Asahi Pentax Spotmatic SP
My father’s camera, which he bought in 1971. I used it extensively until the one curtain pinion broke. (I've since acquired a badly damaged second one, which I stripped for replacement parts.)
Specifications
| Manufactured: | July 1964 to January 1974 |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (W×H×D): | 143 × 90 × 50 mm |
| Weight: | ≈ 610 grams (without lens) |
| Shutter Speed Range: | 1/1000 to 1 sec. in 1-stop increments, X, B |
| Flash sync (X) at: | 1/60 and longer |
| Standard Lens: | Asahi Super-Takumar 1:1.4/50 or Asahi Super-Takumar 1:1.8/55 |
| Battery: | PX 400 (1.35V) |
| Product Number(s): | 231; 23100, 23102, 23104 |
| Serial Number Range: | 1000001-1500000, 2300001-3000000, 3503001-4000000, 4150001-4351904 |
| My Serial Number(s): | 2711663 & 3564502 |
Asahi Pentax S1a
I found this little gem in a secondhand store, bundled with two telephoto lenses (a Meyer-Optik 300mm f/4 Orestegor and a Sun Tele YS-30 300mm f/5.5), for a real bargain. It did not come with the standard lens, but rather an Asahi Super-Takumar 1:1.8/55. Well looked after, with the curtain springs needing only the smallest tightening to bring the shutter within specifications. This camera is about as manual as they get, with absolutely no electronics. Sure learned the “Sunny Sixteen” rule. Even though not marked as such, it has been confirmed that the click between 1/500 and T is indeed for a shutter speed of 1/1000 seconds. The perfect camera to load and keep in the car for photographic “emergencies.”
Specifications
| Manufactured: | July 1962 to August 1968 |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (W×H×D): | 143 × 90 × 49 mm |
| Weight: | ≈ 580 grams (without lens) |
| Shutter Speed Range: | (1/1000), 1/500 to 1 sec. in 1-stop increments, X, B, T |
| Flash sync (X) at: | 1/50 and longer |
| Standard Lens: | Asahi Super-Takumar 1:2/55 |
| Product Number(s): | 230-3; 23030 |
| Serial Number Range: | 636892-711162, 1650001-1659499 |
| My Serial Number(s): | 708923 |
Pentax Espio 738G
I bought this camera for what it is, namely a smallish “point & shoot” to carry with me at all times. In this job it performed admirably, rarely getting a shot wrong with focus or light. Works best with ISO 200 film, due to the small lense and slow shutter speed.
Specifications
| Manufactured: | — |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (W×H×D): | 120 × 69.5 × 53 mm |
| Weight: | ≈ 320 grams (without battery) |
| Shutter Speed Range: | Programmed AE electronic shutter with speed approx. 1/320 to 1/3 sec. Bulb: 1/2 sec. to 5 min. |
| Flash: | Built-in flash with red-eye reduction mode |
| Lens: | Pentax Power Zoom 38-70mm F/4.8-8.5; Angle of view: 59°-34.5° |
| Battery: | CR-123A (3V) |
| Product Number(s): | — |
| My Serial Number(s): | 1470321 |
Asahi Pentax K1000
I have two of them. Basically a Spotmatic 1000 with the new bayonet K-mount. The fact that the lightmeter is always on is very annoying, draining the battery if the lens cap is not replaced between shots. Otherwise, a solidly built, no-frills camera. The idea was to use the newer Pentax lenses on this old body, thus keeping the manual operation, but more importantly to save money for good lenses. I never did, instead switching to Canon.
Canon EOS 300v
Marketed as an “entry-level” film SLR camera, after experiencing its versatility I can only wonder what its “professional” siblings can do more and better. On the one side this is a glorified “point & shoot” which produces similar results to my Espio 738G, with the added benefit of changeable lenses. The other side is one of the best cameras I've ever used: with an M42 to EF convertor, I can use all my old Asahi Pentax screwmount lenses on the camera. I used to set the operation to manual (M), until I discovered that if set on program (P) the camera senses it has no control over the aperture and automatically adjusts the shutter speed according to the light measured.
Specifications
| Manufactured: | — |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (W×H×D): | 130 × 88 × 64 mm |
| Weight: | ≈ 365 grams (without lens and batteries) |
| Recording Media: | 35 mm film |
| Image Size: | 24 × 36 mm |
| Film Speeds: | ISO 25 – 5000 in 1/3-stop increments |
| Autofocus Type: | TTL-CT-SIR with a CMOS sensor |
| AF Points: | 7 AF points |
| AF Working Range: | EV 1 – 18 (ISO 100) |
| Shutter Speed Range: | 1/2000 – 30 sec. in 1/2-stop increments, X, B |
| Flash Type: | External and built-in |
| Flash sync (X) at: | 1/90 |
| Lens Mount: | EF |
| Standard Lens: | Canon EF 28-90mm f/4-5.6 II |
| Battery: | 2 × CR2 lithium batteries |
| Product Number(s): | — |
| Serial Number Range: | — |
| My Serial Number(s): | (21)85011257 |
Asahi Pentax SP 1000
Bought it primarily for the standard lens it came with, a SMC TAKUMAR 1:2/55.
Specifications
| Manufactured: | October 1974 – January 1977 |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (W×H×D): | 143 × 92 × 49 mm |
| Weight: | ≈ 600 grams (without lens) |
| Shutter Speed Range: | 1/1000 to 1 sec. in 1-stop increments, X, B |
| Flash sync (X) at: | 1/60 and longer |
| Standard Lens: | Asahi SMC TAKUMAR 1:2/55 |
| Battery: | PX 400 (1.35V) |
| Product Number(s): | 23120 |
| Serial Number Range: | 5600001-5850000 |
| My Serial Number(s): | 5725518 |
Pentax Optio 60
My first digital camera. Rubbish. Sold it after a frustrating six months at half what I paid for it. I'll admit though that this experience taught me a lot about digital cameras. Like all new buyers I was drawn in with the “megapixels”-lure, with this camera sporting 6.0 million effective megapixels in a very compact package. Whether a lack of sharpness from the lens or too much JPEG compression, the picture quality just wasn't what I expected. Nearly always out of focus on close-up shots. The optical viewfinder was useless, but necessary due to the LCD screen not being usable in bright sunlight.
Canon PowerShot A620
Brilliant! The A620 shows why Canon is the leader in modern cameras. It cost me the same as the Optio 60, but is superior in every aspect. I remember going to the local Hi-Fi Corporation with the express purpose of purchasing an A610, which they advertised on special. The A620 sat next to it in the display case, proclaiming a price only R200 more than its little brother. No contest!
I really like the decision by Canon to use the same processor (DIGIC II in this case) in all their digital cameras, from the complete “point & shoots” like the A410 to über-DSLR's like the EOS-1Ds Mark II. For me this translates to a commitment to quality regarding all their customers, not just the professionals. Also, the ability to use Canon products across ranges, like for instance the 250D Close-up filter which I use on both this camera and with the EF 28-90mm f/4-5.6 II lens, is good strategy.