Pentax Spotamatic F

Do you want checkers or ride? If you want a cool fashion accessory, definitely buy the Spotmatic – the most beautifully designed camera ever. If you want to actually take pictures, get something more modern.

Haha - I am genuinely finding this difficult, though.  It's sooo beautiful.  I think it might even encourage me to go out and take pictures.  Getting out there is the most important thing - can't take many pictures sitting in the house (although I'm working on that too!)
--
Some of my photos here.
https://www.instagram.com/kalimetric/

Kalimetric wrote:

Do you want checkers or ride? If you want a cool fashion accessory, definitely buy the Spotmatic – the most beautifully designed camera ever. If you want to actually take pictures, get something more modern.

Haha - I am genuinely finding this difficult, though. It's sooo beautiful. I think it might even encourage me to go out and take pictures. Getting out there is the most important thing - can't take many pictures sitting in the house (although I'm working on that too!)
--
Some of my photos here.
https://www.instagram.com/kalimetric/

The Spotmatic F will take great photographs. You don't get much in the way of information in the viewfinder, but it is a camera that inspires and gives you confidence.

Note that you only get open aperture metering if you use SMC M42 Takumar lenses - these have extra connection to pass the aperture value set on the lens to the camera.

If you want a similar standard of camera of a similar vintage with open aperture metering you might want to consider a Minolta SRT - Minolta SR lenses are pretty good quality and reasonably priced.

If you want more lenses that do open aperture but want to stick with Pentax, the K-bayonet KM and KX would fill the bill.

As far a quality of zoom lenses is concerned, back in the 70s zoom design tended to lag some way behind primes (this was a time before computer aided design made great advances in zoom lens quality and capabilities).

The Spotmatic F will take great photographs. You don't get much in the way of information in the viewfinder, but it is a camera that inspires and gives you confidence.

Note that you only get open aperture metering if you use SMC M42 Takumar lenses - these have extra connection to pass the aperture value set on the lens to the camera.

If you want a similar standard of camera of a similar vintage with open aperture metering you might want to consider a Minolta SRT - Minolta SR lenses are pretty good quality and reasonably priced.

If you want more lenses that do open aperture but want to stick with Pentax, the K-bayonet KM and KX would fill the bill.

As far a quality of zoom lenses is concerned, back in the 70s zoom design tended to lag some way behind primes (this was a time before computer aided design made great advances in zoom lens quality and capabilities).

I think if I bought this I would be sticking with the Taks.  And I don't use the viewfinder info much anyway in the digital, although that's more a product of me not being able to see well!  As long as I can focus properly then it's all good.  I manually focus on my digital anyway, habit from shooting with a Vivitar 28mm Close Focus for 10 years.
Minolta is interesting, but I think I would rather keep within the Pentax system.  I will look into the later cameras though.  Such a shame about the zooms though...

Bob Janes wrote:

Kalimetric wrote:

Do you want checkers or ride? If you want a cool fashion accessory, definitely buy the Spotmatic – the most beautifully designed camera ever. If you want to actually take pictures, get something more modern.

Haha - I am genuinely finding this difficult, though. It's sooo beautiful. I think it might even encourage me to go out and take pictures. Getting out there is the most important thing - can't take many pictures sitting in the house (although I'm working on that too!)
--
Some of my photos here.
https://www.instagram.com/kalimetric/

The Spotmatic F will take great photographs.

Photographers take great photographs, the camera is merely the tool they use to do so. Although the use of a vintage camera might make the experience more romantic.

You don't get much in the way of information in the viewfinder, but it is a camera that inspires and gives you confidence.

Note that you only get open aperture metering if you use SMC M42 Takumar lenses - these have extra connection to pass the aperture value set on the lens to the camera.

If you want a similar standard of camera of a similar vintage with open aperture metering you might want to consider a Minolta SRT - Minolta SR lenses are pretty good quality and reasonably priced.

If you want more lenses that do open aperture but want to stick with Pentax, the K-bayonet KM and KX would fill the bill.

As far a quality of zoom lenses is concerned, back in the 70s zoom design tended to lag some way behind primes (this was a time before computer aided design made great advances in zoom lens quality and capabilities).

-- hide signature --

Save a life, become a stem-cell donor.
Hello to Jason Isaacs!
https://bobjanes.smugmug.com/PoTB/
Please respect a BY-NC-ND cc licence on all my public internet images

Phil A Martin wrote:

Bob Janes wrote:

Kalimetric wrote:

Do you want checkers or ride? If you want a cool fashion accessory, definitely buy the Spotmatic – the most beautifully designed camera ever. If you want to actually take pictures, get something more modern.

Haha - I am genuinely finding this difficult, though. It's sooo beautiful. I think it might even encourage me to go out and take pictures. Getting out there is the most important thing - can't take many pictures sitting in the house (although I'm working on that too!)
--
Some of my photos here.
https://www.instagram.com/kalimetric/

The Spotmatic F will take great photographs.

Photographers take great photographs, the camera is merely the tool they use to do so. Although the use of a vintage camera might make the experience more romantic.

Good point - absolutely. My meaning was just that the Spotmatic F is a very capable camera and that it is unlikely to limit anyone's photography. Having said that, a lot of my photography benefits from being in the right kind of mood, and somehow the Spotmatic F puts me in a good mood...

Bob Janes wrote:

Phil A Martin wrote:

Bob Janes wrote:

Kalimetric wrote:

Do you want checkers or ride? If you want a cool fashion accessory, definitely buy the Spotmatic – the most beautifully designed camera ever. If you want to actually take pictures, get something more modern.

