter sounds proper even after over 20 years of disuse; the original lens needs diaphragm cleaning, etc.

+1

david baugh · Jul 11, 2021

GRHazelton said:
I put many "miles" on the Praktica LTL I mentioned earlier. It was perhaps "agricultural" in feel, a little noisy, not the brightest viewfinder, but it was rugged! I bounced it off a sidewalk once when I tripped. Other than a chunk off the baseplate no damage, and it worked fine for many years thereafter. It has what must be the best implementation of stop down metering I know of.
There is a stop down aperture/turn on spring loaded meter key just above the front panel angled shutter release. Press the meter key toward the body, set the lens or shutter, release the key and your index finger falls naturally on the shutter. Almost as good as full aperture metering, far better than the Spotmatic's switch.
Here's a picture which shows the meter key and the shutter release.

The film loading system is also excellent and virtually fool proof. My LTL's shutter sounds proper even after over 20 years of disuse; the original lens needs diaphragm cleaning, etc.

I have a Praktica MTL3which looks identical to the LTL except for the self timer, and came strangely , with the same Pentacon lens as my SP1000. I'm looking forward to using it soon.

First time using a Pentax SP1000

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