Need help asap please
Posted 01/08/2004 - 18:28
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Hi Joe
The Spotmatic takes a 1.35v mercury cell that has been replaced by the PX400 equivalent Wein Zinc/Air cell. Jessops sell these for £4.95. It is important not to use a similar cell of 1.5v because the higher voltage would affect the meter readings.
The standard lens is usually a 55mm f1.8 or a 50mm f1.4 Super takumar. Both these lenses, and most Pentax standard lenses, take 49mm screw-in filters.
The Spotmatic is one of the truly classic SLRs - have fun with it!
The Spotmatic takes a 1.35v mercury cell that has been replaced by the PX400 equivalent Wein Zinc/Air cell. Jessops sell these for £4.95. It is important not to use a similar cell of 1.5v because the higher voltage would affect the meter readings.
The standard lens is usually a 55mm f1.8 or a 50mm f1.4 Super takumar. Both these lenses, and most Pentax standard lenses, take 49mm screw-in filters.
The Spotmatic is one of the truly classic SLRs - have fun with it!
Best regards, John
Posted 01/08/2004 - 18:32
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Hi Joe,
I was just typing a reply to give you the same answer but John beat me to it. If you want a copy of the manual, I should have one in the next day or so available to download from my website. In you need it quicker I can email it
Regards
Kim
I was just typing a reply to give you the same answer but John beat me to it. If you want a copy of the manual, I should have one in the next day or so available to download from my website. In you need it quicker I can email it
Regards
Kim
Posted 01/08/2004 - 18:32
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oh i have just bought 2 filters that are 55mm!!! im such an idiot!!! Thanks for the reply
Posted 01/08/2004 - 18:43
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so just to confirm-i need 49mm filters and a battery equivilant to 1.35v? Many thanks
Posted 01/08/2004 - 18:47
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Hi Joe,
Thats right. The battery details are here http://www.smallbattery.company.org.uk/sbc_mrb400.htm
Most of the Pentax Screw Lenses take 49mm filters. The 55 on the lens refers to the focal length.
Regards
Kim
Thats right. The battery details are here http://www.smallbattery.company.org.uk/sbc_mrb400.htm
Most of the Pentax Screw Lenses take 49mm filters. The 55 on the lens refers to the focal length.
Regards
Kim
Posted 01/08/2004 - 22:32
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many thanks once again...Does anyone know any good sights to look at for the spotmatic? Or great photography sites on the net with lessons and tips etc?
Sorry to be a pain!
Sorry to be a pain!
Posted 04/08/2004 - 12:08
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if you could send me a copy of that manual id be very grateful. Also does anyone have any good web sites to visit on technique etc??
many thanks
many thanks
Posted 04/08/2004 - 13:00
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Hi,
If you look here
http://pentaxmanuals.temp.powweb.com/
you will find manuals for all the Spots. This is a temporary url and it will change soon to http://www.pentax-manuals.com/
If you find any problems, let me know. I have only jusy gone on line and am still de bugging it!!!
Regards
Kim
If you look here
http://pentaxmanuals.temp.powweb.com/
you will find manuals for all the Spots. This is a temporary url and it will change soon to http://www.pentax-manuals.com/
If you find any problems, let me know. I have only jusy gone on line and am still de bugging it!!!
Regards
Kim
Posted 04/08/2004 - 21:47
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hi there
He recieved the spotmatic today and my dad is really over the moon. Its in mint condition and has an extra lens with it also. A bargain for just over £50 i think!
One quick question...there is a switch that you can flick from manual to aut on on the lens...Is this exposure? I notice when it is switched to manual, all effects such as aperture and shutter speed show on the viewfinder (ie darker and lighter). He (my dad) was told to try and use the camera without the light meter. I take it switching to manual and adjusting the light through the viewfinder would work? In short will a photo print the same as is viewed through his camera on manual?
Many thanks and sorry for the long winded question!!!
He recieved the spotmatic today and my dad is really over the moon. Its in mint condition and has an extra lens with it also. A bargain for just over £50 i think!
One quick question...there is a switch that you can flick from manual to aut on on the lens...Is this exposure? I notice when it is switched to manual, all effects such as aperture and shutter speed show on the viewfinder (ie darker and lighter). He (my dad) was told to try and use the camera without the light meter. I take it switching to manual and adjusting the light through the viewfinder would work? In short will a photo print the same as is viewed through his camera on manual?
Many thanks and sorry for the long winded question!!!
Posted 04/08/2004 - 21:58
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Hi Joe,
I assume its a spot or spot II. If the lens is on Auto, when you take a photo, the lens will stop down to the aperture you have selected and spring open again. If you put the meter on This will have the same effect and keep the lens at the selected aperture while you take a meter reading. You can then put the meter off and take you shot. Having the lens operate this way means you have a brighter and easier finder to focus with. If you want to check depth of field put it to man. On some M42 cameras, you have to manually stop the lens down to meter. Unless your father has separate light meter, he really ought to use the camera one. It is also much easier. The only problem with the Spotmatics is that it is that you can't get the original batteries as they have been banned. The link above explains this. The meter in a spot should work very well. The trouble is a lot of them are sold with faulty meters. If you look further up the page you can get a link for most of the spot manuals. I know cos it's my website
Regards
Kim
I assume its a spot or spot II. If the lens is on Auto, when you take a photo, the lens will stop down to the aperture you have selected and spring open again. If you put the meter on This will have the same effect and keep the lens at the selected aperture while you take a meter reading. You can then put the meter off and take you shot. Having the lens operate this way means you have a brighter and easier finder to focus with. If you want to check depth of field put it to man. On some M42 cameras, you have to manually stop the lens down to meter. Unless your father has separate light meter, he really ought to use the camera one. It is also much easier. The only problem with the Spotmatics is that it is that you can't get the original batteries as they have been banned. The link above explains this. The meter in a spot should work very well. The trouble is a lot of them are sold with faulty meters. If you look further up the page you can get a link for most of the spot manuals. I know cos it's my website
Regards
Kim
Posted 04/08/2004 - 23:18
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many thanks kim-bought a battery and hopefully the light meter will produce some good results. Do you know of any good sites to look at exposure and technique?
Posted 04/08/2004 - 23:25
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you could try www.ephotozine.com for technique articles and free uploads to the gallery.
Posted 05/08/2004 - 00:49
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Hi,
If you can get hold of it in the library or S/H, The Asahi Pentax Way by Herbert Keppler is a superb book for both information and technique on the older Pentaxs. If you can't find it in the library. copies quite often come up on eBay.
Regards
Kim
If you can get hold of it in the library or S/H, The Asahi Pentax Way by Herbert Keppler is a superb book for both information and technique on the older Pentaxs. If you can't find it in the library. copies quite often come up on eBay.
Regards
Kim
Posted 06/08/2004 - 14:44
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can anyone post a link for how to load and unload a film for the spotmatic please?
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2277 posts
24 years
just bought a spotmatic for a present and it has no battery for the light meter. If i went into Jessops, what exactly would i ask for?!
Also am i right in saying this is a 55mm lens on the Spotmatic? So i can get filters that are 55mm?
Many thanks in advance and any help would be great.
Joe