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Reproduced for Historical & Reference purposes by Paul M. Provencher - http://whitemetal.com
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Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................... 1 Major working parts of the ASAHI PENTAX Spotmatic II ......................................................................... 2 Specifications .................................................................................................................................................... 4 Short operating course ................
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Introduction Your Asahi Pentax Spotmatic II is the finest photographic instrument on the market. The Super-Multi-Coating" on the Takumar lens, developed by Pentax and available only on Spotmatic II Takumars, reduces flare and boosts contrast to a degree far beyond what was previously possible in optical technology. It is a tougher coating than is available on any competitive lenses and results in pictures with more detail and richer colors than is possible with any other system at any price Th
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Major working parts of the ASAHI PENTAX Spotmatic II A - Shutter Speed Index G - 'Cocked' indicator B - Shutter Speed Dial H - D-ring lug C - Rapid wind lever I - Self-timer cocking lever D - ASA film speed setting J - Focusing ring E - Shutter Release K - X flash terminal F - Automatic reset exposure counter L - FP Flash terminal Reproduced for Historical & Reference purposes by Paul M. Provencher - 2 http://whitemetal.com
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M - Preview lever T - Diaphragm ring N - Exposure meter switch U - Diaphragm and distance index O - Film rewind crank V - Distance scale P - Film rewind knob W - Exposure counter index Q - Film type reminder dial X - Depth-of-field guide R - Reminder dial selector Y - Hot shoe S - PF/X switch rim Z - Hot shoe flash contact Reproduced for Historical & Reference purposes by Paul M. Provencher - 3 http://whitemetal.com
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Specifications Type 35mm single-lens reflex with built-in light meter. Film and Picture Size 35mm film (20 or 36 exposures). 24mm x 36mm Standard Lenses Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 50mm f/1.4 or 55mm Super-Multi-Coated Takumar f/1.8 with fully automatic diaphragm. Distance scale: 0.45m (1.5 feet) to infinity. Filter size: 49mm. With depth-of-field scale. Equipped with diaphragm preview lever which affords visual check of depth of field. Distance Scale: 45cm (18") to infinity. Shutter Focal plane
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Film Advance Ratchet type rapid wind lever (for film advance and shutter cocking). 10° pre- advance and 160° advancing angle. "Cocked" Indicator A red disk appears in a small window along- side the shutter release button when the shutter is cocked, and blacks out when it is released. Film Exposure Counter Automatic re-set type. Flash Synchronization FP & X contacts for conventional flash cord connection. Electronic synchronization at 1/60 sec. Hot shoe with selectable sync (X or FP) Exposure Met
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Short operating course A mercury battery for the light meter is packed separately. Be sure to insert it into the battery housing when operating the camera. For battery insertion, refer to page 17. 1. SET FILM SPEED Lift the outer ring of the shutter speed dial, turn it around and set the same number as the ASA number of the loaded film to the small red index which appears alongside the figure 1. Then cock the rapid wind lever. 2. SET SHUTTER SPEED Turn the shutter speed dial and set the speed
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4. TURN ON THE LIGHT METER SWITCH Push up the switch button with your thumb. Through the viewfinder, you will observe the movement of the meter's needle on the right side of the ground glass. Be sure to turn off the meter's switch when not actually taking readings. 5. ROTATE DIAPHRAGM RING The needle moves up and down with the turn of the diaphragm ring. When the needle rests at the center, you will get correct exposure. If the needle does not come to the center no matter how far you turn th
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How to hold your camera In horizontal position In vertical position B. In vertical position C. A. Hold the camera firmly Hold your camera tightly to Hold your camera tightly to with your left hand, and your forehead with your left your forehead with your left draw your arm close to hand, and drawn your right hand, raise your right arm your body. arm close to your body. and draw your left arm to your body. As a general rule, your camera should be held more firmly by the left hand which does not
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Film Loading Avoid direct sunlight when loading your film. 1. Open the back by pulling out the rewind knob until the back cover snaps open. 2. Place the film cassette into the cassette chamber, and push back the rewind knob. Draw out the film leader and insert it into the slot of the take-up spool. 3. Advance the film by alternately turning the rapid wind lever and releasing the shutter until both sprockets have properly engaged the film perforations. Close the back by pressing it firmly. 4. If
