I actually think the future of Pentax may be the in the APS-C Format. I think there is very good reason for the APS-C market to exist. And that's because the camera and lenses can be smaller and lighter than the full-frame counterparts, but a bigger sensor than the 1-inch stuff. As someone with a disability (AND getting older :-), I have no interest in going to full-frame for exactly that reason. Plus maybe also because all glass but my Sigma 150-500 are of the 'DX' size too. :-) So... A step above the even easier to carry 1-inch sensor stuff. Albeit, I am waiting for a Sony RX10 mkV SuperZoom - which will hopefully bring back my requisite built-in ND filters and intervalometer. Plus hopefully the ability to zoom and/or focus during an exposure - a problem I think you mentioned in your review, which irked me about my first bridge camera. Hopefully even GPS for a built-in Astro-tracer and metadata, like ALL recent Pentax DSLR's I know of have ability for (at least since the K-30 (my into to DSLR's)) --- which wasn't mentioned, hint-hint nudge nudge ;-). But MANY thanks for doing this, and including our beloved Pentax - and surprisingly even with fondness, at that! :)
Really enjoyed this episode! As a proud Pentaxian I thought you guys were quite respectful as well as affectionate in recounting the history you could find. Would have liked for you guys to have talked about the 645D and 645Z as well the Q mirrorless system. I actually own three K-01s, two Q cameras, a K-3, and the K-1. I also have M42 to K mount adapter that I use from time to time with some vintage glass. I switched from Canon to Pentax back in 2012 because of the amazing value and image quality you can get for a much lower price. I am also an avid Pentaxforums member under the name of LeRolls.
Asahi lenses for Pentax cameras were sold many many years after the first Pentax camera. Many of Asahi lenses are still great or even better than modern lenses due to their elements with radioactive thorium oxide which was eventually banned. However radioactive thorium oxide has superior optical properties and is praised by many photographers even today. eBay is full of them at various prices. Radioactive thorium oxide after long time gives a brown tint to the lenses due to the radio decay. Nevertheless this tint can be easily cleared with the sun's ultraviolet radiation after some days with sun exposure. I have an Asahi Pentax Takumar lens on my Sony a7 camera and I am amazed by its optical quality.
Thanks for a great video - I have been a Pentaxian for my entire Photographic career ( 20 years). My dad brought home a Asahi Pentax Super ME when I was a teenager and the very first time I held it - I was in love. Ever since, I have shot with Pentax. Today I shoot with two K1’s, the dfa 24-70, dfa 70-200 and the 100 macro. Why do I still shoot Pentax when the competition offers significantly better auto focus, a much more expansive lens line, a flash system system a couple of generations ahead and way better video? Because I just enjoy shooting Pentax. There is a certain je ne sais quoi shooting with my cameras that I just don’t get shooting with other systems. I believe any camera system that you are in is more than enough for 99% of us who will never take advantage of everything that today’s cameras offer. But they all feel different in our hands. Nothing feels better in my hands than a Pentax - amazing to hold and it fits my hands perfectly. They are built like tanks and have as good if not better weather sealing than the big boys. The menu system is amazing and simple to navigate and makes sense. The ergonomics are perfect with everything laid out exactly where you would expect it. The bodies have built in shake reduction even their lower end bodies. The image quality and its colors are unique and it is pleasing to me. I just enjoy shooting the system. The value Pentax offers is amazing in all of its cameras - a deliberate system and a niche system for sure but for those of us who love Pentax there is nothing better. The K-1 is perhaps the most underrated camera on the market $1700 US - 36 MP full frame, no AA filter, weather resistant, built in shake resistance - no better value around
100% yes to this. Pentax K1 blows many higher spec cameras out the water (apart from sports, fast focus, lol!) And all that legacy glass - we've had it before it was hipster! Everyone goes on about "sharpness, sharpness..." but much of the legacy glass is amazingly sharp - certainly for 99% of those who own a DSLR or mirrorless. As you can tell, I love Pentax - but I am always concerned that eventually their lack of innovation will catch up with them. If that happens, you will hear me howling from the UK.
Greetings! I'm a fellow Pentaxian for many years. My first SLR was a Spotmatic. Then, I switched to Nikon. Finally, I started collecting Pentaxes again and fell in love with them all over. I currently own K-1, K-3, K-5sii, K-7, KP, KS2, KX bodies as well as Spotmatic, K2, 645n film bodies and various lenses. Love shooting with my two K-1 bodies (one silver) and my matching silver K-3 body/battery grip combo. Hope they keep the brand alive...
I agree with all of that - I have a K10D and a K20D, along with scads of PK lenses, and was waiting impatiently for the price of a used K1 to drop into my comfort zone. Unfortunately, Pentax left it for too long to finaly bring out the FF body and used prices remain stubborly high. In order to get some FF in my life I had to jump back to Canon and bought a 5DmkII, then a Nikon D600. However, as soon as used K1s drop to sensible levels, I'll be back to my favourite system.
A big thank you, Chelsea and Tony for the eBook. Congratulations also on your 1 million, but moreover, well done for being decent human beings. I’ve watched a number of the live shows and feel strongly that there is no place for entitlement, arrogance and rudeness in photography (or anywhere for that matter). What shines through with you two is that you’re confident in your abilities and therefore don’t feel the need to put others down in order to carry out your goals. Good job, cheers!
