- Pentax Spotmatic
The Pentax Spotmatics are a range of 35mm
single-lens reflex camera s manufactured by the Asahi Optical Corporation, later known asPentax , between 1964 and 1976. The original 1964 Spotmatic was the first successful camera to offer athrough-the-lens (TTL) exposure metering system, initially usingaverage metering and later center-weighting.The range comprises the original "Spotmatic", "Spotmatic II" and "IIa", "Spotmatic F", the budget models "SP500" and "SP1000", the "SL", identical to the Spotmatic except that it did not have the built-in
light meter . In the mid-'70's the "Electro-Spotmatic" ("ES" in USA) was the first "aperture-priority", electronic, automatic Spotmatic. It was followed by the "Electro-Spotmatic II" ("ESII" in USA). The word "Spotmatic" is often abbreviated to "SP"; references to the SP, SPII, SPF, etc. are common.All Pentax Spotmatics use a M42 lens screw mount. The lenses are focused at maximum aperture to give a bright viewfinder image for focusing, then a switch at the side stops the lens down and switches on the metering to enable the exposure to be set prior to pressing the shutter release to make the exposure. The "Spotmatic F", "ES", and "ESII" models are capable of open-aperture metering when used with lens models which support this feature.
Honeywell was theU.S. importer of the Spotmatic and these cameras were labelled "Honeywell Pentax", instead of "Asahi Pentax".All Pentax Spotmatics made use of
Takumar lenses of various types. These were high-quality, progressively improved lenses made by Asahi Optical CompanyExternal links
* [http://www.yaremko.com/index.htm Information on the complete line of SMC Takumar lenses, and Spotmatic / ES camera bodies]
* [http://www.photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/AsahiPentaxSpotmatic.html Spotmatic info]
* [http://www.photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/AsahiPentaxSpotmaticSPII.html Spotmatic SP II info]
* [http://www.photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/AsahiPentaxSP500.html Spotmatic SP 500 info]
* [http://whitemetal.com/pentax/index.htm Pentax Spotmatic, Takumar Info, Manuals and Photos]
* [http://whitemetal.com/pentax/spotmatic_family_traits.htm Spotmatic Family of Cameras Feature Guide]
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