Pentax Spotmatic... Woo!

images39 · Apr 1, 2017

I have more than enough cameras... Every Nikon lens I could want and a great medium format system as well. But... I was in my local camera store today (we have one left here), and bought a Pentax Spotmatic II with a 50mm 1.4 Super-Multi-Coated Takumar. Why? It just felt nice in my hands and I've heard rumors that the lens renders things very nicely. I'm not used to stop-down metering, but I'll just roll with it...

I guess the real reason I got the Spotmatic is to try a lens that might render things differently from what I have. Just to see what it looks like. I look forward to shooting some Tri-X with the Takumar and seeing if it really does look much different from say, a Nikon 50mm 1.8 Ais. Has anyone bought a different camera/lens brand just for this type of curiosity?

Dale

John Wiegerink · Apr 1, 2017

You will roll just fine with it. I think the Spotties are a landmark camera still very capable. The 50mm 1.4 is great, but my favorite for "that certain look" is the 55mm f1.8. Love it, love it, love it!

images39 · Apr 2, 2017

John Wiegerink said:
You will roll just fine with it. I think the Spotties are a landmark camera still very capable. The 50mm 1.4 is great, but my favorite for "that certain look" is the 55mm f1.8. Love it, love it, love it!

The store had a 55mm 1.8 sitting in the case next to the Spotmatic. Maybe I'll have to go back and pick up that lens...

Bill Burk · Apr 2, 2017

That's a great camera, leave the 1.8... There's a seller here with a 50mm f/4 Macro that you should get !

John Wiegerink · Apr 2, 2017

Bill Burk said:
That's a great camera, leave the 1.8... There's a seller here with a 50mm f/4 Macro that you should get !

Heck Bill, he should get them all. 28mm f3.5, on up to the 200mm. They are all great!

images39 · Apr 2, 2017

I haven't loaded any film in the Spotmatic yet, but just handling it a bit today, my only concern is that the viewfinder is relatively dim, so might be a bit harder to focus with my less than perfect eyes. But I'm looking forward to taking it for a spin.

Bill Burk · Apr 2, 2017

The microprism works great in most light, especially if you keep with lenses at f/2 and above. (the 50mm f/4 will be harder to focus because it will dim the microprism, but still it's great to have a macro)

Theo Sulphate · Apr 2, 2017

For 15 years I used the 55/2 Super Takumar as my only lens, focusing with the microprism on my Pentax SP500 (same screen as Spotmatic, I think). Considering the many dozens of SLR's I have, the Pentax has one of the best microprism focusing screens I've ever used in terms of clarity and "snap" when getting into focus.

Pioneer · Apr 2, 2017

There was a time when I just had to have a split prism but over the last few years my aging eyes have found it easier to work with the microprism. It seems the "sparkle" pops in and out much more obviously. This has become so persistent I actually installed the SA-23 screen in my LX.

I even find the slightly dimmer screens easier to focus as well. The Spotmatic is not bad but I have certainly noticed an obvious difference using the Spotmatic and Tokioma 58/1.2 that was recently overhauled by DAG.

As for moving to different brands just to experience the difference, I have done that quite a bit and have ended up with quite a random collection of cameras. However, after a brief flirtation with Minolta (which ended with the camera being stolen many years ago), I have been primarily a Pentax user. So over the years I have accumulated a lot of Pentax equipment. Similar to Nikon, lenses purchased many years ago are still compatible on newer cameras so my collection just keeps building and building.

Enjoy your new purchase. Every time I get to Reno I like to browse around in Gordon's. It is certainly nice to still be able to touch the equipment in person.

BMbikerider · Apr 2, 2017

Theo Sulphate said:
For 15 years I used the 55/2 Super Takumar as my only lens, focusing with the microprism on my Pentax SP500 (same screen as Spotmatic, I think). Considering the many dozens of SLR's I have, the Pentax has one of the best microprism focusing screens I've ever used in terms of clarity and "snap" when getting into focus.

I will go along with that statement they are superb!

