David. I enjoy all your videos past & present. Even thought my first serious 35mm SLR was a Konica Autoreflex A2, my Asahi Pentax collection has surpassed even my expectations. Was thrilled by your review for the 57' Asahi camera, but I have no notes on their perks, since they are rarer than hen's teeth to start. Have a blessed Thanksgiving my friend.
Thank you, Murray and have a lovely Thanksgiving, too! These are really hard to find and often need some repair to restore proper function. I tend to think of the first three Pentax bodies as collector cameras and the good user bodies start with the H/S series cameras.
@@DavidHancock I would agree that in any cutting-edge item, like the Asahi Pentax early bodied SLR's, that few will span up recent advents until someone of note, a photographer, a photo journalist, or a trade magazine editors give it a hail. Most well heeled photographers will tell you they are light meters, having shot Sunny-Sixteen for decades, so when a reviewer seems mildly aghast about cameras without such amenities, we just use our skills honed from days of Ektachome & Tri-pan past to assay where we should be, and bracket the shot for good measure, just in case. My SV is my baby-doll, as I know the AP & Flexes are far out of reach for my finances. My Spot-matic's are far in the lead of most consumer-marketed more modern offerings. More stable from their weight, better era optics, and built like tanks for all we must subject them to. Have a very happy holiday my friend. Murray
Hi David, excellent presentation! I have just acquired "The Asahi Pentax K1000. Does all you've explained here apply to the version I have? If not, please address K1000 as well. Cheers!
Is there any difference in build quality between the AP and the later pre-SP models? Is this similar to Leica where the M3 is reputed to be ever so slightly better in build quality then subsequent M's?
If anything, the latter ones though a bit more mechanically complex are a bit more reliable. If you're looking for a very reliable and all mechanical Pentax M42, the SL and H3V are great options that are a lot cheaper.
@@DavidHancock I am drawn to the slow speed dial on the front, as per Barnack Leicas and the straight silver chassis of the pre-Spots. That leaves me with the expensive 3!
My first 35mm camera was a Leica IIIa with a 50mm f/1.5-9 Taylor-Hobson Xenon lens which was "unsharp, flared when turned toward the light, and heavier than the camera body alone." Eventually I replaced that pre-World-War-II "speed lens" with a collapsible 50mm f/3.5 Elmar, which produced great images. The other 35mm camera was a Nikon S2 with a 50mm f/1.4 Nikkor along with lenses. Between the two, changing lenses on the Leica took a while, while the Contax-type bayonet mount on the Nikon was a quick-change winner. I was still using Ye Olde Leica in the mid-1960's at college, unlike most "advanced amateurs," who were "going 35mm SLR." A well-equipped semi-pro photographer was a Spotmatic user, who ruefully commented on the time and care required to change lenses on the run. So, I was primed to find an "affordable quick lens change system." (Canon FP at first, Nikkormat FTN, eventually.)
That's a rare lens today, the T-H Xenon. But I would extend the characterization of it to basically all Leica lenses of the time. I haven't seen an LTM lens from that era that produces images I truly care for.
I used a Pentax spot meter and a reverse zone system: night shoot on my ME (brightest part on image that's NOT a light source put at one zone-7), 100 speed ILFORD BW, stopped down to F16, on a tripod, pented 16x20 on Foma pearl. I love Pentax its a nerds camera. :)
Wow just pick a sv up looking forward to learning learning learning!
Nice! The meterless Pentax cameras are great to learn with.
David. I enjoy all your videos past & present. Even thought my first serious 35mm SLR was a Konica Autoreflex A2, my Asahi Pentax collection has surpassed even my expectations. Was thrilled by your review for the 57' Asahi camera, but I have no notes on their perks, since they are rarer than hen's teeth to start. Have a blessed Thanksgiving my friend.
Thank you, Murray and have a lovely Thanksgiving, too! These are really hard to find and often need some repair to restore proper function. I tend to think of the first three Pentax bodies as collector cameras and the good user bodies start with the H/S series cameras.
@@DavidHancock I would agree that in any cutting-edge item, like the Asahi Pentax early bodied SLR's, that few will span up recent advents until someone of note, a photographer, a photo journalist, or a trade magazine editors give it a hail. Most well heeled photographers will tell you they are light meters, having shot Sunny-Sixteen for decades, so when a reviewer seems mildly aghast about cameras without such amenities, we just use our skills honed from days of Ektachome & Tri-pan past to assay where we should be, and bracket the shot for good measure, just in case. My SV is my baby-doll, as I know the AP & Flexes are far out of reach for my finances. My Spot-matic's are far in the lead of most consumer-marketed more modern offerings. More stable from their weight, better era optics, and built like tanks for all we must subject them to. Have a very happy holiday my friend.
Murray
Back in young adulthood a grabbed a used Spotmatic. Still have it but man this goes way back beyond that. 1957? Gads Zooks! I was 5!
These go way back. They're awesome to use, however.
Hi David, excellent presentation! I have just acquired "The Asahi Pentax K1000. Does all you've explained here apply to the version I have? If not, please address K1000 as well. Cheers!
Thank you and it does not. I have a separate video series on the K1000.
I may be a young man but i still love shooting film through my spotmatic sp that my grandfather gave me back in 2014 I've put many a roll through it
Nice! These are really fun cameras to use, the whole Pentax lineup through about the mid-eighties.
Where does the AP fit in this line up before or after this Asahi Pentax (1957)?
The AP is the Asahi Pentax.
Is there any difference in build quality between the AP and the later pre-SP models? Is this similar to Leica where the M3 is reputed to be ever so slightly better in build quality then subsequent M's?
If anything, the latter ones though a bit more mechanically complex are a bit more reliable. If you're looking for a very reliable and all mechanical Pentax M42, the SL and H3V are great options that are a lot cheaper.
@@DavidHancock I am drawn to the slow speed dial on the front, as per Barnack Leicas and the straight silver chassis of the pre-Spots. That leaves me with the expensive 3!
My first 35mm camera was a Leica IIIa with a 50mm f/1.5-9 Taylor-Hobson Xenon lens which was "unsharp, flared when turned toward the light, and heavier than the camera body alone." Eventually I replaced that pre-World-War-II "speed lens" with a collapsible 50mm f/3.5 Elmar, which produced great images. The other 35mm camera was a Nikon S2 with a 50mm f/1.4 Nikkor along with lenses. Between the two, changing lenses on the Leica took a while, while the Contax-type bayonet mount on the Nikon was a quick-change winner. I was still using Ye Olde Leica in the mid-1960's at college, unlike most "advanced amateurs," who were "going 35mm SLR." A well-equipped semi-pro photographer was a Spotmatic user, who ruefully commented on the time and care required to change lenses on the run. So, I was primed to find an "affordable quick lens change system." (Canon FP at first, Nikkormat FTN, eventually.)
That's a rare lens today, the T-H Xenon. But I would extend the characterization of it to basically all Leica lenses of the time. I haven't seen an LTM lens from that era that produces images I truly care for.
Got a k1000 and an ME :)
I used a Pentax spot meter and a reverse zone system: night shoot on my ME (brightest part on image that's NOT a light source put at one zone-7), 100 speed ILFORD BW, stopped down to F16, on a tripod, pented 16x20 on Foma pearl. I love Pentax its a nerds camera. :)
Nice! That's a good approach to that situation.
Both are excellent cameras.