Pentax Spotmatic
Encyclopedia
The Pentax Spotmatic is a range of 35mm
single-lens reflex camera
s manufactured by the Asahi Optical Co. Ltd., later known as Pentax
Corporation, between 1964 and 1976. The original 1964 Spotmatic was one of the first SLRs to offer a through-the-lens
(TTL) exposure metering system, initially using average metering and later center-weighting. Despite the name, the camera did not use spot metering
.
The model range includes the original Spotmatic, Spotmatic II and IIa, Spotmatic F, plus the SP500 and SP1000. There was also the Pentax SL, which was identical to the Spotmatic except that it did not have the built-in light meter
. In 1971 the Electro-Spotmatic was the first aperture-priority
, electronic, automatic SLR and was sold as a trial only in Japan. It was followed by the ES sold internationally in 1972. Two years later it was followed by the ES II. The ES had standardized and improved circuity that addressed reliability issues in the original version.
All Pentax Spotmatics use the M42 screw-thread lens 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 shutter release. The Spotmatic F, Electro Spotmatic, ES, and ESII models are capable of open-aperture metering when used with lens models which support this feature.
Honeywell
was the U.S. importer of the Spotmatic. Cameras officially imported by Honeywell were labeled Honeywell Pentax, instead of Asahi Pentax. The Spotmatic IIa was only available as a Honeywell Pentax; it was sold exclusively in the USA and had an electronic interface for specific Honeywell Strobonar electronic flash units.
All Pentax Spotmatics made use of Takumar
lenses. These were high-quality, progressively improved lenses made by Asahi Optical Co. Ltd.
, later versions of which featured multi-coating
. The cameras were also compatible with other M42 screw mount lenses.
The Pentax Spotmatic chassis was the basis for the Pentax KX, KM and K1000 models with Pentax-K bayonet mounts.
.
135 film
The term 135 was introduced by Kodak in 1934 as a designation for cartridge film wide, specifically for still photography. It quickly grew in popularity, surpassing 120 film by the late 1960s to become the most popular photographic film format...
single-lens reflex camera
Camera
A camera is a device that records and stores images. These images may be still photographs or moving images such as videos or movies. The term camera comes from the camera obscura , an early mechanism for projecting images...
s manufactured by the Asahi Optical Co. Ltd., later known as Pentax
Pentax
Pentax is a brand name used by Hoya Corporation for its medical-related products & services and Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company for cameras, sport optics , etc. Hoya purchased and merged with the Japanese optics company on March 31, 2008. Hoya's Pentax imaging business was sold to Ricoh Company, Ltd...
Corporation, between 1964 and 1976. The original 1964 Spotmatic was one of the first SLRs to offer a through-the-lens
Through-the-lens
Through-the-lens metering is a photographic term describing a feature of cameras capable of measuring light levels in a scene through their taking lenses, as opposed to a separate metering window...
(TTL) exposure metering system, initially using average metering and later center-weighting. Despite the name, the camera did not use spot metering
Metering mode
In photography, the metering mode refers to the way in which a camera determines the exposure.- Examples of metering modes :Cameras generally allow the user to select between spot, center-weighted average, or multi-zone metering modes....
.
The model range includes the original Spotmatic, Spotmatic II and IIa, Spotmatic F, plus the SP500 and SP1000. There was also the Pentax SL, which was identical to the Spotmatic except that it did not have the built-in light meter
Light meter
A light meter is a device used to measure the amount of light. In photography, a light meter is often used to determine the proper exposure for a photograph...
. In 1971 the Electro-Spotmatic was the first aperture-priority
Aperture priority
Aperture priority, often abbreviated A or Av on a camera mode dial, is a setting on some cameras that allows the user to choose a specific aperture value while the camera selects a shutter speed to match. The camera will ensure proper exposure...
, electronic, automatic SLR and was sold as a trial only in Japan. It was followed by the ES sold internationally in 1972. Two years later it was followed by the ES II. The ES had standardized and improved circuity that addressed reliability issues in the original version.
All Pentax Spotmatics use the M42 screw-thread lens mount
M42 lens mount
The M42 lens mount is a screw thread mounting standard for attaching lenses to 35 mm cameras, primarily single-lens reflex models. It is more accurately known as the M42 × 1 mm standard, which means that it is a metric screw thread of 42 mm diameter and 1 mm thread pitch...
. 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 shutter release. The Spotmatic F, Electro Spotmatic, ES, and ESII models are capable of open-aperture metering when used with lens models which support this feature.
Honeywell
Honeywell
Honeywell International, Inc. is a major conglomerate company that produces a variety of consumer products, engineering services, and aerospace systems for a wide variety of customers, from private consumers to major corporations and governments....
was the U.S. importer of the Spotmatic. Cameras officially imported by Honeywell were labeled Honeywell Pentax, instead of Asahi Pentax. The Spotmatic IIa was only available as a Honeywell Pentax; it was sold exclusively in the USA and had an electronic interface for specific Honeywell Strobonar electronic flash units.
All Pentax Spotmatics made use of Takumar
Takumar
Takumar is the name that Asahi Optical gave to its lenses, notably but not exclusively those for its own SLR cameras. Named after the Japanese-American portrait painter, , whose brother Kumao Kajiware founded Asahi Optical, the name adorned its lenses until 1975, when Asahi switched from the M42...
lenses. These were high-quality, progressively improved lenses made by Asahi Optical Co. Ltd.
Pentax
Pentax is a brand name used by Hoya Corporation for its medical-related products & services and Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company for cameras, sport optics , etc. Hoya purchased and merged with the Japanese optics company on March 31, 2008. Hoya's Pentax imaging business was sold to Ricoh Company, Ltd...
, later versions of which featured multi-coating
Anti-reflective coating
An antireflective or anti-reflection coating is a type of optical coating applied to the surface of lenses and other optical devices to reduce reflection. This improves the efficiency of the system since less light is lost. In complex systems such as a telescope, the reduction in reflections also...
. The cameras were also compatible with other M42 screw mount lenses.
The Pentax Spotmatic chassis was the basis for the Pentax KX, KM and K1000 models with Pentax-K bayonet mounts.
Noted users
Noted users of the Pentax Spotmatic include the American poet and photographer Ira CohenIra Cohen
Ira Cohen was an American poet, publisher, photographer and filmmaker.Cohen lived in Morocco and in New York City in the 1960s, he was in Kathmandu in the 1970s and traveled the world in the 1980s, before returning to New York, where he spent the rest of his life...
.