The differences are that the Spotmatic F offers depth-of-field preview, which the K1000 doesn't (push up on the meter switch) and that for older Super-Takumar lenses and many other screwmount M42 lenses, it needs to meter with the lens stopped down, just like the older Spotmatics. For those lenses, push up on the meter switch and you get stop-down metering and depth-of-field preview at the same time.
Another difference may be that the Spotmatics, ES cameras and the Spotmatic F are full-frame averaging meters, instead of centerweighted like the later K and M series. In some cases, it may make little difference, but you have to pay more attention to bright spots or areas anywhere in the frame, since they will influence exposure as much as if they were dead center in the viewfinder.
Metering works in much the same way on the ES cameras -- open aperture metering (with aperture-priority exposure in this case) for SMC Takumars, and stop-down metering for Super-Takumars and other screwmounts. There's no exposure lock on the ES cameras, though, so you have to dial in compensation when necessary, whereas with the Spotmatic F you'd do what you do with a K1000 -- swing the camera to part of the scene that better approaches an 18 percent gray, set your exposure, and then recompose.
Joe
I'm beginning to think this may be the way to go.
Despite DJE's explanations, I am still a bit confused. Also after a brief read of the web pages, and briefly looked at the Spotmatic F and II manuals. But as far as I can figure out, the metering on screwmounts was not the same as present day or the K-1000. Only the Taks could be read because it was not metering in the fashion that I am used to.
Would the ESII be closest to the way the K-1000 metered? And other screwmounts (non-Taks, non-Super Taks -- non-Pentax) could be put on it and meter correctly?
Bit confusing, all this stuff. Kind of overwhelmed here. But I can take my time understanding it.
I'm interested in the Tak 100 Macro. Would it meter correctly on the ESII? Was it a decent lens?
Only problem with the ESes they are much, much harder to find (on ebay and elsewhere). And I've never seen the Tak 100 Macro at keh.
Marnie aka Doe