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Film wind and rewind Cock the rapid wind lever for the first picture; the exposure counter automatically turns to '1', indicating that the first picture is ready to be taken. 2 After the final picture on the roll (20 or 36 exposures) has been taken, the rapid wind lever will not turn all the way as you stroke it. This indicates that the final picture has been taken on your film, and that the film must be rewound. Don't open the back of the camera, or all exposed frames will be ruined. 3 Unfold
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Bright field focusing 1 You can start viewing and focusing before and after cocking the rapid wind lever. When the automatic preview lever is in the "AUTO" (automatic) position, the meter is at "OFF", the diaphragm is fully open except for the moment of exposure. 2 Turn the distance scale ring until your subject image is clearly in focus. It is not always necessary for you to view and focus with the diaphragm fully open. In bright sunlight, you can easily focus with the diaphragm closed to f/
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Automatic Diaphragm* OUT OF FOCUS When the preview lever is in the "AUTO" (automatic) position, and the exposure meter is turned to "OFF", the fully automatic diaphragm is at its largest aperture at all times, except for the instant of exposure, no matter what aperture is set on the diaphragm ring. When you release the shutter, the diaphragm automatically stops down to the predetermined aperture and the shutter curtains start travelling instantly. When the exposure is completed, the diaphragm
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Shutter Turn the shutter speed dial clockwise or after cocking the rapid wind lever. As you cock counter-clockwise to the shutter speed desired. the shutter by turning the rapid wind lever, the The shutter speed may be set either before or "cocked" indicator turns red showing that the shutter is cocked. The indicator window blacks out as you trip the shutter button. For use of the X setting on the shutter speed dial, refer to page 18. With the shutter speed dial set on B (bulb), the shutter wi
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Depth-of-field tables: Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 50mm lens Distance 0.45 0.6 1 1.5 2 5 10 ∞ Scale \ m m m m m m m m f setting f/1.4 0.45 0.59 0.98 1.46 1.93 4.57 8.40 51.75 0.453 0.61 1.02 1.54 2.07 5.52 12.36 ~ ∞ f/2 .045 .059 0.98 1.45 1.90 4.41 7.86 36.24 0.454 0.61 1.02 1.56 2.11 5.78 13.75 ~ ∞ f/2.8 0.44 0.59 0.97 1.43 1.87 4.21 7.24 25.90 0.46 0.61 1.03 1.58 2.16 6.16 16.19 ~ ∞ f/4 0.44 0.59 0.95 1.40 1.81 3.94 6.48 18.14 0.46 0.62 1.05 1.62 2.23 6.84 22.05 ~ ∞ f/5.6 0.44 0.58 0.94 1.36 1
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Depth-of-field table: Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 50mm lens Distan 1'6" 2' 3' 5' 10' 15' 30' ∞ ce Scale m \ f setting f/1.4 1' 6.12" 1' 11.8" 2' 11.5" 4' 10.4" 9' 5.6" 13' 9.7" 25' 6.6" 169' 1' 6.13" 2' 0.2" 3' 0.6" 5' 1.7" 10' 7.2" 16' 4.9" 36' 4.2" 9.2" ∞ f/2 f/2.8 f/4 f/5.6 f/8 f/11 f/16 Depth-of-field table: Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 55mm lens Distan 1'6" 2' 3' 5' 10' 15' 30' ∞ ce Scale m \ f setting f/1.8 f/2 f/2.8 f/4 f/5.6 f/8 f/11 f/16 Reproduced for Historical & Reference purposes by Pa
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Range of light measurement The exposure meter of the Spotmatic measures the brightness of the ground glass. Therefore, the meter should be turned on after you have focused your subject on the ground glass. The following table shows the range of the meter's light measurement, and should not be interpreted as the camera's total range of f/stop-shutter speed combinations. As you will note from the table below, with an ASA100 film, you may use any shutter speed from 1 sec. to 1/1000 sec. in combi
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Mercury Battery How to check it 1. Set the shutter speed dial to B (bulb) position. 2. Turn the ASA dial to ASA 100. 3. Push the meter switch to "on" position. Look at the meter's needle through the viewfinder. If the needle rapidly drops, the meter has sufficient capacity; if it does not, replace the mercury battery. How to replace it Open the battery housing cover on the bottom cover plate with a coin. Remove old battery and insert new battery with (+) side toward the top of the camera. For
Summary of the content on the page No. 20
Flash Synchronization The Spotmatic II has FP and X terminals at the front of the camera body, and a separate FP/X contact on the built-in hot shoe. The table below shows which flash contact, which shutter speed and which flash bulb may be combined for maximum lamp efficiency. Unless these combinations are rigidly followed, there will be a failure in flash synchronization. Note the "X" setting is exactly the 60 marked on the speed dial. This indicates the highest shutter speed at which elect