Great history you two! Thank you for giving some love to the Pentax story. I'm a photo pragmatist who accidentally got started with Pentax 5 years ago when I needed a weather & temperature resilient camera for a cruise-of-a-lifeime to Antarctica. The photos from my K30 turned out amazing even though I had no idea what I was doing. I've subsequently moved to a K3/Sigma 500mm for my wildlife photography and it has served me well. That said, the lack of development has me contemplating a move to Sony if the lens situation ever changes. However, if I do move to Sony, I will still have a Pentax in my kit. As a concert fan, I love, love, love, my Pentax Q series camera (bringing it up as it was missed in the history). I know this sounds dumb as it has the same or fewer pixels than a typical smartphone these days but coupled with the 06 Telephoto zoom lens, I have a camera that fits _comfortably_ in my pocket that doesn't attract the attention of overzealous security. Held up, it just looks like another phone. (My wife has jokingly told me I'm not allowed to sell my "tiny camera" because of the shots I've been able to take of her favorite musicians from our less-than-front-row seats.) I SO wish Pentax would have taken this tiny gem and upgraded the internals to make it the ideal, removable lens, social media camera with WIFI, flipscreen, better video, etc. Not likely to happen now, I know, but a man can dream.
You missed the history of lens coatings. Their SMC was pretty revolutionary. Rumor has it that Zeiss used their coatings for the basis of their T* and that they derived substantial income from their coating patents. Also, Pentax and Zeiss shared some lenses designs (Zeiss design) and Pentax production - the K 28/f2 (same as the Contax 28/f2 Distagon, etc.) along with a number of other lenses. Also, the Zeiss Contax C/Y mount is very similar to the K mount (another collaboration with Zeiss).
Do not tire of seeing this video about Asahi Pentax. A long and sometimes difficult history, including years of mandated work for the military during WWII. The occupation forces wanted to photograph what they saw, but the average soldier could not afford Leica or Zeiss Ikon. Japanese cameras stood out for their quality and affordability. The workmanship we have come to know from their cameras was evident even then in the postwar years. I own a Pentax Spotmatic SPII that I has overhauled and I never looked back. Pentax 35mm SLRs are work horses, precise and reliable. Even think switch to digital happened too fast when film more than meters our needs. Bravo for doing this video and covering the history of Asahi Pentax.
@@roopieka4176 I can't teach you on here but I suggest watching videos on RU-vid and find a local photo printing place, not target or Walmart but one that specializes in printing jobs. Where are you located ?
Thanks for making this podcast and bringing Pentax' history to your fans. It is indeed very hard to get a lot of info on this topic. Few remarks from a Pentaxian, that did some research on his own a while a go: - "Pentax" name was most certainly bought from Zeiss Ikon after the war. There were some prototype cameras made in Germany with that name on them. Name itself comes from a combination of "pentaprism" and "contax", just like you said. East German Zeiss was one of the first makers of pentaprism SLRs, and 'Contax' was a brand well known from before the war (classic rangefinders that rivaled Leica). - Asahi Optical had a brief moment when they cooperated with Zeiss West (Oberkochen). Zeiss failed to compete on SLR market with their Icarex & Contarex cameras, so they searched for a partner in Japan. This cooperation ultimately did not last long (Zeiss made the deal with Yashica), but it gave birth to the K mount and few lens designs - 28mm F2 "Hollywood" and 15mm F3.5 Aspherical. - Pentax is famous for their coatings - SMC, or super-multi-coating, introduced in the late '60s. Not only they reduced ghosting, they also made pictures in general more contrasty and pleasing to the eye. - One of the reasons of Pentax' decline is that they didn't think of 35mm camera market as something professional (they promoted 6x7 for that). Like you said, they marketed their 35mm products as 'user friendly'. Their only 35mm camera with professional features was Pentax LX - worthy rival of Nikon F3 and Canon new F-1, but that was manual focus camera, and as such no competition to later-introduced professional AF bodies from Nikon, Canon and Minolta. - 645N was an AF medium format film camera introduced in the late 90's, as a replacement to their manual focus 645. The camera introduced in 2010 was 645D. - Pentax had plans to make full frame digital camera as early as in 2001, the MZ-D. They even brought a working prototype to PMA show. They canceled it though, probably because of what happened to the Contax N Digital camera that shared the sensor - it fared poorly in sales, and had image quality problems. - Pentax management knew that the merger with Hoya will end the company. They resigned after having to submit to shareholders' will. Pentax future probably isn't mirrorless. During recent interviews, Ricoh reps said that they will focus on their SLR line, as there's serious lack of lenses. I think they try to keep the niche of SLRs after everyone else moves on to mirrorless - just like Leica still makes manual focus rangefinders. I guess the flappy mirror is just what they want to be associated with. It's their heritage, after all.
Hi Guys, you missed out on their pro line called LX, used to own a second had one and it was great and head on with Nikon F3 and Canon F1. Using it in Tokyo, people take notice that that is a camera. - regards
The Pentax Q was a second mirrorless camera from Pentax, with a wide range of focal lengths in an incredibly small package. There's nothing like it, and I have found it very useful and versatile to have everything from 17.5mm to 210mm in a coat pocket, with real camera contrils, RAW development in camera, etc. And the K-01 had the well-regarded K-5 sensor in it, a slight upgrade to it, in fact, so it produces excellent 16mpx imagery. I still use it a great deal, precisely because of the design and how it feels in hand.
