Camera:
Pentax Spotmatic
s/n 4343354
Manufactured: 1970
Lens: M42 screw mount,
here with Yashinon 1:2,8/35mm
s/n 3810559
Shutter: horizontal silk focal plane shutter, B,1-1000
Aperture: n/a
Film: 35mm

Pentax Spotmatic

Grab a Spotmatic with both hands, slide your left hand forward and place your thumb and index finger around the focusing ring of the lens. Adjust the thumb of your right hand so it's under the film advance lever and advance the film. Place the index finger on the shutter release. Press and enjoy. Puts a smile on my face every time. I just love the way this camera feels and sounds. None of the new generation lightweight digital wonder SLR's has come close to giving me the same "satisfaction" I get from operating the Spotmatic.
The Spotmatic was first introduced in 1964 and continued in production in various enhanced version until 1975. The last version being the Spotmatic F. In 1975 the M42 screw mount was changed to the Pentax k-bayonet and the camera renamed K1000. The name Spotmatic is a bit misleading as the camera has never had spot metering capability. The prototype of the camera, which was exhibited at the 1960 Photokina did, but the specs were changed in the production version.
This camera was bought by my father in 1970 when we were living in the states, hence the Honeywell brand. This is my favorite camera in the collection and it's still in "daily" use.

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