Helios 1984 · Apr 2, 2017

Theo Sulphate said:
For 15 years I used the 55/2 Super Takumar as my only lens, focusing with the microprism on my Pentax SP500 (same screen as Spotmatic, I think). Considering the many dozens of SLR's I have, the Pentax has one of the best microprism focusing screens I've ever used in terms of clarity and "snap" when getting into focus.

I wish there was microprisms on modern cameras, it's a pain to manually focus without one.

flavio81 · Apr 2, 2017

images39 said:
I haven't loaded any film in the Spotmatic yet, but just handling it a bit today, my only concern is that the viewfinder is relatively dim, so might be a bit harder to focus with my less than perfect eyes. But I'm looking forward to taking it for a spin.

Same as you, i had a good Nikon system and got drawn at the spotmatic because of a curiosity. And what impressed me was the viewfinder!

Theo Sulphate said:
Considering the many dozens of SLR's I have, the Pentax has one of the best microprism focusing screens I've ever used in terms of clarity and "snap" when getting into focus.

Exactly, the screen is not the brightest, but it is really good looking, and you can clearly see where the focus point is!!

flavio81 · Apr 2, 2017

M42 lenses are addictive...
Currently i have in takumars;
28/3.5
55/1.8
200/4

and in carl zeiss jena:
35/2.4
135/3.5

a kit that has nothing to envy to my Nikon or Canon FD kit, save for the exotic lenses (shift lenses, or f1.2 lenses)

John Wiegerink · Apr 2, 2017

flavio81 said:
M42 lenses are addictive...
Currently i have in takumars;
28/3.5
55/1.8
200/4

and in carl zeiss jena:
35/2.4
135/3.5

a kit that has nothing to envy to my Nikon or Canon FD kit, save for the exotic lenses (shift lenses, or f1.2 lenses)

Yes, those three you list at the top take a back seat to no lens. In 35mm I have used Nikon mainly, Canon, Minolta and Contax and I can say what I have previously said with complete confidence.

Paul Howell · Apr 2, 2017

I have a 1.4 and 1.7, my 1.4 is radioactive, if yours is a radioactive lens if it turns yellow needs to be left in the sun to clear. Other than that a great lens, I shoot with it on a Minolta 9000 with an adaptor. I bought first Spotmatic in 1966, still have it, the 1.4 I got later. I'm fond of the 105 2.8, 28 3.5 and 2.8, 85 1.8 which is also listed as Radioactive, mine has never turned yellow. There are many M42 lens are very desirable, Fuji, Yaschica , Chinon, Ricoh, Mamyia all made decent lens.

Theo Sulphate · Apr 2, 2017

Helios 1984 said:
I wish there was microprisms on modern cameras, it's a pain to manually focus without one.

The microprisms are nice.

A former co-worker uses old manual-focus lenses on his Nikon D800 - he was surprised when I told him he could use the green focus-confirmation LED with those (or any other) lenses.

Fixcinater · Apr 2, 2017

The S-M-C or SMC Takumars would give you the ability to open aperture meter with the appropriate Spotmatic body like your SPII, the SP F and others.

There are also transitional "Super" Taks that have the required metering lugs to open aperture meter. Nice upgrade from the earlier models if you are into using on-camera meters.

flavio81 · Apr 2, 2017

John Wiegerink said:
Yes, those three you list at the top take a back seat to no lens. In 35mm I have used Nikon mainly, Canon, Minolta and Contax and I can say what I have previously said with complete confidence.

Thanks John and I agree with your assessment, at least for the 28mm which is really good, better than the 28/3.5 Nikkor and better than the 28/2.8 Canon FDn (subjective opinion of course). The 200/4 s-m-c takumar is great but.so are the Nikon AI and Canon FD siblings.

However the Takumars usually were introduced earlier than the Canon and Nikon lenses i'm comparing them with, so this speaks a lot in favor of Asahi Optical.