Totally enjoyed the trip down memory lane today. I got my introduction to photography back in the 60's while stationed in Japan. I used my 35mm SLR Asahi Pentax with a multitude of lenses until the late 90's and made a switch to Nikon. as a famous Bob used to say, "Thanks for the memories"!
Great video - especially for us Pentaxians! :) There were a few minor errors/misses but generally very good - e.g. 6x7 and 645 are different systems and mounts, and it is the 645 mount that the new digital bodies uses. Also missing the Pentax Auto 110 (1980's) and Pentax Q (2010's) super small cute systems. In the digital era I think Pentax was the leader for small premium DSLR lenses (Limited series!) for advanced amateurs, but that got bypassed by even smaller mirrorless tech, so their niche kind of disappeared.
It seem that Tony is strongly in “Pentax is dooooomed” camp. Pentax Forums have been hearing this for 15 years. So far there is no indication that Ricoh would shut down the operation. Lack of active development in a shrinking market, especially for a niche player is not a sign of doom. They just released a new 50mm F1.4 that has some really sweet rendering. The roadmap gets some delays, but lenses get delivered.
Side note, Pentax 6×7 and 645 are different mounts. Sensor for the 645D and 645Z are crop sensors for “645” format, but even the new [digital] lenses support “full” 645 format, so there is hope for the future. Right now most medium format cameras have this crop sensor, exception is Hasselblad H6D-100c, which is crazy expensive.
The k1 and kp are amazing. I'm a Fuji shooter, but the k1 kills it in anything photography, by miles. Besides some of us still prefer optical viewfinders, and for that, a pentaprism can't be beat. Hopefully the k3 sequel catches up in the video department. That's the only place where Pentax remains in the dark ages.
My first camera was a Pentax, I bought it in Pawn Shop in 1984. My first digital was the original Rebel, I traded that for the Canon T4i, I really wasn't too happy with it so I sold all my Canon gear and went to a Nikon D5300. I used it for a while but felt something missing, a friend sold me a Pentax K-50 and I was hooked again, I just upgraded to a K3 ii and couldn't be happier, a total circle of life story.
Just wanted to add that Exakta had bayonet lens since the early 50's. These were the first cameras I ever own, no meters but fabulous German lenses. I also used Pentax in the 60's but it was a pain to screw on the lenses, really was. Thanks for the history lesson, I really enjoyed it.
Pentax mirrorless was such a genius idea, you could use all their legacy K mount lenses on the camera. It does pose an interesting question for mirrorless, do you want a tiny camera with huge heavy glass that is uncomfortable to hold or a big chunky camera with a good grip?
I think it was a mistake because it looked like a toy, not something to be taken serious. Also, it wasn't a real mirrorless camera class. It was just a small DSLR with the mirror ripped out, and to be used live view mode. Real mirrorless cameras instead are a different story, with their AF technology, AF coverage, on-sensor phase autofocus, speed, focusing-reliability, face detection, eye detection, fast sensor read-out, etcetera. Mirrorless is so much more, than just ripping out a mirror out of a DSLR. But pentax wasn't up to that yet.
Pentax lenses tend to be smaller, so my K 01 with my F50/1.7 is smaller than a nex with the kit zoom. It also balances better. The Sony zooms are heavy and awkward compared to a K 01 with almost anything attached. Battery life is incredible. IBIS is great. The Pentax focus peaking is also better than Sony. The K 01 also has programmable buttons. I can meter, focus, and stabilize all my lenses, including my M42 50/1.8. :-) It is not a big chunky camera. Some of the Sony NEX cameras are bigger. The complaints start where the mirror box has the traditional K mount depth. This does make the camera thicker in the middle BUT, Pentax lenses are not as physically long.
I think your definition is really limiting in scope and goes against what common usage people and marketing gives to mirrorless cameras: a mirrorless camera is a camera that's not reflex (i.e. doesn't use a mirror to allow the user to frame the shot). You have compact mirrorless cameras, bridge mirrorless cameras (mainly focused at travel or street photography, most of them use non interchangeable lenses); and then you have high-end, all-purpose mirrorless cameras: some are telemetric (like Leica's), some are all electronic kind-of telemetric (like the Fuji X-Pro series, for example) and others are DSLR-like in their form factor, like the Fuji X-T series, or Canon M series, or Sony A6/7/9 series of cameras, plus all the micro 4/3 cameras from Olympus and Panasonic. And the Pentax Q series. They all come in all sizes and shapes: calling a Leica M10 not a true digital, mirrorless camera because it doesn't have "on-sensor phase autofocus" looks like a historical crime, to say the least. Cheers!
The native K mount was OK, but the industrial designer was a bad choice - the case of the camera is horrible. It could have been chunky all the way, but with a classic design.
Great segment! My dad got me a K-1000 for my highschool graduation in 1978 and I've been a Pentaxian ever since. Began shooting professionally in the mid 80's, kept upgrading my Pentax gear, and never looked back. It's been a great (if at times weird) ride!
