Testing Out New (to me) Pentax Spotmatic

[jessenator]

I have three of 'em and the shutter lagged on all of them in cold weather. Had two of them CLA'd and that fixed the shutter capping. BUT in very cold weather (like 20 or colder) the mirror gets stuck up. SOOO, instead of sending back for more work and $$ I am going to try one of those little 6-hour disposable glove warming things on the bottom of the camera. That should work I think.

I just counted I have 11 different Takumar lenses. Missing the 17mm, 24mm, 85mm, 105, 150, and 1000 (LOL). The only one that is truly subpar IMO is the 20mm.

That is a great idea, because a cold camera drives me bonkers.

 

[David Lyga]

There was a reason why the Spotmatic took four years to bring to the marketplace in 1964, and it all paid off. R&D to the extreme. - David Lyga

 

[cuthbert]

Yes, the split-image focussing is far more positive (as long as you have a straight line to focus on). My ideal would be a 45 degree split image surrounded by a microprism collar, which I'm sure I've seen somewhere - possibly on Prakticas? I wonder whether a split image screen from a KX would fit into a Spotmatic? The Spotmatic and K-series bodies are so similar in many ways that I'd be surprised if it couldn't be done.
Steve

The KX has no split image, the screen is like the one of the Spotmatic, slightly brighter.

I'm a great fan of 45 degrees split screens, unfortunately they are rare, Ricohs had it, for my Nikon F2 I found the P (aka NASA) screen, the Bronica ETRSi came with one of these screens and of course Praktica has the triple wedge, 45 degrees.

 

[MattKing]

The KX has no split image, the screen is like the one of the Spotmatic, slightly brighter.

I'm a great fan of 45 degrees split screens, unfortunately they are rare, Ricohs had it, for my Nikon F2 I found the P (aka NASA) screen, the Bronica ETRSi came with one of these screens and of course Praktica has the triple wedge, 45 degrees.

As well as Olympus, for the later OMs.

 

[wy2l]

Pentax Spotmatic... brings back old memories, when I met my first professional photographer. His name escapes me, but he worked for the Visalia Times-Delta, and had a Pentax Spotmatic. Buying a Nikon was considered just too expensive.

 

[cuthbert]

The Spotmatics (except the F) are not sensitive to voltage, so a wiring mod or resistor isn't necessary. You can spend more for a CRIS adapter or Wein cell, but a watch battery of the 392 type will work and is much less expensive. I use a 392 in my SP 1000; the meter works perfectly, and I haven't had a problem.

The lightmeter of the F is the same as the K1000 and KM and work without any problems with 1.5 batteries....I shot slides with my SPF: