Pentax Spotmatic

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Pentax Spotmatic

The Pentax Spotmatics are a range of 35mm single-lens reflex cameras manufactured by the Asahi Optical Corporation, later known as Pentax, between 1964 and 1976. The original 1964 Spotmatic was the first successful camera to offer a through-the-lens (TTL) exposure metering system, initially using average metering and later center-weighting.

The range comprises the original Spotmatic, Spotmatic II and IIa, Spotmatic F, the budget models SP500 and SP1000, the SL, identical to the Spotmatic except that it did not have the built-in light meter. In the mid-'70's the Electro-Spotmatic (ES in USA) was the first aperture-priority, electronic, automatic Spotmatic. It was followed by the Electro-Spotmatic II (ESII in USA). The word Spotmatic is often abbreviated to SP; references to the SP, SPII, SPF, etc. are common.

All Pentax Spotmatics use a M42 lens screw mount. The lenses are used at maximum aperture to give a bright viewfinder image, and are stopped down automatically on pressing the shutter release before exposure.

Honeywell was the U.S. importer of the Spotmatic and these cameras were labelled Honeywell Pentax, instead of Asahi Pentax.

All Pentax Spotmatics made use of Takumar lenses of various types. These were high-quality, progressively improved lenses made by Asahi Optical Company