Pentax also had an early full frame sensor camera body. They were using the same full frame sensor that Contax used - which lead to their demise (poor sensor). Pentax held off introducing the camera - and shied away from the full frame market for the next 11 or so years till the K1's introduction.
The sensor was made by Phillips, and the Camera was based on the MZ body, the quality of the sensor was not very good, so they did not release it to market, it was a real shame.
Fantastic episode, thank you Chelsea and Tony! The future of Pentax could be sticking to DSLR as Nikon et al abandon them. Lots of fans for SLRs who don’t like mirrorless. Really good mirror-up LCDs can give you the benefits of both. And the 645Z remains one of the finest cameras available today especially for the price.
Great to see you cover Pentax. My intro to Pentax was in college. I continue to love using Pentax cameras to this day. Like their first auto focus camera and mirrorless K-01, Pentax has always been innovative and experimental. The Pentax Q series is another great example. Other standouts are the Ricoh GR series (a street shooters favourite) and the Pentax K3. I love my K3 with its IBIS, dual card slots, rugged weather sealing, good battery life, 7fps, quiet shutter and backwards compatible with tons of inexpensive lenses. Although it's a bit older, it's still a great camera for event photography. You can also buy used models for cheap. Many brand new cameras that are 2-3 times the price don't have the features of the K3. The challenge with Pentax is they missed the boat for video. Also due to the mergers, they've jumped around a lot in terms of concepts and they haven't fully developed their product lines. That makes it hard to invest in their line-ups. I've been waiting years for a follow up to the K3ii and Ricoh is tight lipped about future plans. Pentax has some outstanding feature-rich cameras and lenses for great prices. I often find old Pentax lenses for dirt cheap at thrift stores and pawn shops. In the modern era, Pentax has struggled to market themselves and develop a clear plan and solid products lines like Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fuji and Panasonic. Pentax is the odd ball. I get a lot of questions from photography friends when I pull out a K-01, K3, Ricoh GR, Pentax MX-1 or Pentax Q-S1 with its miniature lenses. These are great cameras but many people have never seen them.
Great history and review. Thank you so much for creating this video .I purchased a Pentax Spotmatic in 1966 while in Vietnam. I have the 28, 50, 105 and 200 Takumar lens. This is a great film camera system that has served me over the past 52 years. It was placed on the shelf in abut 1993 when I purchased a Canon Rebe-S EOS and two zoom lenses. It went on the shelf when I picked up a small pocket digital. I just did take it out of retirement last year. It is so great to feel and hear that shutter again. Film is great. - thank you so much for this.
Have had these for many years, and still love them today. I don’t plan on switching unless they do dry up. But until then, I will keep pulling for them.
Excellent video guys, you may have missed it a bit on the Pentax 645n, really had nothing to do with their 6X7 mount, the 645 mount had been around for awhile by the time the 645n, I think what made the 645n stand out was the first autofocus in a medium format camera.
Riding The Edge Photography BTW, the 645N was a film camera. The digital medium format camera Pentax rolled out in 2010 was the 645D, which has the Kodak 40mp CCD sensor. Back then, the next MFD cost $25K compared to the $10K Pentax. The first CMOS MFD was the Pentax 645Z which is the successor to the 645D. The Z uses the 50mp Sony CMOS that is also being used on the new Fuji GFX as well as the Hassy 1XD. The Z preceded those cameras by two years.
Sadly, instead of doing a respectful History of Olympus video, they instead chose to declare them "DED". I was "DED" disappointed, but shouldn't have been surprised.
Great presentation but you missed one part of their hstory. In the late 1960s or early 1970s, Pentax had a collaboration with Honeywell, so the name on the pentaprism of some of the Spotmatics wasn't Asahi Pentax, but rather Honeywell Pentax. I didn’t own a Pentax, a few friends did own Honeywell Pentax Spotmatics that I used, but I did own a Honeywell strobe, or electronic flash as they were called in the mid 1970s. My guess is the Asahi Honeywell collaboration had something to do with electronics.
Thomas Ohlsson Yes, Honeywell partnered with them as the official US importer and it was thought their name on the camera would help it sell better. There were also many store brands that sold rebadged Pentax cameras.
My first FILM camera was a Honeywell Pentax SP500. Fantastic camera which STILL WORKS. I shot my best pics in my childhood using that little tank and Kodak Tri-X ASA 400 film. I also shot with a Rolleicord VB and I still use it since it takes amazing pictures with amazing color.
Thank you for doing these Tony and Chelsea! Really interesting to listen about history of camera companies. I personally own Pentax, Canon and Sony gear and listening to all these podcasts were really interesting and eye opening. Makes me appreciate the gear I have even more. Especially the older film cameras that I have.
My first camera with auto focus was a Pentax point and shoot, got it in the navy. From using an instamatic before that, it was like a high tech camera to me then. Used it for quite a few years, then a friend gave me k-1000 as a gift. Was totally lost with it at first, then started learning. After that, had kept going and never looked back. Since then went to a k20d, and now a Pentax k-3. Have always liked the quality of the glass. They might not be the flashiest camera brand, but there is just something about them that I like. And now that their cameras are getting so much better, I have known it was the right choice to make. Works for me, and I hope the best for them in their future.
