Congratulations George . . .

Thanks George your welcome

Never decline a Spotmatic (unless you already have one or two).

They were the quintessential SLR camera of the 60s and early 70s, and probably the most successful serious camera ever made (in relation to the size of the market at the time).

The screw-mount lenses were very good indeed, and if you get offered a Spottie you might also pick up a lens or two. They can be fun to use on a modern camera; you just need a small M42-K mount adapter.

G

Really i thought it was junk. Tells you what i know and it had one lens on it smc-m 50mm 2:0.
I didnt think much of it as i got a 50mm 1.7 A off the super A and a 100mm 2.8 -M off the P30.
I guess im not into the vintage stuff

No, it didn't, or it wasn't a Spotmatic. You can fit a screw-mount lens to a K-mount body, but not vice-versa. The throat is too small.

Although the 50mm 1:2 lens is a bit of a poor relation, it's still a very fine performer. If you don't already have a 50mm, it's worth getting one. The qualityrice ratio is higher than for any other lens.

G

It definitley was a screw thread and it was a spotmatic. so maybe i got the lens wrong. It said something in the vicinity of what i posted. I will take another look at it.

As far as I recall, Spotmatics came with either a 50mm 1:1.4, or a 55m 1:1.8.

Possibly it was a non-Pentax lens - perhaps a Zeiss.

Of course, this being Australia, the home of resourceful, DIY types, perhaps the owner had removed the bayonet mount and machined himself a 42mm screw-mount. But I think it's unlikely.

G

You have me intrigued now, I could have sworn i saw a 1:2 on it. i will see him on the weekend and check it it out.

You were right George I stand corrected it wasnt a Pentax lens but a Super Takumar 1:2 / 55. Do you think is worth getting the adaptor and using this lens. It looks very clean despite sitting in a box in someones garage for 15 years.

It was a Pentax lens, just not a Pentax-M as you originally thought.

Before the K-bayonet, Pentax cameras used the 42mm screw-mount, and the lenses were called Takumars, after the chief engineer at the time.

The company was originally called the Asahi Optical Company, but it changed its name to Pentax after the Spotmatic camera bodies made the name Pentax instantly recognisable.

Sadly, and stupidly (because Takumar lenses were revered for their optical and mechanical quality) Pentax later devalued the name by applying it to cheap, uncoated bayonet lenses.

Try rotating the focus ring on the Takumar lens. If it's still in good condition it will turn with a silky smoothness that modern lens makers can only dream about.

It's worth having an old Spottie just to turn the focus ring on the lens occasionally.

So if it's OK, and going for a song, get it.

G