As I've noted several times here, I did a little research a few years ago and arrived at an "informed consensus" among several experts that if the Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 50/1.4 were to be built and marketed today, it would have to retail for between $800 and $1600 somewhere, probably in the neighborhood of $1,200. Not bad for a lens you can get for $50 on eBay.
I recently got a fine chrome ES II and have been very pleased with it. It's a beautiful camera (I never thought they looked very good in pictures, but I like it in person better) and easy and convenient to use compared to the stop-down Spotties. Of course the true Spotmatic is an SP with no hot shoe, but the ES has maybe 70% of the SP's charm and a bit more convenience. I've made a change in my M.O. for the sake of the old dog, though--for years I've been carrying my camera "exposed" on just a strap, but for the sake of preserving my beauty I'm going to carry it in a small padded camera bag. It deserves it.... Does anyone know of a source for a good wrist-strap? Thanks for the Spotmatic talk--it's gratifying to the soul. --Mike * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Pentax Spotmatics, Macs, stick shifts, jazz on vinyl, hardback books, Tri-X in D-76, and the home darkroom forever! > Very well said Bob. I knew there had to be more to it, regarding the > competition > with the German lens makers. Everytime I wind, change ASA settings, or > set film type with the Spotmatic, I`m amazed at the workmanship that went > into that camera, and the S.-M.-C. Takumars optical and mechanical > construction. It was the same kind of thing with the early Vivitar Series > 1 lenses. We need another no-name company to come out and produce > some no holes barred equipment. > > Steve Larson >> Mike, >> Thanks for the overview. Most of us "screwheads" already know about > the >> mistique of the Spotmaitcs and their fantastic lenses. >> I have heard reports that Pentax lost money on each lens they sold and >> that they were hand polished. Test reports in the late 60's by both Modern >> and Popular confirmed the fact that their normal lenses were a cut above > the >> rest. It was unfair to Leitz that their lenses of normal lenses of that > era >> were very ordinary compared to the rest. It was a low point in their lens >> developement. >> Pentax was trying to gain market share from the Germans and to do so >> they must produce a superior product - and they did. Canon had their >> rangefinder and no SLR and Nikon had their rangefinder and the F and later >> Nikormat. Pentax, almost by them selves, saw to it that the prior lengends >> from Germany would soon see their demise in the SLR field. >> Meanwhile, in Japan, every manufacturer wanted a piece of the action. >> They started producing "Pentax" Compatible cameras and lenses - at a > cheaper >> price to erode Pentax'x market share. >> To produce cameras and lenses today to the standards of the Spotmatics >> and Taukmars, the price of the MZ-S and Limited lenses would appear the be >> bargins. >> I do love my Spotmatics, but I have extended my love afair with Pentax >> to include the later lenses and bodies. However, when I feel like spoiling >> myself, out come the Spotmatics and lenses. >> For the "Breach Locks" in the list, I suggest that you obtain an oldie >> and spend a little time with revisiting a very unique and wonderfull era. > I >> know that the magic returns when I lift the Spotmatic to my eye. >> >> Bob - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
