Features and how to use the Pentax Spotmatic 

Glad to be of help. Thanks for watching.

Thank you

Enjoy. It’s a great camera.

Glad to be of help.

I agree.

Thank you for this.

Thank you

Thank you Jay. I always loved the Spotmatic.

Good luck with it. You can email me questions at jlvphoto@yahoo.com

Thank you.

Thanks for watching. Does the meter still work?

@@julesvuottosphotofocus4696 not sure about recently as I've not actually used it in the last decade.

Thank you Ellen.

Thank you

Thank you. Glad to be of help.

Thank you. I’m glad it was helpful.

Thank you

I would be happy to answer any questions you have on using flash.

@@julesvuottosphotofocus4696 I have a Rollei flash unit that I think plugs into the "X" port. Looking at the user manual for the Rollei unit and the Camera I was able to deduce that. However I am unable to get the flash to turn on when I take a picture. The flash would be on the camera and would flash randomly without anything happening. I am trying to understand what is wrong but I don't know what exactly. I am going to keep messing with it, trying not to waste too much film! XD

It’s one of my favorite film cameras. Best of luck with it.

@@julesvuottosphotofocus4696 I’m a legally blind photographer. Does this only do video or can it do photos as well?

@@bryttanigore it’s a film camera, that was introduced in 1964. It cannot do video.

@@julesvuottosphotofocus4696 thx, sorry bout that. I had two different thoughts running through my head when I was typing this.

Great. What lens?

@Jules Vuotto's Photo Focus super takumar 1:1.4/50. I am new to photography, I am currently learning what it means.😀

@@swiley82 great lens. You got an amazing deal.

The battery is only needed for the meter. Everything else will work perfectly without a battery. Merry Christmas to you as well. It’s a great camera. Enjoy it.

🎄🕊️🙏🏽✨✨✨thank you!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you Christopher for the clarification.

It doesn’t matter if you have film in it or not. You should still be able to see through the viewfinder. Unscrew the lens and see if the mirror is down. Most likely it’s not. Use the film advance lever then press the shutter button all with the lens off. Another thing to check with the lens mounted, is if the lens is set to m. It should be set to A. One last thing is the meter switch on the left side of the camera near the lens mount when holding the camera. It’s marked SW push it down.

Let me know if this works. You can email me at jlvphoto@yahoo.com

Hi Trinity, It could be dirt. Pull up on the rewind knob and at the same time try to pull open the back. Let me know if that works.

got it!! i took the risk and had to force it. i mean it was STUCK. dirt being the culprit. clean it up, still a little stuck but not a huge problem. next big problem is.. shutter curtain has been damaged. :( considering sending it to have it serviced if seems necessary.

There is a switch near the back of the lens it is marked A and M or Auto and manual. Just slide it to auto. The shutter is always closed until you press the shutter release. Set the shutter speed dial to B and press and hold the release if you want to keep the shutter open. Hope I answered your questions.

Hi Sara, I assume you’re talking about the ISO of the film. It is listed on the film box and cartridge. If shooting outdoors the settings for color and black and white would be the same if the film speed is the same. Negative film when processed gives you a negative that you need to have prints made from. Transparency film produces a positive image usually a slide which you can project with a slide projector. I hope this answers your questions.

No.

It is a beautiful camera. You can find them on eBay fairly cheap.

Point the camera at a bright light indoors or at the sky, if the needle still doesn’t move it most likely is a problem with the meter. The Spotmatic is a very old camera and it’s not unusual for the meter not to work. Thanks for watching my video.

thank you for your reply....I did change the battery but still the lightmeter wont work..well....I guess I tran still take photos as usual..right ???....which film do you suggest for black and white photos ???? @@julesvuottosphotofocus4696

Hi Kristen, It may be possible. Look for a RU-vid on removing the K1000 knob, then see if it fits. Let me know how you make out

Hi Andrew, As far as the back, it's possible that the light seals are bad causing the back to stick especially possible if the camera was stored in humid conditions, it's also possible that the latch is bent. Pull up on the rewind knob while trying to pull the back open. There could be corrosion from a leaking battery causing the battery compartment to be stuck. Try a few drops of isopropyl alcohol on the edges of the battery compartment. Is the slot on the compartment where you use a coin damaged? If so try a larger coin. A Canadian nickel is usually good. Let me know how you make out.

Thank you for your question. First use a bulb air blower to remove any loose dust on the entire camera including the mirror and eyepiece. Then use cotton swabs moistened with isopropyl alcohol on all the non optical parts of the camera including the pressure plate. Don’t touch the shutter curtains. You can clean the mirror with a micro fiber cloth moistened with lens cleaning solution.

Hi, I’m not sure where you can get a replacement battery. The original batteries for the Spotmatic contained mercury and are no longer made. Many of the meters on those cameras no longer work and the battery is only needed for the meter. You can email questions to jlvphoto@yahoo.com

Vivitar 283. Long ago discontinued, but there should be plenty on the used market.

It’s not unusual for the meters on these old cameras not to work. It’s usually the cameras that use CDS cells. Most cameras from the 60’s into the mid 70’s used CDS cells. That includes Canon’s, Minolta’s, Nikon’s, Pentaxes and others.

What do you want to know?

@@julesvuottosphotofocus4696 everything and how can I look at the battery bc I've tried unscrewing it and it won't turn and I think it's is messing up

It just means that the particular shutter speed and film speed are out of the meters range. In other words the meter will not meter in light so low as to require that shutter speed in combination with that film speed. I hope this explains it for you.

@@julesvuottosphotofocus4696 the light meter does not move up or down on the inside of the display could that be because of a dead battery?

It could be the battery or a dead meter.

The switch on the left side of the lens mount turns the meter on and off.

@@julesvuottosphotofocus4696 ok thanks 😊

@@letsgobrandon33 That's the Spotmatic F you're talking about, in which case you're correct about keeping the cap on.

It was. The camera was imported in the United States by Honeywell. So Asahi put the Honeywell name on it. Other than the name they are the same. Thanks for watching.

@@julesvuottosphotofocus4696 thnks u for the explaination

Honeywell was the US importer of Pentax. That’s where the “Honeywell” came from.

Hi Regina, thank you for your comments. Because of your question I think I will be making a video on cleaning a film camera. In the meantime if you have a blower brush, use that first to remove any loose e dirt. Do the outside as well as the the film chamber, but stay away from the shutter curtains. Remove the lens and blow out the mirror box. Next take a microfiber close moistened with some isopropyl alcohol and clean the outside and the pressure plate and film rails. to get in the tight paces you can use a cotton swap with the alcohol . Don't over do it with the alcohol. Be very carful with the mirror. Blow off any loose dust then very gently using a microfiber cloth moistened with a little lens cleaner tip it off. A dirty mirror will not effect image quality, so its better to not clean it then to scratch it by cleaning. Clean the viewfinder with a cotton swab and some lens cleaner. Never put lens cleaner or any cleaning solution directly on any parts of the camera, put it on a cotton swab or microfiber cloth. Less is better than more. I hope this helps. Let me know how you make out. Feel free to email me any other questions. jlvphoto@yahoo.com. Jules

Thank you for watching.