----- Original Message -----
From: "Pål Jensen"
Subject: Re: Pentax Future? What's next for Pentax...
Apart from the fact that Pentax didn't have a camera in the F2 class at
the time, the Nikon of the times was outclassed by everyone else except
Topcon. The lenses need to be set at F:5.6 in order to mount. The metering
was years behind what the competition offered. Nikon was years behind
Pentax and others in electronics. In fact, most Nikons were in fact
Pentax copies apart from those inspired by Topcon. They even copied the
names. The Pentax ES became the Nikkormat EL. The Pentax ME became the
Nikon EM(!). All of course years later.
Sure, the Nikon were well built but they were years behind the competition
in technology. Not until the early 80's did Nikon catch up.
HAR!! You are a funny man.
My 1974 built F2s had accurate metering down to something like EV-2, timed
shutter speeds to 10 seconds, continuously variable shutter speeds from sync
to 1/2000 second, interchangable viewfinders and focussing screens and had
the abiltity to operate as a shutter preferred automatic camera via a rather
unwieldy looking, but apparently quite ergonomic attachment.
In addition, the thing was built like a tank, and would mount a 5fps motor
drive (the fastest available at the time) which would also power rewind the
film.
I think Pentax had managed open aperture metering by 1974.
William Robb