The excellent Pentax KP was alive when this video was made, and now the new APS-C top model has been disclosed. It will have an unexpected innovation, mark my words. Pentax engineers remain dedicated to very useful, rugged cameras.
Agreed. After all those beatings about not going to MILC system Pentax has to deliver a revolutionary camera and I guess it will be one hell of a DSLR. It has to be, I mean in the last years other companies produced fantastic APS-C & MFT cameras, Pentax can't come up with a moderate K3ii upgrade with 30 something AF points & HD video. IBIS & weather sealing not unique to Pentax anymore as well, almost all other manufacturers started to do that, even pixel shift is included in Olympus system in a similar way. They have to come up with something new. We'll see.
I got into film a year and a half ago and I couldn't have done it without my dad's old Ricoh xr-x and all of his Pentax vintage lenses. Mostly using the Z1-P right now and occasionally the K-7. I genuinely love all of them.
I had two Asahi Pentax Spotmatics during my early deployment to Vietnam in 1966 and 1967 and both wound up having shutters that jammed. After the second one failed I wound up buying a Nikon FTn. After using the Pentax stopped Down metering system, it took a while to get accustomed to Nikon's Full Aperture metering system. Even though both Pentax's failed on me, they were some very enjoyable cameras to use. I purchased a Canon F-1 in the mid 70's which was the only film camera that I enjoyed more than the Pentax Spotmatics. Tony & Chelsea, a historic overview of the Polaroids might be very interesting, especially when they adopted SONAR focusing. I really think Polaroid had some of the most sophisticated electronics in the photography industry for a good while.
I bought a used Pentax K1000 last year and it was the first camera I bought after getting out of the US Military, however, I lost it in an apartment fire. Love using film, although it still has the 50mm f/1.4. It helps me getting used to shooting in manual again. Thanks for the history lesson. I remember seeing the Spotmatic and the AE-1 before I ventured into photography as a novice.
This compliments another video history on Pentax .. in that it focuses more on the personalities;the founder's brothers, there creative/artistic DNA, the tragedy, shame & angst of WWII. An appreciated perspective .. thx 4 posting. (I just wanted 2 find out more about the MESuper & K-1000 but ended up learning soooo much more). So, I'm re-acquiring an all-black MESuper having long-since sold my "silver-top" MESuper late 1980s. Was just starting 2 get good with it too. FF 2023; analogue & film rules. I love my MESuper (& ZBronica SQ med-4mat) film cameras!
Hey, love your picture this podcasts especially the camera history podcasts. It really make sense and it introduces the historical sides to the gears that I own. But can you make a comprehensive camera history podcasts, talking about all the important breakthroughs in camera technology, and how brands influence and compete with each other etc?
Terrific segment, thanks. I learned photography in the sixties and seventies, and it really took me down memory lane. Pentax was sold in this country for several years as "Honeywell Pentax." I always assumed that this was a branding/marketing deal. Honeywell sold incredible strobe flash units at the time, which were the industry standard for photojournalists and wedding photographers. I'm guessing they marketed the cameras under their name to help sell their strobes. To this day, when I hear the name Pentax my brain automatically inserts the name Honeywell in front of it. :-) BTW, thanks for putting the Yashicamat in the shot. I still own two of them. They were by far the most affordable way to get into medium format photography.
I fell in love with the Honeywell Pentax h2 in 1960. It essentially changed my creative life as I could see what I wanted for the first time. I used it for many many years. It felt great in the hand. Beautiful viewfinder.
Absolutely brilliant episode guys I’ve never used Pentax In my life then two years ago a mate gave me a suitcase full of asahi Pentax kit 2 spotmatic bodies 4 lenses a flash and various bits I put it away for safe keeping and more or less forgot about it this week I decided to dig it out it’s in incredible condition I’m now fizzin at the idea of putting some film through and recording the experience on my channel. This history lesson has been superb thank you both so much. Gonna watch your other histories too 📷📷📷regards Paul
The only thing I'd add is that the K-1 is not just for landscapes, its also a fantastic all round camera. That exceptional image quality you take for landscapes doesn't disappear in other shooting conditions, it's just not really up to very fast sports (but can actually still perform ok for some 'slower' style sports). I went straight from the K-50 to K-1, and now own a KP as well. I think they are fantastic cameras, especially for those that don't perhaps have an endless amount of spare change (ie the value ratio is excellent comparing with other brands).
28:26 the 645N and 645Nii were film SLR’s which shot 120 film in the 645 format. The camera you have in pic and are referring to was the 645D. D is for digital.
A nice overview! My first DSLR was a Pentax *ist DS and I continued to use their cameras up until the K-5/K-01. I even had a K-01 for a while, though I'd disagree with Tony there and say it was a solid performer. The issue with the camera was the design. Imagine if they had gone rugged or even video-centric instead... It could have really gone somewhere. Anyways, I do have a fondness for their gear and hope they manage to stay alive. I'd love to see some amazing super rugged mirrorless cameras from them with a new mount. Cameras like that would be really tempting.
