Spotmatic - Antique and Vintage Cameras

Spotmatic

1964

Asahi Optical Co.

Tokyo

Japan

Image of Spotmatic

Lens:
f1.8, 55 mm Super-Takumar, fully automatic iris diaphragm (FAD) to f16. Depth-of-field scale. 42 mm Screw mount. Auto or manual setting for diaphragm. Serial no. 2318167 .

Shutter:
Focal-plane, speeds 1 - 1/1000, B. Delayed action. X, FP flash synchronisation.

Construction:
Metal body.

Format:
36, 24 x 36 mm exposures on 35 mm film held in cassette.

Focusing:
Helical to 0.45 m.

Attributes:
Reflex viewing through taking lens. Fixed roof pentaprism finder, microprism rangefinder in focusing screen, Fresnel screen. Instant-return mirror.
Auto-stop on film advance. Film advance lever sets the shutter. Film advance and shutter inter-linked for double and blank exposure prevention.
Coupled, through-the-lens (TTL) metering (CdS cell each side of the finder eye-piece), meter needle aligned to fixed point, stop-down mode. Film speed settings: 20 - 1600 ASA.
Exposure counter.

Serial Number:
1492088 .

With:

  • f3.5, 135 mm Super-Takumar. Fully automatic diaphragm to f22. Depth-of-field scale. Auto or manual setting for diaphragm. Focus to 1.5 metre. Front and rear caps. Lens hood. Case. Serial no. 1007172.
  • Lens cap. Ever-ready case.
  • Eye cup. Accessory Shoe in box.
  • Right-angle finder. In case.
  • Extension tubes. In case.
  • Copipod, instructions, case. In box.
  • Instruction book. "Asahi Pentax Spotmatic with Through-the-Lens Exposure Meter" - pamphlet. "Complete System of Photography Asahi Pentax Lenses and Accessories" - pamphlet.

The strap line on Pentax advertisements was "Just hold an Asahi Pentax" and it is a camera that fits the hand well. It suffers from having a stop-down metering system but is otherwise easy to use. Asahi produced a wide range of lenses and accessories; the 42 mm lens mount meant that many other lenses could also be fitted.

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