Pentax ESII

Stephen Dowling · Jan 24, 2014

Hello all

I've been collecting and using film cameras the last 15 years or so, building up a stash of around 40 cameras.

Years ago, taking pics of a band I'd been shooting at soundcheck, I bumped into Pennie smith; she's the photographer who chronicled The Clash in the 1970s and 80s, and captured the shot that would become the cover of their seminal album London Calling. She was still using the battered Pentax she had shot The Clash with - a Pentax ESII more brass than black paint. I hadn't even seen one before, but that was all I needed; I bought two the next week and now have four bodies. Whenever I travel, or wander round town with my camera bag, I have an ESII with me. The aperture-priority function makes it so easy to shoot with; the stepless shutter speeds mean spot-on exposures, and the old Takumar lenses give that classic 70s look (great paired with Kodak Elite Chrome or Tri-X aswell)

I've written about the ESII on my Dead Link Removed along with a bunch of pics

Anyone else used them or have an affinity for them? I would hope me and Pennie Smith are no the only ones to appreciate them...

Cheers

Stephen

snapguy · Jan 24, 2014

look

I have admired Takumar lenses since the 1950s but I cannot "get" how one brand of lenses will give you that '70s look. I photographed the Beatles and Elvis in the 1970s and it wasn't my Leitz or Nikkor lenses that gave the photos the '70s look.
I think Pentax cameras and Takumar lenses are underrated today.

Nick Merritt · Jan 24, 2014

Yes, I have and enjoy using an ES II and an ES also, both in black paint. I use them in Auto mode, though am careful to turn the dial off of Auto when not in use so as to save the batteries. The ES II's meter needed a fair amount of attention from Eric Hendricksen when I first got it, but it's been right ever since. The ES has never given problems.

I know that a lot of people believe these cameras got away from the compact size of the classic Spotmatics, but the extra size (height, mainly) has never bothered me. The SMC (or Super-Multi-Coated) Takumars are great -- beautifully smooth focusing, and of course deliver wonderful results.

gone · Jan 24, 2014

It's an interesting camera, but I wonder why they made them so that they won't meter on M mode? The other odd thing is it has no exposure lock, so you had better like the way it is metering on auto because that is it.

gone · Jan 24, 2014

It's an interesting camera, but I wonder why they made them so that they won't meter on M mode? The other odd thing is it has no exposure lock, so you had better like the way it is metering on auto because that is it.

Bill Burk · Jan 24, 2014

Member NirvanNa has one we know...

Tom1956 · Jan 24, 2014

It's a good camera--one of the best, actually. Somewhat prone to cold weather mirror hangup.

Stephen Dowling · Jan 25, 2014

Snapguy: I hear you. Maybe it's a projection - they somehow feel 70s to me cos that's when they are from. And I like using slightly expired Kodak Ektachhrome which adds to the feeling, at least to me.

The Takumars are under-rated. I particuarly like the 105 for portraits, the 28mm and the 50/1.4, especially closed down. Just lovely.

Stephen Dowling · Jan 25, 2014

Nick: That's a good tip re the batteries. I didn't realise that... I've heard great things regards Erick... I use a guy in London who used to work for Pentax and did an amazing job on one... two others are starting to get squeaky shutters, so it's time for them to get a once-over.

I'd agree about the size. They just feel nice. They're not exactly compact, but a bit smaller than the likes of the Minolta SRTs.

Stephen Dowling · Jan 25, 2014

Momus: It's one of the camera's quirks.... it's only been an issue with me once or twice, I must admit. Most of the time it works just fine for the kind of shooting I do.

Ricardo Miranda · Jan 25, 2014

Momus,
As a curiosity, no Pentax camera had an AEL facility until the P30 arrived mid 80s. The P30 has a ML (memory lock) button on the side of the prism.

Photo-gear · Jan 25, 2014

Tom1956 said:
It's a good camera--one of the best, actually. Somewhat prone to cold weather mirror hangup.

It has happened to my camera as well. I wonder what's the mechanism that explains it.

Bill Burk · Jan 25, 2014

Actually the ESII does have a memory function.

Activate the shutter all the way until the shutter opens.

As long as the shutter is open, the memory is retained and the exposure held in memory governs the shutter speed.

I know it's a silly bit of trivia, because you can't "use" this memory.

It's just there because the camera does not have off-the-film-plane metering.

Ricardo Miranda · Jan 25, 2014

Yes, that is true. It is the same for all other AE cameras with cells in the prism.

Bill Burk · Jan 25, 2014

Hey Ricardo, why no Miranda's in your "My cameras" list, you can bet if there was a Burkmatic I'd have one.

The ESII was my first major camera purchase after graduating college. Over time I picked up several lenses for it, and I used it for several years as my main camera. I still have it because I took it to work with me the day my apartment was robbed... but I lost my favorite lens, the Super Takumar 35mm f/2 (The one with 67mm filter ring, not SMCT, it didn't engage with the ESII Full-Aperture metering), my spare body and the rest of my lenses. My roommate also lost his cameras that day. It was rough - but I eventually replaced it in my stable with an OM-4.

Ricardo Miranda · Jan 25, 2014

Hey Ricardo, why no Miranda's in your "My cameras" list, you can bet if there was a Burkmatic I'd have one.

It just didn't happen!

That is a sad story. Sorry for your loss.
I also lost much of my Pentax equipment, but through sale. Over 10 years ago I had a nice Pentax outfit, all screw mount. They ranged from a SV, to 2 ESII, a black and a chrome. I still have some, including the black ESII. But, for personal reasons, I had to sell most and settled for Nikon equipment.
My heart wasn't, and still isn't in trying to recover the amount of lenses I sold. Here in the UK the prices of the Takumar lenses floats a lot and with the loss of many camera shops that did second hand, I wasn't going to try the Ebay market and chase the lenses I would like to have back. That includes an Auto-Takumar 85mm F1.8 and a SMC Takumar 135mm F2.5, the lenses I liked most to use.
Also, I don't like to have more than a mount. For whatever reason, some say it is loyalty, I find difficult to switch between different cameras and/or systems. Perhaps, that is why I bought so many Nikons, they go now over 40 easily.
But, I settled now with a bunch of EMs and a small selection of lenses. The EM reminds me a lot of the ESII, without the weight. The similar AE system, no AEL button and similar viewfinder information and needle system.
Regardless, I think the OP has chosen well and I know the ESII is a fantastic camera. There is something quite liberating using a camera that pretty much can only do Aperture priority AE: you chose the aperture, check the speed is within a range you can use it and just concentrate on composing your picture.

Pentax ESII

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