Finally!

[cdifoto]

My quest for a vintage 35mm SLR is over. I didn't get a bargain per se. But I consider myself to have paid for damage control.

I bought a Pentax Spotmatic with 50mm f/1.4 Super-Takumar lens and original Pentax carrying/storage case. Fresh seals, calibrated, cleaned, etc. $110 including USPS Priority (2-3 day) Shipping.

I could have waited, bid, waited, bid and saved possibly $40 on this camera, but every other camera I saw said nothing about having new seals or being freshly tuned. I could have ended up sending it to a repair center for the same treatment anyway. KEH.com's online estimator says ~$120 for a CLA or similar repair. I can't imagine the whole shebang.

I just paid for it about half an hour before this post...after a lot of agonizing and a losing bid on a Pentax K1000 SE which ended at $105. I'd rather have the M42 mount anyway.

Needless to say I haven't received it yet but I'm a bit excited about it. Thanks for listening to me ramble. I consider you guys my friends so I thought I'd share.

Here's what pushed me over the edge: http://www.pbase.com/zodema/india Spectacular gallery, IMO. I know it's photographer and not gear, but that proves the gear has the potential.

[cwphoto]

That's a great buy buddy. Have you got a special project in mind for this beauty of are you just gonna grab a roll of TRI-X and go for it? :D

[cdifoto]

My father's Topcon Uni's shutter is semi-perma-jammed now. I shot a partial roll through it and it locked up. In order to release it I have to tear the mount apart each time. I got tired of doing that so I set it aside for awhile. I liked the feel of an old manual camera so went on a search for something of my own. Didn't really want another Topcon Uni since research concluded that it's an unreliable camera in general due to the design. Was looking at some Pentax K1000s but they go pretty high on eBay even in rough shape. I guess because they're so popular as a "student camera." I figured ok let's see what else Pentax has. I found the Spotmatic and since it has the M42 mount I was even happier about that. I can get my hands on some Zeiss at a reasonable price if/when I feel like it...without an adapter.

After all that rambling...it's just for fun. Doesn't mean I won't use it professionally if I feel it's called for but that's not the intent. :)

[cwphoto]

I found the Spotmatic and since it has the M42 mount I was even happier about that. I can get my hands on some Zeiss at a reasonable price if/when I feel like it...without an adapter.

Now you have my attention! :D

I learned on my Dad's old Ricoh KR-10. I love the simplicity of it all, my haven't things changed:

[cdifoto]

They just feel good. Not sure why or how....I can't really put it into words. They just do. I can't say it's nostalgia for me though since the only 35mm camera I ever had was actually that Advantix crap in the form of a cheap (but expensive!) Minolta Vectis 30 P&S. I paid friggin' $300 for that POS many years ago. I actually started to learn (sorta) on a Fuji S7000.

ANYWAY...manual everything...and focusing with a proper screen...is fun. Depending how things go with the stock 50mm, I might get a Zeiss 135 f/3.5. I have a few copies on my radar. I'm kinda poor right now so it'll be at least a few weeks.

[Nickcanada]

Congrats on the buy! My step dad has a Pantax manual focus SLR. Not sure the model... I'll have to swipe it next time I'm down that way. He has a Tamron 70-200mm that is aperently "the best lens you can get for this camera"... Sounds familular, eh? He really doesn't know much about photography. He uses it like a P&S. I had a quick look at it and couldn't find a way to change SS or aperature. I'd be intrested in learning about it. Maybe I'll drive down on the weekend.(it's about 120Km away) Any specific mount I should be hoping for?

[cdifoto]

Congrats on the buy! My step dad has a Pantax manual focus SLR. Not sure the model... I'll have to swipe it next time I'm down that way. He has a Tamron 70-200mm that is aperently "the best lens you can get for this camera"... Sounds familular, eh? He really doesn't know much about photography. He uses it like a P&S. I had a quick look at it and couldn't find a way to change SS or aperature. I'd be intrested in learning about it. Maybe I'll drive down on the weekend.(it's about 120Km away) Any specific mount I should be hoping for?

My father used the topcon the same way. He said he never understood it but "got lucky" sometimes. :D I'll teach him sometime if he's interested enough to learn.

I don't know if you really could/should hope for any particular mount. The M42 aka Contax aka Yashica aka Pentax Screw is the most common I believe. The Pentax K is common enough to get lenses cheap, but the Topcon Uni uses a proprietary UV Topcor mount and they only made like 4 lenses for it in all.

[Nickcanada]

So what makes a "good" film camera anyway? All the image quality is in the lens and film right? The body is just there to house the film and lens as long as the body seals light from the sensor(oops, FILM) and is mechanically sound all should be well, right?

[cdifoto]

So what makes a "good" film camera anyway? All the image quality is in the lens and film right? The body is just there to house the film and lens as long as the body seals light from the sensor(oops, FILM) and is mechanically sound all should be well, right?

Pretty much. :) Good usually means durable, reliable, etc. The glass is really where it's all at IQ wise. Unlike digital where the sensor is as important as the glass.

[forno]

DANG, Don you have thrown me into a spin

I have a film SLR at home with a few lenses but the camera has a dead curcuit board and althogh it can be fixed it will more than likely happen again as its a flexible board and over time they get britle and crack. So more than likely any that are available will crack soon aswell

So I thought I should get a light meter, then I founsd that they are going to be a few hundred bucks so I went digital

Now I actually want a light meter for the DSLR:o :o :o

Anyway goodluck with the new camera, is there a good lab around your hood?

[cwphoto]

DANG, Don you have thrown me into a spin

I have a film SLR at home with a few lenses but the camera has a dead curcuit board and althogh it can be fixed it will more than likely happen again as its a flexible board and over time they get britle and crack. So more than likely any that are available will crack soon aswell

So I thought I should get a light meter, then I founsd that they are going to be a few hundred bucks so I went digital

Now I actually want a light meter for the DSLR:o :o :o

Anyway goodluck with the new camera, is there a good lab around your hood?

I went down this road about fifteen years ago (without the digital part) and look where I ended up - I hope you have deep pockets my friend. :D

[forno]

YOURE HURTING ME CEEDUB YOURE HURTING ME:o :p

[Nickcanada]

I called my mum. It's a Pentax P30N with a Tamron 28-200mm 3.8-5.6 and a mystery lens.... I did a bit of research, KA baonet mount, and auto/manual exposure. Built in 1990.

Cool, I'm looking forward to playing around with it. I think it would help me think before shooting instead of my usual fire at will stratagy.

[cdifoto]

DANG, Don you have thrown me into a spin

I have a film SLR at home with a few lenses but the camera has a dead curcuit board and althogh it can be fixed it will more than likely happen again as its a flexible board and over time they get britle and crack. So more than likely any that are available will crack soon aswell

So I thought I should get a light meter, then I founsd that they are going to be a few hundred bucks so I went digital

Now I actually want a light meter for the DSLR:o :o :o

Anyway goodluck with the new camera, is there a good lab around your hood?

The cameras have meters built in so you don't really need a handheld. Having one can still be useful though.

There's a decent lab about 12 miles down the road but here in town at the local Wal-Mart we have people who actually have a clue so I'll have it done there. I don't have to pay for shots that didn't turn out, and they offer scans on CD. If/when I get into it more heavily I'll probably develop my own B&W and invest in a negative scanner. Baby steps though...

[Mark_48]

Asahi Pentax Spotmatic, black body - First SLR I purchased back in about 1969, followed over the years by a couple of more bodies. Shot weddings with them with not much more than the 50mm f/1.4 and a 135mm f/3.5 Sigma, both primes and a couple of Vivitar 283's.......and all the gear is still usable to this day. The only problem is the camera was designed to take the now banned mercury battery for the meter, which there is a replacement for. It just doesn't last as long as the mercury one. (I think you can get the mercury variety out of country by mail, although I never tried)

You'll enjoy it. It's got a good feel to it and the 50mm lens is wicked sharp. Get an adapter to fit it to the Canon (it is the M42 mount on yours?). You can get some nice primes that are still great glass from ebay. I've got a Takumar 200mm f/4 that takes incredibly sharp pics mounted on a 20D.

http://www.yaremko.com/

http://www.photobattery.com/#s400

http://www.robertstech.com/pentax.htm

http://www.pentax-manuals.com/

http://www.photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/index-frameset.html?batteries.html~mainFrame

[cdifoto]

I'm looking forward to getting it. I may or may not buy more lenses for it. I'll wait and see how it functions first. If I like it I can see getting a 135mm (whether it's a Zeiss or a Takumar depends on how much I like the camera - both are on my Favorite Searches list on eBay) and maybe a wide-angle. Not likely on the WA though since I'm usually not much into it. Normal and Portrait should suffice just fine.

As far as film goes I bought a roll of B&W film from Wal-Mart just for testing purposes, and have 4 more rolls in my B&H cart waiting for purchase if the camera is actually as described.

[forno]

Don, you inspired me to dig out the old SLR

As I said earlier it needs a new circuit board but the cost of tha is probably more than a light meter, so I will stick it back in the cupboard untill I get a meter

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/4333/img6190xr9.jpg

[cdifoto]

Don, you inspired me to dig out the old SLR

As I said earlier it needs a new circuit board but the cost of tha is probably more than a light meter, so I will stick it back in the cupboard untill I get a meter

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/4333/img6190xr9.jpg

That's a shame about the CB. Physically it looks to be in great shape.

I'm being extremely optimistic and unrealistic by hoping the Pentax shows up today. It's only slightly possible...but still possible. USPS 2-3 day Priority - today would be that 2nd day. :)

[forno]

LOL at Dons itchy trigger finger:D

[cdifoto]

LOL at Dons itchy trigger finger:D

Yeah. Sad ain't it? ~$10,000 digital EOS kit and I'm being impatient over a $100 film "kit"... :rolleyes:

[forno]

You have no idea how itchy my finger is on the buy button for a flash:o

Have you got a scanner to post up some shots from the new kit?

[cdifoto]

You have no idea how itchy my finger is on the buy button for a flash:o

Have you got a scanner to post up some shots from the new kit?

Yeah a flash adds a whole new dimension to indoor photos...as Andy's thread has proven. I've given up on always trying to get the fastest of the fast glass and go for a "stop down & blast up" approach. :)

I have a cheap Canon flatbed scanner but since I'm having Wal-Mart develop my film I'll see about having them put scans on CD for me. If I really get into this I'll buy a negative scanner of my own.

[cwphoto]

Gon, is that a 500/8 Mirror lens I spy in that kit?

[forno]

Gon, is that a 500/8 Mirror lens I spy in that kit?

600 from memory, nice and compact:D

but slow and not very sharp:o