The Pentax Collection

The Pentax Collection.

The following cameras are listed in age order - oldest toward the top of the page.

Perhaps you were unaware but many of the principal features on your SLR camera were developed by Pentax: The SLR concept itself, the instant return mirror, through the lens metering, the pentaprism and the TTL autofocus system to name but a few. Pentax was ahead of other manufacturers with the development of digital cameras with its MZ-D model but it never went into production as the Phillips sensor was, apparently, not up to the job.
One of the great advantages of operating a Pentax is that one can still use any bayonet lens that the company has produced since 1975 when the format was first introduced or, by use of an adaptor, any 42mm screw thread lens going all the way back to the 50s. As far as I am aware no other company can make that claim. Pentax users are open to using legacy lenses, whether they be full frame or APS-C format, as the company has produced some magnificent glassware over the years. I too experiment with lenses from the past on the K-1; I'm currently using a Pentax 24 - 90mm produced at the tail end of the film era.
I have tried to equip each camera body in the collection with an appropriate lens i.e. in the case of the older cameras one of the options that it was sold with, using the camera's operating manual as guidance. In more recent years it has been more customary to purchase the body only and to equip it with the desired lens.

Many thanks to Kris Lockyear for allowing me use some of the photo captions from his website. (https://krislockyearphotography.foliopic.com/)

Tower 22 (Asahiflex IIA) (s/n 77570) 1955-1957/Asahi-Kogaku Takumar 58mm/f2,4 (s/n 85216)

S2 (s/n 405781) 1961-1962/SMC Takumar 55mm/f2 (s/n 7759648)

S3 (s/n 433627) 1961-1962/Super Takumar 55mm/f1,8 (s/n 888864)

SV (late model)(s/n 868188) 1964-1968/Super Takumar 55mm/f1,8 (s/n 1035171)

The Pentax SV was manufactured between 1962 and 1968 in two slight variants. The first version, which has a green R on the rewind knob, had to be updated to accomodate the new Super Takumar 50mm f/1.4 lens. The updated version can be identified by the orange R on the rewind knob, and the fact that the back catch was moved from the door to the body.
The SV takes M42 screw mount lenses. These are often called "Pentax screw mount" lenses although in reality it was quite a common mount and not a Pentax innovation. There is no internal light meter, and therefore no need for batteries. The dial around the rewind knob is simply a film reminder dial. The SV also has a self timer built in, although this is the ring around the rewind knob triggered by the small silver button on the top plate. This is the only Pentax to use such a system, most others with a self timer in the mechanical period had a lever on the front of the body.
(Kris Lockyear)

Honeywell H3v (Pentax SV)(s/n 1600182) 1964-1968/Super Takumar 55mm/f2 (s/n 5358762)

S1a (s/n 663542) 1964-1968/Super Takumar 55mm/f2 (s/n 6077352)

S1a (s/n 1658256) 1964-1968/Super Takumar 55mm/f2 (s/n 835981)

SP (s/n 2595158) 1964-1973 Super Takumar 50mm/f1,4 (s/n 3074550)

The Pentax Spotmatic was launched in July 1964 and was manufactured up until 1973. It was updated slightly in 1965.
The name "Spotmatic" came from the intention, at least initially, for the camera to include a spot meter. In the end, however, the camera was fitted with a centre-weighted through-the-lens meter. The meter is activated by pushing up the button on the side of the lens mount, which can just be seen in the attached photograph. This button closed the lens down the to chosen aperture and activated the meter. A needle in the viewfinder indicated over- or under-exposure. The shutter speeds ranged from 1 second to 1/1000 plus 'B'. There is a self-timer lever on the front of the camera. Most Spotmatics were in a metallic finish, but they were also available in black. The Spotmatic was in many ways the "iconic" Pentax camera of the 1960s and was very popular. It was worthy of the slogan "Just hold a Pentax". (Kris Lockyear)

SL (s/n 3035762) 1968-1971/Super Takumar 55mm/f2 (s/n 741274)

SPII (s/n 6235547) 1971-1976/ Super Takumar 50mm/f1,4 (s/n 25336865)