Haha - I am genuinely finding this difficult, though. It's sooo beautiful. I think it might even encourage me to go out and take pictures. Getting out there is the most important thing - can't take many pictures sitting in the house (although I'm working on that too!)
--
Some of my photos here.
https://www.instagram.com/kalimetric/

The Spotmatic F will take great photographs.

Photographers take great photographs, the camera is merely the tool they use to do so. Although the use of a vintage camera might make the experience more romantic.

Good point - absolutely. My meaning was just that the Spotmatic F is a very capable camera and that it is unlikely to limit anyone's photography. Having said that, a lot of my photography benefits from being in the right kind of mood, and somehow the Spotmatic F puts me in a good mood...

Yes, I can appreciate that. With digital, I find it hard to replicate the feelings I get with my RB67.

I'd love a vintage m42 Pentax camera but I'm not sure why?

-- hide signature --

Save a life, become a stem-cell donor.
Hello to Jason Isaacs!
https://bobjanes.smugmug.com/PoTB/
Please respect a BY-NC-ND cc licence on all my public internet images

Phil A Martin wrote:

Bob Janes wrote:

Phil A Martin wrote:

Bob Janes wrote:

Kalimetric wrote:

Do you want checkers or ride? If you want a cool fashion accessory, definitely buy the Spotmatic – the most beautifully designed camera ever. If you want to actually take pictures, get something more modern.

Haha - I am genuinely finding this difficult, though. It's sooo beautiful. I think it might even encourage me to go out and take pictures. Getting out there is the most important thing - can't take many pictures sitting in the house (although I'm working on that too!)
--
Some of my photos here.
https://www.instagram.com/kalimetric/

The Spotmatic F will take great photographs.

Photographers take great photographs, the camera is merely the tool they use to do so. Although the use of a vintage camera might make the experience more romantic.

Good point - absolutely. My meaning was just that the Spotmatic F is a very capable camera and that it is unlikely to limit anyone's photography. Having said that, a lot of my photography benefits from being in the right kind of mood, and somehow the Spotmatic F puts me in a good mood...

Yes, I can appreciate that. With digital, I find it hard to replicate the feelings I get with my RB67.

I'd love a vintage m42 Pentax camera but I'm not sure why?

I think the why is easy: Size and weight are good and the controls are simple and easy to use. The focusing action on those m42 Takumars is still buttery smooth all these years later and the glass is good quality too. Add in the aesthetics and I quite see the appeal.

Bob Janes wrote:

Phil A Martin wrote:

Bob Janes wrote:

Phil A Martin wrote:

Bob Janes wrote:

Kalimetric wrote:

Do you want checkers or ride? If you want a cool fashion accessory, definitely buy the Spotmatic – the most beautifully designed camera ever. If you want to actually take pictures, get something more modern.

Haha - I am genuinely finding this difficult, though. It's sooo beautiful. I think it might even encourage me to go out and take pictures. Getting out there is the most important thing - can't take many pictures sitting in the house (although I'm working on that too!)
--
Some of my photos here.
https://www.instagram.com/kalimetric/

The Spotmatic F will take great photographs.

Photographers take great photographs, the camera is merely the tool they use to do so. Although the use of a vintage camera might make the experience more romantic.

Good point - absolutely. My meaning was just that the Spotmatic F is a very capable camera and that it is unlikely to limit anyone's photography. Having said that, a lot of my photography benefits from being in the right kind of mood, and somehow the Spotmatic F puts me in a good mood...

Yes, I can appreciate that. With digital, I find it hard to replicate the feelings I get with my RB67.

I'd love a vintage m42 Pentax camera but I'm not sure why?

I think the why is easy:

I'm not sure why I need one, when I have several Pentax K fit bodies lying unused.

Size and weight are good and the controls are simple and easy to use. The focusing action on those m42 Takumars is still buttery smooth all these years later and the glass is good quality too. Add in the aesthetics and I quite see the appeal.

-- hide signature --

Save a life, become a stem-cell donor.
Hello to Jason Isaacs!
https://bobjanes.smugmug.com/PoTB/
Please respect a BY-NC-ND cc licence on all my public internet images

KentG wrote:

One point, the lens you are showing is the second version of the Tamron 28-200/3.5-5.6 AF super zoom. Its not an Adaptall-2 lens as those are manual focus lenses with interchangeable mounts.

Good point. As for me, I can't really see the point of using a vintage camera, if you are then going to use modern lenses on it. Surely the whole point of using vintage cameras, is using the vintage lenses that were designed for them?

Kent Gittings

kypfer wrote:

Phil A Martin wrote:

KentG wrote:

One point, the lens you are showing is the second version of the Tamron 28-200/3.5-5.6 AF super zoom. Its not an Adaptall-2 lens as those are manual focus lenses with interchangeable mounts.

Good point. As for me, I can't really see the point of using a vintage camera, if you are then going to use modern lenses on it. Surely the whole point of using vintage cameras, is using the vintage lenses that were designed for them?

Kent Gittings

Absolutely … but, in this particular case, one could possibly argue that this specific Tamron Adaptall-2 lens was maybe the last lens to be designed for the M42 system

But it wasn't designed for the M42 system, it was released when the production of m42 cameras had ceased and Pentax had moved over to the K mount. They might have continued to supply M42 adapters for those using older cameras but they also released adapters for all other camera mounts. It was no more designed for M42, than it was designed for Nikon or Olympus. Obviously people can do what they like but IMHO it would be incongruous to attach such a lens to a vintage Spotmatic.

I decided to give up using "vintage" cjameras when photographic chemicals and paper were no longer available locally and I had to order them by mail. I kept most of the lenses though, the M42 lenses being used on my Pentax's with the appropriate adaptor, when the mood takes me, and my old Russian r/f lenses get an airing on a s/h mirrorless with an electronic viewfinder.

Each to their own