One Last Roll: Pentax Spotmatic SP

I’m starting a harsh slim down of my cameras! Yes, I know – that again! I have limited space to keep too many and limited time in which to use them all on a regular basis, and we all know older mechanical cameras like to be kept in use, not in a bag! To this end I’m having a real hard look at what I want to keep, last count I had 22 35mm SLR’s – madness, nice yes, but madness none the less!

I’ve had a few Pentax Spotmatics over the years. Since starting this blog I’ve had an SPF (1973), the shutter on that finally gave up, it wasn’t worth the expense to have it repaired and CLA’d, so it became a doner to keep another going! I replaced that with an SP, and then an SPII.

I do like the cameras, the simplicity, the reliable mechanical feel, and the results combined with the Takumar lenses are simply great. For now I’ll be keeping the SPII which is largely the same camera. The “II” does have a larger range for ISO (up to 3200) while the SP only goes up to 800, although that was expanded on later models than mine to 1600. Other than the addition of a hot shoe, there is little difference. To be honest the fact that the “II” is 7 years younger factors more in my decision. The “II” is also very much like my memory of the legendary K1000, known by students the world over, just with the M42 mount rather than the “new” K mount. There was only 5 years between them!

So having decided the SP is going (and the SPII staying for a while), I thought I’d do a little series of “farewell” posts and put one last through the cameras that are going, this will also confirm (or not) my decision! Foma 200 in, and off I went.

In recent history I’ve been developing Foma film in Rodinal EMA/Stand 1+100 and getting pretty good results. This time, as I have some on the go, I developed this roll in BTTB (Barry Thornton 2 Bath). 5 mins in each bath A & B, for my money the results, at least for the 200 are better. Looking back at my results with Rodinal/Foma 100 – that seems to be a good combination, while the 200 is certainly better in BTTB. All the scans in this post have had no correction at all except scaling to make them a sensible size file to post. The image to left I am especially pleased with tonality wise – considering all of these were completely guessed exposures. Perhaps finally at my great age I am getting good at this!! 🙂