I'm considering getting the 135/2.5 smc takumar... The Canon FD 135/2.5 (1971) is superb and famous, and the earlier Canon FL 135/2.5 is also nice. The 135/2.5 takumar (2nd gen) came, if my memory is right, in 1972 or later, so it should be as good as the Canons.

Helios 1984 · Apr 2, 2017

Theo Sulphate said:
The microprisms are nice.

A former co-worker uses old manual-focus lenses on his Nikon D800 - he was surprised when I told him he could use the green focus-confirmation LED with those (or any other) lenses.

When I first used an old lens on my first DSLR, I had no idea that there was such things as adapters with AF confirm chips... Needless to say, I had a fun time focusing (I found out about the AF confirm adapters a year later ಠ_ಠ )

images39 · Apr 2, 2017

I took the Spotmatic out today on a day trip to Pyramid Lake near here. I made several photos of my brother with the lake and environs in the background. I shot a roll of Tri-X and a roll of HP5. Will get them developed and hopefully do some printing in the next couple of weeks.

I like how the Spotmatic handles. The size and weight are nice. Interestingly, when I set the Spotmatic by my Nikon EL2, they're the same size. They're also similar in weight, a nice brick-like feel in the hand. As mentioned in my opening post, my main interest is in seeing how the Pentax lens renders in black and white. Even if I can't tell a difference between the Takumar and a Nikon 50mm ais, I'm happy to have the Spotmatic.

The comments on viewfinders are interesting. I'm used to using the split image when focusing my Nikons. But when I was using the Spotmatic today, I had no problem using the microprism to focus. Then again, I was outside in bright light. The real test of this is going to be shooting in low light and focusing without a split image. I look forward to trying the camera in low light.

images39 · Apr 2, 2017

Pioneer said:
Enjoy your new purchase. Every time I get to Reno I like to browse around in Gordon's. It is certainly nice to still be able to touch the equipment in person.

Yes, I picked the Spotmatic up at Gordon's. His shop is all we have left here. He has a decent offering of used equipment, and I always like to look it over, even if I don't particularly need any gear. I try to support his shop by buying film, chemicals and paper there (and an occasional used body or lens).

Dale

TheRook · Apr 3, 2017

What I especially like about the Spotmatic is the shape of the film advance lever - it feels so perfect and is such a joy to use. Sometimes I wish all of my SLR cameras had that exact same lever!

Theo Sulphate · Apr 3, 2017

Helios 1984 said:
When I first used an old lens on my first DSLR, I had no idea that there was such things as adapters with AF confirm chips... Needless to say, I had a fun time focusing (I found out about the AF confirm adapters a year later ಠ_ಠ )

Hmm... news to me as well. As far as I know, you can put any AI lens on a Nikon digital camera without using any adaptor and the green focus-confirmation LED in the viewfinder will light up when the AF sensor detects an in-focus condition (even though a manual focus lens was used - the sensor has no idea what mechanism is focusing the light). At least it worked on a D800.

Of course, I could be wrong.

TheRook · Apr 3, 2017

Theo Sulphate said:
Hmm... news to me as well. As far as I know, you can put any AI lens on a Nikon digital camera without using any adaptor and the green focus-confirmation LED in the viewfinder will light up when the AF sensor detects an in-focus condition (even though a manual focus lens was used - the sensor has no idea what mechanism is focusing the light). At least it worked on a D800.

Of course, I could be wrong.

Focus confirmation on my Nikon D40 seems to only work with the AF-D lenses; all older lenses have to be focused by sight only.

Helios 1984 · Apr 3, 2017

Theo Sulphate said:
Hmm... news to me as well. As far as I know, you can put any AI lens on a Nikon digital camera without using any adaptor and the green focus-confirmation LED in the viewfinder will light up when the AF sensor detects an in-focus condition (even though a manual focus lens was used - the sensor has no idea what mechanism is focusing the light). At least it worked on a D800.

Of course, I could be wrong.

I forgot to mention that I was referring to Canon cameras.

Pentax Spotmatic... Woo!

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