Others commented: you did a beautiful podcast, but the BIG reasons my first SLR was an MX were size (beautifully compact), and Pentax glass, much of which is still right up there with the best today. I travelled a lot with two bodies, MX and ME Super (the original ME was horrible!), and three or four primes. Until digits, the only zoom I ever owned was the 3-ring 40-80, which was excellent as a general lens. You showed a couple of shots of the LX too, beloved of David Bailey (and me!). It is still by far the most comfortable and ergonomic 35mm SLR to use, possibly ever, and beautifully precisely made. In 1983 I dropped mine at home, just before a 2-month trip to Nepal. It landed lens first (with my beloved 24mm f/2.8 prime on it!), and the mirror box was stoved in. Pentax UK rebuilt the camera onto a new magnesium alloy chassis within a two week turnaround, fully tested the lens (not even the filter thread was damaged!), and couriered it back to me in time to make the flight. It would have been written off by anyone else, but they took on the challenge, and now it is probably the only LX with two legit. serial numbers! I still have both it and the lens. In those days, their service operation here, for professionals and serious amateurs like me, was truly excellent. I only switched to Canon when my *ist D was stolen in a burglary and the insurers couldn't replace it. Even then one of the criteria was that I could use Pentax lenses on the Canon body, which I still can (with care), which is only possible because of the wideness of the EF mount. Pentax's digital lenses retained the aperture ring of old, making them a delight to use, and the aperture servo was cleverly put in the camera body, making lenses cheaper and more reliable than those bigger brands full of motors, etc. The ubiquitous rear dial control is a dreadful substitute for the simpler ergonomics of earlier times. I note with amusement that Canon have brought back the aperture ring on mirrorless lenses, well, sort-of. It is still in the wrong place though! I've inherited some recent Canon prime lenses, and have been a little shocked at the poorer optical quality and general shoddiness of construction. These are cheap-range "kit" lenses. I know Canon do make better stuff, but back in the day, good Pentax glass was affordable: good Canon glass simply isn't. You have both commented that its the image that counts above all else. That needs access to quality optics, and Pentax offered that to the masses affordably, during the heyday of 35mm SLRs, along with some excellent camera designs and professional service to back it up. I have just remembered that my secondhand LX came from the Middle East. If I wanted the same service today, Canon would simply refuse it as a "grey import", which is frankly damn cheek. It is time we started saying this loudly - if the big brands want to shut their service centres etc., there is nothing to be gained from buying at inflated prices, here or in the USA. They benefit from cheap assembly lines in Vietnam or Malaysia, so should their customers! That old Pentax combination - affordable excellence - just doesn't seem to be around any more. All of us, especially the young and keen wannabe professionals, are the poorer for that.
That's was I was skimming thru to find. The Auto 110 was my first camera when I was 13. I inherited it from my dad when he moved to a 35mm. People thought it was a spy camera. Fun times.
I actually bought the Pentax 110 camera with all the original lenses to adapt to the micro 4/3 system. I had no idea what to expect when it arrived in a cigar box sized package... talk about small haha.
Thanks very much for your entire historical series. It is very well-researched and professional and show your deeper commitment to photography. And, go Pentaxians!
I totally get the loyal Pentaxian. My first SLR was a Pentax ME Super. It is so great to hear some history about the company, & you guys reminded me why (as a teenager) I wanted the ME-Super. I’d forgotten about the ‘new’ electronic tech of LED’s in the viewfinder at the time. That plus it was touted as a much more compact/smaller camera than Canon made, or Minolta. In the early 80’s all I wanted was a Nikon, just couldn’t afford one as a kid, but because of my little ME-Super I stayed loyal to Pentax for another 30 years.
My first SLR camera was a used Pentax K-1000 (purchased in 1987). Later supplemented with a Pentax ME. After a long break from photography, I resumed this fascinating hobby, and shortly after, I had several digital Pentax cameras, most recently the K-3 II. Experienced, my K-5 gave a better result. Today I still have quite a few Pentax-M lenses, which I have greatly enjoyed over the years. In 2019, I switched to Nikon and I am seriously considering selling all my Pentax equipment for good.
Honeywell started importing Pentax cameras in the early 60's. My first SLR was a Honeywell Pentax H3v which had the first mirror which returned and did not stay opened. Great camera. Prior models were named Asahi Pentax in the US
I'm one of those nostalgic old guys who used Pentax digital cameras because I started with a Pentax K-1000 back in the day. I recently decided to give Canon EOS a try, however, since so much of that equipment is being dumped on the market now that Canon has gone mirrorless. Who ever thought there would be cheap L glass available? I had a K-7, then a K-5iis, a "Q" camera for a brief instant, and a K-01. All but the K-01 have been eBayed. I may keep that to use in conjunction with my collection of vintage Takumar lenses. Interesting history bits you've dug up, but of course your commenters below are filling in some gaps. Some are even being polite about it. Thanks for sharing!
My first Pentax was the Super Program in ‘84-85. I bought it brand new for College. to study photography. Two of us had the same camera, another had the K-1000. A fourth had a Pentax 645. This camera lasted a long time. It’s in a drawer right now because even though the timing still works and all the technology, i began getting issues with the shutter blades. I had an adapter so I could use different lens mount for a wide angle. Over the years I began using pocket digital from Kodak, Fuji and then an Olympus. I gave the Olympus away when I ended up with a Nikon D3400 APS-C DSLR as a gift. The first prime lens I bought for that was a 50mm 1.8G. I love this lens
Those Takumar lenses are AMAZING. I adapt a lot of "vintage" lenses to my camera, and other than FD lenses, the only ones that I use are the super takumar. Sharp and good quality, and I LOVE the focus throw on those....love it.
a few points: - the "Pentax"-name was bought from VEB Zeiss Ikon in Dresden (GDR), which already had introduced it to some of its own products, even including a prototype of a 6x6 SLR. - the first Asahi Pentax was introduced in 1957
I saw this some time after you produced it. I will say you did a good job. I am one of those from that Beatle era who loved, just loved Pentax cameras. And for good reason. In a perfect fairy-tale ending Pentax, against predictions of no deep technical development, would produce a full-frame SLR (Yes, with mirror and prism!), that would lose a lot of the bulk and complexity of the modern equivalents.
I know the video is old, but just have to say that my first SLR was a Pentax K1000. I wasted a lot of 35mm color film, going through the learning curve.
I'm pretty sure the K1000 came a little later. My first camera was a KM that I bought in early 1976 with a 55mm f/1.8. That, along with the KX and another K camera, was the first of the bayonet mounts for Pentax. The K1000 became ubiquitous at local newspapers in the 80s. I loved the needle indicator for the meter, absolutely loved it and wish something similar was built into today's cameras besides the barely visible LED readouts. I loved the little white knob on the lens barrel to match up with the lock release to mount the lens.
Thank you for making this! Pentax seems to never get enough credit. I have a Pentax APS-c i use more than my Canon FF... Love Pentax more than anything else out there.
I love vintage pentax glass. And their forum makes it easy to decide whether you want the lens or not. Plenty of sample pictures with nearly every lens, current lens prices and lens ratings. And the glass amazes me. Especially those under the name of SMC-M and SMC-A. Adapted multiple pentax lenses on my sony and the results are impressive even for today's glass standards.
Thank you for the Pentax history. I came to Pentax with the K10D around 2008. It was camera of the year when it came out. I moved on to the K-5II and that is what I'm using today. Somewhere along the way tried my hand at film with a Spotmatic and an ME Super. Nice cameras.
Wasn't into photography as a kid. But looking back, I distinctly remember that the first camera I ever used was my mom's Pentax. It was unbelievably easy to use.
Wonderful piece, Chelsea and Tony! I know you had to fit a ton of info about PENTAX into a limited space, and you wanted to concentrate on the higher-end Pentax efforts, but there’s a revolutionary Pentax SLR that I wish you had mentioned. One of my favorite cameras of all time, the PENTAX SYSTEM 110.It was billed as the smallest interchangeable lens SLR camera of all time, and I adored it. My wife-to-be splurged and spent over $200 to give me one for Christmas! Although it was a “program” system all the way, it took wonderfully sharp photos on tiny 110 film cartridges, and you really could fit it into a front jeans pocket. I think it debuted in 1978, I received mine in 1979 and it’s the one film camera I wish I had today. Just a jewel, it was a sensual pleasure to hold and use, and I wish Ricoh or SOMEBODY would revive it with a digital sensor today. It probably failed because it lacked a pop-up flash, which would have violated the gorgeous design, but doomed it on the point and shoot market. CHELSEA or TONY, if you have any interest, I can send you a couple of the photos I took with mine.
I enjoyed this history lesson on Pentax. Having graduated High School in 1968 and being a Beatle fan brings back memories seeing Pentax cameras. My daughter's 10th grade photo class used the K1000. What a great camera to use, simple totally manual and probably inexpensive then ( 1997). You guys do a fantastic job on all videos, like mixing education with a smidgen of comedy.....and of course a healthy dose of beauty. My favorite vids so far #1. about mega pixels advertised and Perceived Pixels actually delivered by your lens ( real eye opener!) and #2 the one about being ripped off from hackers on line, that makes one take notice. I'm getting a printed version of your book, Does Chelsea do autographs? I don't mean that to be creepy. Thanks again and congrats on one million mark. Ted in Sebastian, Fl
It wasn't just the journalists that promoted camera sales during the Korean war. There were many servicemen (like my father) who spent a couple of years in the area, and were able to take advantage of the opportunities offered by duty-free shopping in HongKong and Singapore to buy the new Japanese cameras like the YashicaFlex TLR.
This was a fun listen thanks. I know you can't include everything in a short you tube video but you kind of glossed over some pretty important medium format cameras in Pentax's history. Their iconic Pentax 67 SLR camera's are still popular and sell for quite a lot on ebay and the 645 line has a long and illustrious pro history. The 645D/645Z digital MF camera's I think were incredibly important especially the incredible 645Z because they were the first 'affordable' medium format camera's available and were probably instrumental in causing hasselblad to finally do a consumer (albeit mirrorless) camera to compete on price. Small correction also you called the first digital MF camera the 645n but that was a film camera the digital was the 645D then the 645Z. Cheers.
Pretty shore Pentax not only invented the SLR, they are also responsible for inventing the bayonet mount. They made changes that revolutionized camera design. I have owned a number of Pentax cameras and used other models as photography student They are a great company and its a shame new owners along the way failed to have the vision to keep making the company move forward.
Love this! Great work! I'm a huge Pentax fan - I have full digital and vintage lens Pentax kit - A real reason I got into Pentax was your videos, T & C! Thank you!