Honeywell SP500 (s/n 3277508) 1971-1974

SP1000 (s/n 5747129) 1973-1976

Honeywell SPF (s/n 6031536) 1973-1976

Asahi SPF (s/n 4975318) 1973-1976

ESII (s/n 6758612) 1973-1975

The Pentax ESII was manufactured between 1973 and 1975. It was one of the last M42 screw mount cameras released by Pentax before the introduction of the K mount in 1975.The ESII was an improved version of the Pentax ES, which itself was a more widely released version of the Electro Spotmatic. The ESII features aperture priority exposure (Av) with an exposure compensation dial around the rewind knob. Although manual mode is available, it is unmetered and has a limited range of shutter speeds. The shutter is manual, however, allowing you to continue to use the camera without batteries if necessary. One cool feature is that there are two automatic settings the second of which activates a viewfinder curtain blind. This is useful in preventing erroneous exposures when using the camera on a tripod etc. without your eye to the viewfinder.
The example in the photograph is the more unusual aluminium variety; most ESIIs are black. I have attached an SMC Takumar 55mm f/1.8 lens, the immediate forerunner of of the K series 55mm f1/.8. (Kris Lockyear)

K2 (s/n 7063986) 1975-1980

In 1975 Pentax abandoned the M42 lens mount and introduced their new K mount, which in various incarnations remains in use until today. The first three models were the basic KM, the more advanced KX, and the top-level K2. The K2 featured an aperture priority exposure mode. The following year Pentax introduced the ultra-basic K1000 and the advanced K2DMD.
The most unusual (for Pentax) aspect of this camera is the fact that the ASA dial (now ISO) is around the lens throat. This can get sticky and non-functional. It is also not obvious how to set it! To do so, one firstly makes sure the exposure compensation is set to zero. Then push the small button on the bottom right of the lens throat and then rotate the ASA dial from the bottom of the camera. The most common mistake is to try and move the ASA dial using the protruding lugs which are for the exposure compensation setting. Despite this oddity, the camera is a rugged and well built model and a pleasure to use. (Kris Lockyear)

KX (s/n 8128799) 1975-1977

KM (s/n 8197229) 1975-1977/SMC Pentax-M 50mm/f1,7

The Pentax KM was the most basic of the three new K-mount SLRs introduced in 1975, the others being the KX and the K2. The even-more basic K1000 was launched in the following year. The camera has a simple needle system for indicating exposure within the viewfinder, a self timer and depth of field preview. In many ways it is very much a K-mount version of the Spotmatic II. It was made until 1977 when most of the K-series bodies were discontinued in favour of the new M series. K1000s have gained an "iconic" status and a price to match. The KM only offers a few more features, but can be found for a fraction of the price. Probably better to spend your money on the KM and save the rest for some good glass. The KM also came in the rarer black finish, and there is a special motordrive version which is as common as unicorn droppings! (Kris Lockyear)

MX (s/n 4237838) 1976-1985/Pentax M 35-70mm/f2.8-f3.5 (s/n 7003027)

K1000 (s/n 7927121) 1978-1990/Pentax M 50mm/f2 (s/n 3194740)

MV (s/n 3069686) 1979-1982

ME Super (s/n 2939548) 1980-1987

The ME Super was introduced in 1980 as the succesor to the auto-only ME which had been introduced alongside the MX in 1976. Unlike the ME, the ME Super had both automatic and manual exposure modes. In manual, the shutter speeds were changed using two small push buttons situated next to the mode dial. It was aimed at the enthusiast market and lacked "pro" features such as a depth of field preview, interchangeable focusing screens and so forth which were available for the MX and the newly released LX. It was, however, a massive success and topped the sales charts for several years. As a result they are extremely plentiful now and very cheap. (Kris Lockyear)

ME F (s/n 3596262) 1981-1984. The world's first auto-focus SLR to go into production although it wasn't too successful!

LX (s/n 5279963) 1980 - 2001.

The Pentax LX was manufactured between 1980 and 2001. As well as early and late standard variants of the standard model there were several special editions including a tasteless gold plated one! The Pentax LX was intended to be a "pro" camera to challenge Canon and Nikon's offerings. It is the only Pentax 35mm camera to offer interchangeable viewfinders with a wide variety to choose from. There was also a wide range of focusing screens, a winder, a motordrive, data backs, bulk film backs and so on, along with, of course, Pentax's wide range of K-mount lenses, flash guns and other non-camera model specific accessories.
The LX offered both manual exposure control and aperture priority. It metered light off the film plane during exposure so that in Av mode it would adjust the shutter speed if the light changed. This is especially useful for very long exposures. The LX's meter could cope with light levels from -6.5EV to 20. It also had mirror lock-up, depth of field preview, a self-timer and exposure compensation.
Unlike many 35mm SLRs, especially the electronic whizz-bang multimode all singing all dancing later models of any make which go for peanuts second hand, the LX has retained a good second-hand resale value. If you can afford one, I cannot recommend it highly enough. It is a dream machine! (Kris Lockyear)