peterm1
Veteran
Kim Coxon said:
I am seriously impressed with these early Pentaxes. I do not have any as early as this one - my earliest is a Pentax K with the slow speed dial on the front. Mine would date to the late 1950s from memory and was one of the early "pre-spotmatics" that followed the Asahiflex models and were the begining of the M42 revolution - not quite the beginning perhaps since some late Asahiflexes used this mount also. The quality of the lenses is terrific and they are still nice cameras to use.
A very good link here to info about early Pentaxes and their lenses:
http://www.taunusreiter.de/Cameras/Pentax_Takumar_e.html
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peterm1
Veteran
This is copied from the following web site:
http://www.taunusreiter.de/Cameras/Pentax_Takumar_Collection.html
and shows why I like these early Pentax cameras and lenses. To my way of thinking they are quite beautiful. In fact I have just realised that if you look at my avatar you will see that I am using one of thiese cameras shot in a mirror to take my own picture.
http://www.taunusreiter.de/Cameras/Pentax_Takumar_Collection.html
and shows why I like these early Pentax cameras and lenses. To my way of thinking they are quite beautiful. In fact I have just realised that if you look at my avatar you will see that I am using one of thiese cameras shot in a mirror to take my own picture.
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Abbazz
6x9 and be there!
peterm1 said:
Certainly the best website about these old Pentax cameras and lenses (actually about a few other things too!).
I have an Asahi Pentax SV, which is also a pre-Spotmatic M42 mount SLR. These cameras, as well as the Asahiflex series, feel much better in the hand than the Spotmatic and subsequent SLRs. The build quality seems better and the commands run smoother. The shutter release and film advance of the Asahiflex are a joy to use. The mirror (so tiny) and shutter operation are very quiet. The film advance, as there is no ratcheted lever, it is also completely silent. It's the Leica of SLRs
Cheers!
Abbazz
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peterm1
Veteran
These cameras, as well as the Asahiflex series, feel much better in the hand than the Spotmatic and subsequent SLRs. The build quality seems better and the commands run smoother. The shutter release and film advance of the Asahiflex are a joy to use. The mirror (so tiny) and shutter operation is very quiet. The film advance, as there is no ratcheted lever, it is also completely silent. It's the Leica of SLRs
I could not agree more. I think this era of Pentaxes produced some of the nicest looking and best functioning camera bodies of the mechanical SLR camera era. There were also not a few very good lenses as well many of which got better with time. But there is something about having to cock the aperture mechanism on an early semi auto lens that really brings a nice sense of nostalgia...... ahhhh nostalgia, they just dont make nostalgia like they used to!. ;^)
If you look at the shape of say an Asahi Pentax SV or S1a you will see that its body (excluding pentaprism) has a more or less similar aspect ratio to the screw mount leicas which contributes to a feeling in the hand that is reminiscent of the early Leica cameras. The Spotmatics were competent cameras in their days but these earlier cameras were outstanding in my opinion.
I could not agree more. I think this era of Pentaxes produced some of the nicest looking and best functioning camera bodies of the mechanical SLR camera era. There were also not a few very good lenses as well many of which got better with time. But there is something about having to cock the aperture mechanism on an early semi auto lens that really brings a nice sense of nostalgia...... ahhhh nostalgia, they just dont make nostalgia like they used to!. ;^)
If you look at the shape of say an Asahi Pentax SV or S1a you will see that its body (excluding pentaprism) has a more or less similar aspect ratio to the screw mount leicas which contributes to a feeling in the hand that is reminiscent of the early Leica cameras. The Spotmatics were competent cameras in their days but these earlier cameras were outstanding in my opinion.
Kim Coxon
Moderator
It had to do with trade regulations etc at the time. Later on Pentax tied up with Honeywell and the Pentaprism models were sold under the Honeywell label rather than the Pentax one. As far as I understand it, the tax situation was different if a US company imported goods and sold them rather than a foreign company importing them from outside. As a result many companies tied up with a US one to avoid it. Some of the Early Canonets were also sold under the Honeywell name. I am not sure whether it was protectionism or how much it had to do also with goods coming from Japan not long after WWII.
Kim
Kim
dmr said:Trivia: Anybody know the significance of the brand name "Tower?"
ChrisN
Striving
amateriat
We're all light!
Chris: Ah, yes, the first-generation Minolta 110 Zoom: "The Toy Grows Up", as Minolta's first ad for the camera exclaimed. Cute, and decent to boot. Just hope you can find film for it where you are!
- Barrett
- Barrett
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
ChrisN said:
Somehow, that camera looks a lot like the Millenium Falcon
David Goldfarb
Well-known
My grandfather had one. I remember using it for a while as a kid, probably when I was around 10 or 12 years old.
W
wlewisiii
Guest
bkrystad
Established
spysmart
Established
ltketch
Established
The lens is bigger than the body!
nikola
Well-known
and what a hood! this is not right!
mllanos1111
Well-known
venchka
Veteran
ltketch
Established
My ever expanding Minolta SLR collection
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
OM-1 and Winder
OM-1 and Winder
After months of searching for one at a decent price I finally got a black OM-1 ... and better still it came with a winder which really makes the handling better for my size hands. It's just used and worn enough to have oodles of charisma ... I love it and can't believe how boring my SLR life was before I discovered OM's. These look so cool with the winder ... and the sound as someone pointed out is pure seventies paparazzi!
OM-1 and Winder
After months of searching for one at a decent price I finally got a black OM-1 ... and better still it came with a winder which really makes the handling better for my size hands. It's just used and worn enough to have oodles of charisma ... I love it and can't believe how boring my SLR life was before I discovered OM's. These look so cool with the winder ... and the sound as someone pointed out is pure seventies paparazzi!
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