I picked up a Honeywell Pentax Spotmatic 35mm SLR, with a Pentax Super Takumar 55mm f/1.8 lens in excellent condition about a year and a half ago. I believe the camera and lens dates from about 1970. Really enjoy using it I use the lens in 'stop down metering mode' where I focus and compose at full aperture then meter for proper exposure at the taking aperture. Not a big deal for me I usually use the exposure preview on my other 'bayonet mount' SLR cameras anyway. Color rendition with the Super Takumar lens is superb.
The K 01 is a great camera. When it came out, the big review sites ambushed it and helped kill it. The bad reviews were basically fiction except for the slower AF. They complained about size and ergonomics. In reality, it is considerably smaller than a small SLR, and it has excellent usability. Pentax could have marketed it a lot better and gotten some of the market that went to Sony.
Lawrence J Gubas in his massive history of Zeiss Ikon states (p728) that VEB the new East German version of Zeiss Ikon registered new trademarks including Pentacon, Penticon, Pentona , Pentaflex and Pentax, and that the Pentax name was subsequently sold to Asahi for much needed foreign currency.
In the 80s I read a book on the U.S. automotive industry. One thing from the book that I always remembered is that the cost to make a big car or a small car are that different, but you can sell a big car for more. That's why Detroit preferred to make big cars. I'm sure it's the same with camera - the cost to make a full frame is similar to the cost of a crop sensor body, but people will pay more for a full frame.
My first camera was a Canon T3i. I loved it and quickly became obsessed with photography! Lol! Maybe 6 months later, I purchased a Pentax K1000 with the original 50mm lens. I couldn’t focus worth a damn! I had to just make sure the image was as clear as possible and surprisingly, the photos came out crystal clear! Some were oof but if I took my time, not being able to see through the view finder , didn’t have any affect on the pic. I still have it 5 years on but will definitely buy another one . Thanks for this.
I am now 75 years old. I have a Spotmatic 1967 , an MZ - 50 and a MZ5 - N . Very sadly , I also had a Pentax MZ - S , which was stolen in 2010 and I could not replace it . That camera was a true professional tool and you could use flash sync at all shutter speeds , up to 1/6000 sec in conjunction with the Pentax AF 360 - FGZ flash ! I miss it ! Anyway , all my cameras are in perfect working order and are regularly used to this day.
long time Pentax user, the Pentax k5ii S one the best aps-c camera ever built, I still use it ,. even my old K2000 still working great on daylight situations
Great video! I fell in love with Pentax when someone gave me his Spotmatics (2020). Since then, I’ve seen the love and adoration of Pentax all over. Whodathunk that Pentax would make another film camera in the 21st century? Cool beans!
Great show guys! I have always seen Ricoh as one of the most passionate companies when it comes to photography, the Ricoh GR is probably the best most uncompromising street photography camera in the world today. Let's hope the two brands bring out the best in each other.
Guy and gal, you missed the K series bodies, there's a book by Carl Shipman on the (then) new K and M series bodies. The KX was an ideal camera, better than the K1000, a semi pro body. If you ever have a chance on obtaining a KX, do not miss it.
Love you guys, and am a subscriber. But I do have to take issue with some things here. First, the part that covers early history and Pentax's glory days is fine in synopsis. And kudos to you for going to the trouble of doing this for a brand few pay attention to. But, you missed some important stuff (some of it Pentax boo-boos, some not). You missed the odd Pentax 110, kind of a boo-boo, but an odd and quirky innovation---and the ancestor of the Q system, Pentax's other mirrorless attempt to date. You also forgot the LX, an extremely refined camera, the big brother of the MX. There's also Pentax's waterproof series, one of the only other ones after Oly's, and then there is Pentax's IBIS system and its arguably industry best weatherproofing in its DSLR bodies (including digital medium format). But the biggest error/omission is with the 645 system, which was launched in 1984, and was Pentax's second medium format system with its own lens line---but which also could mount the 67 lenses with an adapter (and an adapter can be used to mount 645 lenses on the K mount cameras. The film 645 cameras went through several iterations, the last in 2001. But, most significantly, Pentax was the first company, in 2010, to sell a digital medium format camera, the 645D (incorrectly identified in your video) that didn't cost as much as a house! And then followed up with the 645Z, an astonishing camera which cost not much more than the top Canon/Nikon FF cameras, and now is the same price. And they released updated lenses for these, although again the entire legacy lineup can still be used effectively. BTW, the rebadged lenses you mentioned for the Pentax FF system are actually pretty damn good---the Tamron 24-70 was tested against the best Nikon counterpart and found to be just as good (or better...), and the 15-30 is by all accounts outstanding. Now there is a new DFA 50 f1.4 for FF, one of a few coming. And a number of the existing lenses are quite fine---there aren't any dogs in the Pentax lineup, which cannot be said for the other bigger brands. Obviously you can't cover anything in a half hour podcast, but some of the above are serious omissions/errors. I hope you guys will do some corrections.
I enjoy these historical reviews. I started with film in the early 1970s, and am familiar with all the major brands, from a photographer/consumer point of view, but it's always interesting to learn the details that you find for us. Thank you!
My first SLR was a black Pentax Electro Spotmatic with a 50mm lens on it! That was like 40 yrs ago and I still have it. My father gave it to me, it had a little wear and tear, but this thing is heavy and it´s built like a tank!
