Honeywell Pentax H1a

[Hunter_Compton]

Well, I admit to being a bit skeptical, so I pulled the 1974 Modern Photography review of the Spotmatic F. Their figures on viewfinder coverage contradict your assertion, quoting 92% vertical and 93% horizontal coverage versus 85%. They also make no mention of any offset. Their overall conclusions at the end also seem less disparaging.

Also, the January 1981 Modern photography test of the SMC Pentax 50mm f/1.4. Again, I would argue, a lot less disparaging.

We are, however, drifting a bit far afield from the original subject at hand.

 

[F4U]

Amazing to see this old review, And it does seem to contradict my statements. But as I recall at the time Popular Photography wasn't doing lab reviews. Perhaps it was one of those annual review publications. But one thing I CAN attest to by my own tests, is that the off-center viewfinder view does indeed exist, just as the claim I read, way back then. Back then I read everything photographic I could get my hands on. I remember as a teenager practically selling my soul for a new Spotmatic F. And once I got it, what a letdown. But then I have unwittingly hijacked the thread. My apologies to the OP.