On Nov 28, 2010, at 1:45 PM, Adam Maas wrote: > The M series were something of an uptick in Pentax's fortunes as > things had been headed downhill after the success of the early > Spotmatics. The later Spotties never sold as well as the early ones > and the K series didn't really sell any better which is why they were > replaced so quickly. But even the M's didn't stall Pentax's decline, > instead they cemented Pentax's reputation as a low-end camera company. > > Remember in the mid-60's Pentax dominated the 35mm SLR world alongside > Nikon. By 1972-73 they were a much smaller player as Canon and Minolta > in particular had introduced successful modern designs. Pentax never > came close to regaining the marketshare or status they had in the > mid/late 60's. >
Exactly. And the K1000 preceded the M Series by at least a few months. I was just starting to do some race track shooting in the early seventies and Pentax was still fairly well respected then. But when the K series was released and was apparently nothing more than a Spotmatic F with a bayonet mount, they're fortunes hit the skids. However, the 6x7 soon became very desirable among the pros, even the race track shooters I hung with. It established Pentax as a top end player in MF, but an amateur and student brand in 35mm. In some ways, that positioning persists today. Paul > > > On Sun, Nov 28, 2010 at 1:20 PM, P. J. Alling > <[email protected]> wrote: >> You've got that backwards Paul. The K series, preceded the M series of >> cameras, which made Pentax in the '70's, (a lot of ME and ME variant cameras >> were sold). The K1000 was release soon after the introduction of the M >> series after the other K series cameras were dropped. It the various >> cameras after the M series and Minolta's introduction of the first really >> practical Auto Focus cameras began Pentax's decline. >> >> On 11/27/2010 10:41 PM, paul stenquist wrote: >>> >>> The k1000 was introduced in 1976. By that time, Adams was 74 years old and >>> had quit shooting for the most part and was just making some reprints and >>> organizing his archives. Also, remember that the Pentax's fortunes in 35mm >>> photography had slipped considerably by the time of the K series launch, and >>> the K1000, while a nice student camera, was the entry level offering of the >>> Pentax K lines. In other words, Ansel Adams probably never touched one, >>> although if he had, he might have liked it. >>> Paul >>> On Nov 27, 2010, at 8:00 PM, Bob Sullivan wrote: >>> >>>> Wasn't it St. Ansel's camera of choice when he wasn't shooting big >>>> negatives? >>>> >>>> On Sat, Nov 27, 2010 at 3:19 PM, Nick David Wright >>>> <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> I've been shooting the past two years almost exclusively with the >>>>> M-50/2, if that's what you're getting you won't be disappointed. >>>>> >>>>> As for the camera, maybe it's not the "greatest" but its all anyone >>>>> ever needs to make a photo. And it will teach you more about >>>>> photography than any auto mode will. >>>>> >>>>> ~nick >>>>> >>>>> On Sat, Nov 27, 2010 at 3:09 PM, Walter Gilbert<[email protected]> >>>>> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> As of approximately 6:00 PM central time this evening, I'll be the >>>>>> proud >>>>>> owner of a Pentax K1000 and what I suspect will be the 50mm f/2 >>>>>> (though, >>>>>> hoping for a pleasant surprise on the lens). Having spoken to the >>>>>> owner, >>>>>> it's been very lightly used, is fully functioning, and in need of a >>>>>> battery. >>>>>> I'd been afraid I was going to miss out on it, but as luck would have >>>>>> it, a >>>>>> little bit of computer tech work suddenly presented itself which >>>>>> allowed me >>>>>> to go ahead bite on it. >>>>>> >>>>>> I know it's not the greatest camera and/or lens on the planet, but I'm >>>>>> pretty excited about finally being able to lay hands on a 50mm prime >>>>>> without >>>>>> having to order the thing over the 'net. I have a feeling I'm going to >>>>>> get >>>>>> a LOT of use out of this lens on my K-x (and my recent discovery of the >>>>>> advantages of raw shooting -- [still sobbing over the shots lost to the >>>>>> jpg >>>>>> engine]), and may even venture into a bit of B&W film photography >>>>>> before all >>>>>> is said and done. >>>>>> >>>>>> Anyway ... here's asking for crossed fingers toward the hope for a >>>>>> f/1.2 -- >>>>>> but, at $40 US, I'll take it whatever it is. >>>>>> >>>>>> -- Walt >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >>>>>> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and >>>>>> follow the directions. >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> ~Nick David Wright >>>>> http://www.nickdavidwright.net/ >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >>>>> [email protected] >>>>> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >>>>> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and >>>>> follow the directions. >>>>> >>>> -- >>>> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >>>> [email protected] >>>> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >>>> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and >>>> follow the directions. >>> >> >> >> -- >> "His lack of education is more than compensated for by his keenly developed >> moral bankruptcy." >> -Woody Allen >> >> >> -- >> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >> [email protected] >> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and >> follow the directions. >> > > > > -- > M. Adam Maas > http://www.mawz.ca > Explorations of the City Around Us. > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > [email protected] > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow > the directions. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
