Hello I hope everybody is well. I have just joined the forum and wanted to introduce myself.

My name is Andy and my first Pentax was a Spotmatic II in about 1973. I have had several Pentax SLRs, DSLRs and 35mm compact cameras since then. Currently using a couple of K5 bodies.

I mainly take pictures of urban scenes. I currently have a photography exhibition in the centre of my local town.

I have been reading AP since about 1972. Currently I usually read it at the library.

 

Welocome to the Forum Andy.

Your history is similar to mine, only I started with a Spotmatic F. I am currently using a K5ii (main camera), a K50 (family pictures) and a Canon G12 (foreign holidays) A review of my (not very good pictures) shows mainly town, country, and family with a little bit of abstract for good measure.

 

Welcome aboard

 

Welcome to the forum, Andy!

I started going Pentax with a K20D, then got an ME Super, 'coz I still like shooting film, and also picked up a Samsung GX10, which is almost a K10D, and last year picked up a 2nd hand K3.

I look forward to seeing some of your pictures, perhaps in the Exhibition Lounge.

 

Hi Andy,

I started with a K1000 and 50/2 in the summer of 1987 and
have progessed to a, currently, K50 w/ 50-135/2.8 and, if a
wide angle is necessary, I have a Ricoh GR_IV in my vest pocket

Cheers and welcome to quality, not quantity, forum in AP

Jack ……. in Vancouver, BC

 

Thanks everybody.

 

I started with Pentax in about 1961 with a Pentax S3 -- I chopped in a Contax IIIa in part exchange -- I have since had : S1a, Program A ( I won it free!),LX,MX, ME Super, ME, P30n, SV, Spotmatic 1, Spotmatic F, 6x7 Mark I and II. I have taken all my 'Prizewinners' on Pentax -- pity you never see anyone using the brand outside now !

 

Takumars are excellent lenses and I can't think of any camera prettier than a Spottie...

 

Yep, there is a feelgood factor. The great thing is you can still use those Taks on yer digital camera too, they are built like tanks, will last forever and they are still damned good glass. I prefer the K series for convenience of mounting but the K's are still Taks at heart.

 

I'm a great Spottie fan, but would say they're more handsome than pretty.

 

I still have my Spotmatic II (although I have not tried to use it for many years) in its original soft black leather Asahi Pentax case, and SMC Takumar 55mm, 135mm and 35mm lenses, operating manuals and guarantees. I also have the invoice which shows I bought the camera body and 55mm lens in May 1974 for £99 together with the case which cost £9.90. The cameras were being sold cheaply as the Spotmatic II was being withdrawn and it was this fact which enabled me to buy a Pentax.

 

Indeed, Nicholas, indeed and, FWIW, I like me MX and my, hidden away
somewhere, AshaiFlex IIb

jack

 

No Asahiflex here, but lots of Spotties and S models, the MX of course, K2 DMD, several ESPIO compacts, an Auto 110 and my 67. And my Qs, of course.

The Auto 110 is quite pretty, the MX remains my favourite.

 

ditto....

I also have a Spotmatic 500 which is still is mint condition, complete with the little gold coloured JMDC PASSED sticker.

The annoying thing with the Spotmatic 500 was that even though the maximum shutter speed on the dial was 1/500 it also had the 1/1000 setting as well but not marked. I had progressed to the ME & MX before I found this out..!!

 

The 500 wasn't the first time Asahi had pulled that one. Before the Spotmatic was the SV, with its cheaper variant: the S1a. The knowledgeable buyer, who didn't require the SV's self timer, could save a nice bit of change by purchasing the S1a instead and remembering that the unmarked click-stop after "500" was close enough to 1/1000th to be entirely useable...

 

Yeah, they wanted a lower-spec model to sell for less, but didn't want to pay to develop a new shutter - simple solution, just not mark the speed on the dial.

 

Hi,

I have also been with Pentax for more years than I wish to admit to. My Father introduced me to Pentax and I inherited his SV, which is the camera on my Avatar. This has the M42 Super Takumar 55mm f/1.8, which I could use on my dslr's but have yet to do so. I have the adapter but just didn't get around to it. Probably because I have the 50mm f/1.7 auto focus, so no need.

I have worked my way through from ME Super (sold) to Z1-p, which I still own then on to the K10D, K20D, K-7 (all sold), K-5 and now the K-3. Hate to think what that has cost me in trade ups, but I still have the K-5 with grip and the K-3 is the Prestige gun metal derivative. Without doubt, the K-3 is the best dslr I have ever used.

Welcome to the group.

 

I've started photography recently, I own the Pentax K10D. It's cheap but pretty decent.

 

Like the ginger cat shot in the Instagram.

 

Thank you very much!